Lecrin Valley Limpers

The walk this week was our big end of the month walk and we went on a very interesting walk around Moclin that had a bit of something for everyone. The walk started from Olivares and followed a campo road alongside the Rio Velilos before joining a delightful little path that meanders along the hillside. The autumn tints were just starting to appear and the trees looked superb. After following the river for about 3 km you come to a wobbly bridge. For anyone of a nervous disposition it is best crossed solo as it swings about a bit with two or more on it. There then follows a suspended walkway above the river, real Indiana Jones stuff, ideal for the adventurous amongst us. We stopped for elevenses at a picnic site with tables and chairs, Dave was nearly overcome with emotion after we found this, the perfect place for him. Continuing, we went to look at the cave paintings, these are small single figure paintings of hunters and animals, just left exposed on a rock face, no s

This week our walk was to the Ermita Christo del Zapato above Pinos del Valle. There were a number of options available for our group to be able to mix and match their own walk. 14 elected to do the full walk from the dam to the Ermita, 3 did the walk from the dam to Pinos del valle and 3 did the walk from Pinos up to the Ermita. 5 decided not to stop for refreshments on the way back. With all the coming and going I had no idea who was walking with whom, and we ended with a car crises at the end of the walk. The walk begins from a little car park just above the dam and initially follows a campo road alongside the reservoir. This track soon comes to an end and you start the climb, which does not stop until you get to the Ermita 5 km away. The path is superb, obviously laid with the intention of attracting tourists to the area, needless to say we were the only people using it. Possibly it could do with a few more signs that make some sort of sense as to where the path is

The walk this week was from Acebuches, the little village at the end of our valley, well, not really a village, just a collection of  houses  shacks. The walk was a linear one, so a bit of car shuffling was needed. The plan was that we would leave a car outside the bar El Puente in Velez then drive up to Acebuches and meet the rest of the group, walk back to Velez, have a drink at the bar, the drivers would then be driven back to retrieve their cars in Acebuches and then return to the bar and pick up the rest of the group who would, by then, be barracho. The plan started to unravel when Kees informed me that the bar was closed. Various options were considered, including taking an ice box full of cold drinks and some chairs so that the ones waiting could have a cool drink and somewhere to sit while the rest of us drove up and down the road to Acebuches. This option was soon dismissed, there was no way I was going to leave them there drinking cold beer whilst I was driving

Normally, we walk around Lanjaron in the winter when it is cold and windy in the valley, it’s a great place to go to get out of the bitter northerly winds. So, for a change, we went when it was still nice and warm and all the fruits are still on on the trees. There were 26 in the group this week, all eager for an easy walk. Originally I had planned the circular walk in a clockwise direction. This would have saved the best bit till the last. As Michael O’Leary (Ryanair CEO) is fond of saying “Send the punter home happy and they will come back again”. With so many people, and some wanting a shorter  walk, I decided we would walk in the opposite direction and do the best bit first.     We set off from the car park and went up the road so we could get into the park. The gates were locked, luckily Mike had noticed another gate that was open so we used that entrance instead. This is a delightful little park that comes out by the castle. Fortunately the castle gates were closed,