Plans have been underway since September 2014 to create a coastal path that will run the entire length of the Malaga coastline, from Manilva in the west to Nerja in the east, a distance of just over 180 kilometres. It sure sounds exciting and I can’t wait to see it brought to fruition. The project is being spearheaded by the Malaga Council and has the full support of all 14 municipalities through which the coastal path will pass. The 14 municipalities are, from west to east, in geographical order: Manilva, Casares, Estepona, Marbella, Mijas, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, Torremolinos, Málaga, Rincón de La Victoria, Vélez-Málaga, Algarrobo, Torrox and Nerja. The project will cost 30 million euros, with help coming from the Andalucian and central governments.
My initial feelings on hearing of the plans to develop a coastal path to link Manilva with Nerja, were of happiness and approval. I contemplated the wonderful idea of having the opportunity to use such a coastal path to enjoy walking along the Nerja coastline once the relevant sections have been completed. However, what subsequently surprised and shocked me most was that I learned that 30 million euros would be spent to develop the project, despite the fact that approximately 75% of the coastal path is already accessible through the use of existing infrastructure, which means that the “thirty big ones” will correspond to developing only 25% of the total length of the path, which is just 40 kilometres in length! Apparently, what makes this project so hideously complicated, costly and difficult to execute is the nature of the terrain in certain places. For example, the stretch between Nerja and Torrox is contemplated to be one of the most difficult and costly sections to undertake, apparently due to the long line of cliffs that hug the coastline in this area, making it necessary to employ huge resources to overcome the equally gargantuan geological obstacles in order to create a path where none existed before. Am I the only one in thinking that 30 million euros sounds just a little wildly exorbitant for the creation of a “path” along a mere 40 kilometres of what is still essentially a relatively underdeveloped part of the Málaga coastline? Either I haven’t been keeping in touch with the sneaky and inexorable rise of inflation over the last few years, or I have definitely been spending way too much time in the mountains with the joys of nature! I wonder what the real cost is of executing the project?
Anyway, the good news, if it is true, is that the return on investment of the Coastal Path is estimated to be 30 million euros in under two years. Approximately 270 permanent jobs directly associated with the Coastal Path will have been created and will be sustained annually. Once fully completed in approximately five years’ time, the path will be 180 kilometres long and will be integrated with the already established Great Trail of Malaga (GR-249) which runs through the interior of the province. This will make it possible to walk or cycle all along the coast from the Balcón de Europa in Nerja in the far east of the province, to the Puerto de La Duquesa in Manilva on the provincial border with Cádiz in the west. And if you really feel up for the challenge, you could complete the entire circuit with the Great Trail of Málaga. Quite amazing.