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Route 1 – Mirador de La Vega. Duration - about 40 minutes
From the car park continue up the path with the walls of the cemetery and large cacti on your left.
The track bends sharply left by the top of the cemetery then a few yards further on take a signposted path off to the right. The path meanders along the hillside beyond the top of the cemetery before bending right uphill through some pine trees. The climb then really starts on a zig zag path that leads up to a now visible electricity pylon on the skyline.
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Path to the Mirador as seen across the valley from Route 2
The path levels out at a wooden fence with an information board alongside which gives a description of the features to be seen in the fantastic 180 degree views from there, the Mirador de La Vega. (The path beyond leads temptingly around the mountains to Redovan and will be explored at a later date.)
Retrace your steps back to the track and the car park. On the way you can if you wish pay a visit into the top of the vast cemetery. This sounds very sordid but I found the inscriptions and photographs fascinating and very indicative of the respect given by families to their forebears. Further down the track, nearer the car park, I took the chance to have a second climb up what I will call
Route 2 – View of Cueva Ahumada – Duration - about 30 minutes.
About 100 yards up the track from the car park on the right is a signpost pointing to the right and across the first gulleys to a larger information board.
From there take the path that passes to the right hand side of the deep gulley ahead. This path heads steadily upward towards a headland of rock with views over to the left of the Cueva Ahumada and to the right over the Vega. At the base of the rock face bear right along the clear path that bends round to the left rising to the rear of the headland and arriving at a smooth sloping slab of rock. There is a white rope on the right to help you reach the top of the slab and the headland. The views from here are great. You are at about the height of the smaller cave that has been visible all along from the car park. By continuing to follow this path round to the right you could arrive at the cave and explore. Time did not allow it this trip but there is much of this sierra to see in the future. Retrace your steps back to the car park.
These are real mountains and the landscape is harsh and stony so stout shoes or boots should be worn. Make sure you have plenty of water as the temperature rises very quickly. Other than that just enjoy the place – it is beautiful.
With thanks to Denise and Geoff Brooks, Montemar.
Walk from Redovan in the Sierra de Callosa
This is a lovely mountain walk high above the town, mostly in pine woodland but with frequent panoramic views over the Vega Baja. The route is well signed and there are features of interest along the way. The mountain section has a few quite steep ascents on stony paths but there is no climbing or stone scrambling involved. The descent is assisted by some handrails and cut steps which are very helpful. The return is on tarmaced roads back through the town. The round trip is only about 2¾ miles and takes about 1½ to 2 hours. If you get chance to get a street map of Redovan off the internet to find the start it will help but is not essential. Take plenty of water, particularly in hot weather.
The walk begins at the Area Recreativa Santuario de Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Salud in Redovan. Like the many other such Areas there are picnic, barbecue and toilet facilities here. It is located at what is virtually the highest point of the town at the start of the tree line on the mountainside.
To get there follow directions from Algorfa to Callosa and the Cueva Ahumada, then continue on to Redovan.
Bear right into the centre of town and make your way upwards.
The Area Recreativa is signposted from the town centre, but not particularly well, and a one way traffic system makes navigation difficult. Just keep going uphill.
There is only one road with houses that goes higher up the mountainside; you turn left into the area before going up its last section. The map shows its general location. Persevere, it will be worth it.
Parking is plentiful near the centre of the site by the Santuario. |
From here follow the path signposted for the Cueva Ahumada that takes you uphill away from the car park at 2 o’clock. The path winds its way above the houses built on the mountain side then crosses many gulleys. The woodland is not particularly dense and clearings open up at regular intervals on the right to give good views over the town and across the valley towards Orihuela.
Looking back over Redovan
and the first half of the walk
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Round the corner heading towards the Cueva Ahumada
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As you approach the highest point of the walk going ‘round the corner’ towards Callosa there are a number of interesting features. First a large cross and altar on an extremity above Redovan, then a cave containing the Virgen de la Cueva with an altar outside. The cave is not very deep but was strangely warm even in the middle of winter.
At the Virgen de la Cueva
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El Rincón
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Helipad
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The walk then descends steeply down steps to arrive at a slightly bizarre area, marked as El Rincón on the map, that includes a monument, toilet (four concrete walls and a hole in the floor) and a helicopter pad! There are great views from here too. There are two ways off the mountain from this point. One is to continue on uphill again to reach the Mirador de la Vega at the next summit, then on to the Cueva Ahumada car park. (This would add a mile and some ¾ hour on to the round trip). The other way is to continue your descent down the mixture of cut and concrete steps to emerge down a narrow passage into a small barrio on Calle de Gabriel Moro which is the eastern limit of Redovan. Turn right to return to Redovan. Once ‘round the corner’ the street layout is messy but keep heading upwards to make your way back to the Area Recreativa and your car.
There are a few bars and cafeterias in the town for refreshment.
With thanks to Denise and Geoff Brooks, Montemar.
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Do you have a favourite walk in and around Algorfa? We'd love to hear about it!
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