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Price
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€ 25 |
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Day & Time
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Thursdays starting at 10:00 (walking calendar) |
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Meeting Point
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Nerja bus station, Nerja (map) at 09:30, and then at the main Frigiliana bus stop, Frigiliana (map) at 10:00. |
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Minimum Group Size
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Limited number of spaces available on each walk in order to maintain group safety and good walker/guide ratio. |
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Start Time
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10:00 at the main Frigiliana bus stop, Frigiliana (map) |
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Finish Time
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18:00 at any good bar in Nerja |
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Walking Time
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8 hours (includes stops for lunch, breaks, photos, etc.) |
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Walking Distance
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17 kilometres (circular route) |
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Height Gained
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300 metres (from Frigiliana) |
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Level of Difficulty
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3C (rating explanation) |
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Risk of vertigo
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Yes, on a few sections of walkway which have been fenced (see photos) and at one specific point where there has been a landslip/rockfall. |
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Recommendations
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Hiking boots or walking shoes with thick socks are highly recommended. Trainers/tennis shoes not ideal but will suffice. Definitely no flip-flops, sandals, beach wear or similar, please. A good level of fitness is also required. Bring something to eat for lunch, sufficient water and appropriate clothing. |
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Additional Gear
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Walking poles will be very useful on numerous sections of steep ascent and descent. Bring an extra pair of socks in case boots get wet when crossing river sections. |
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Highlights
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Impressive views and scenery, pine forests, wonderfully long and pleasant walk along an irrigation channel, some short sections of river walking, short challenging sections of ascent and descent. An invigorating walk! |
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Facilities
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Lavatory, drinks and food available at Frigiliana and Nerja. |
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Observations
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This walk starts in Frigiliana at 10:00 at the main Frigiliana bus stop in the centre of the village (map). Walkers based in Nerja should meet me no later than 09:30 at the Nerja town meeting point (map). We will catch the 09:45 bus for Frigiliana and meet the Frigiliana group at the Frigiliana meeting point at approximately 10:00, when this walk will begin. This walk ends in Nerja at approximately 18:00. Walkers based in Frigiliana will be able to catch the 19:00 to get back to Frigiliana. |
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Map of walking area
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This is one of the more lengthy hikes, but nonetheless gratifying and well worthwhile as it provides lots of varied walking terrain, lovely scenery and interesting things to see, with some infrequent but challenging sections thrown in for good measure, in case you may think that this were a “walk in the park”. There are three sections worthy of mention, though moderately challenging they may be, they should not represent any serious difficulty to the able walker, with the majority of the hike following more or less level terrain.
The hike begins in Frigiliana, quickly dropping into the Río Higuerón valley, and once in the riverbed, we begin a cool stroll up the Higuerón river valley. We leave the river course after some steady walking and take a trail that leads us through the pines and up the slope of the Higuerón valley until we get to the top of a wide and open ridge with great views of the Chillar valley in front of us and the adjacent Higuerón valley behind us to the west.
After a brief pause to catch our breaths after the first of our relatively energetic climbs, we follow the trail along level terrain as we skirt the upper slopes of the Chillar valley, taking in the lovely views and scenery of the surrounding peaks and sculpted valleys. This part of the trail is dominated by Mediterranean scrub and affords us uninterrupted views of the surrounding hillsides. The Chillar river can be heard rumbling in a never ending low monotone bellow in the distance; a very exciting sound indeed. After an easy and pleasant walk with some infrequent but short climbs, we soon begin a sinuous descent to the Chillar river below. The river is very shady and the perfect spot for a break for some lunch and refreshments.
Once we have regained our hiking vigor, we begin our hike again, leaving the river and following a path through the undergrowth of the lower valley, climbing the other side of the valley until we come to the intersection of the irrigation channel.
WARNING: The irrigation channel is probably not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. It involves walking along a relatively narrow concrete wall along infrequent sections of unprotected drop-offs of up to five metres. There are some more relatively dangerous sections where iron railings have been erected on the most perilous points to protect against the obvious dangers. Naturally, there is a high risk of vertigo. Nevertheless, if you love a good adventure and the opportunity of doing something quite different, then this walk would definitely do a lot to stir up the excitement and the emotions. There is also a very short section of approximately 4 – 5 metres to negotiate where what appears to be either a landslip, scree or a resident tributary makes its presence known. All in all: exciting, yes; inherently dangerous, not really – just abiding by small doses of the necessary watchwords of caution and sensibleness is all that would be needed.
The walk along the irrigation channel is wonderfully pleasant and is a prolonged and relaxing respite after our efforts thus far. The irrigation channel offers intermittently spectacular views of the Chillar valley through the thick vegetation and pines that cling to and crowd its dampened course as it imperceptibly flows downward along the upper slopes of the valley. There are many nice places along the channel to stop for short breaks and to take photographs of the spectacular scenery. Continuing along the channel, we eventually get to the end of the water course where it abruptly converts into a huge steel pipe that dramatically descends the steep slope to the turbine hall on the valley floor below. And so as not to disappoint in the least, it shouldn’t be surprising that this is also the route we are going to follow, descending ourselves in the company of the steel pipe, at times walking right alongside it, as we carefully make our way to the valley floor below.
Standing in the river below the turbine hall, there is a splendid opportunity to refresh oneself under a man-made waterfall created from the run-off of the channel. From here, it is a cool and relaxing walk down the river all the way back to Nerja, where this hike will end at approximately 18:00.
Those in need of getting back to Frigiliana can catch the next available bus at 19:00, which gives us more than enough time for a well-deserved drink and tapa.
In my opinion, apart from the occasional and short climb, and the steep section where we must follow the steel pipe down the valley, this walk really isn’t that dangerous nor difficult.
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