The best laid plans

A trip out today in lovely weather to the "Malaga Lake District", an area of reservoirs and stunning scenery just off the main A-357 Campillos to Malaga road. about an hours drive from Olvera. I've visited the area many times before so on this occasion instead of continuing over the dam, I turned left heading for the pueblo of Valle de Abdalajis.

However, about a kilometre on I came to a sign advising that the road was closed. Okay, over to plan B, reverse and back to the reservoir at El Chorro.

Looking across the "Embalse del Conde de Guadalhorce".

A tunnel waiting to be explored on another day.

The gorge at El Chorro.

The "Camino del Rey" is a metre wide walkway that clings to the side of the mountain, 100 metres above the reservoir. It's in a bad state of repair and walkers are at risk of serious injury or worse by attempting to cross the gorge. 

 I continued past the gorge to the small pueblo of El Chorro, stopping at the train station for a coffee. 

 The view of the El Chorro reservoir from above the village.

 Almond blossom.

 Views of the spectacular scenery across the "Embalse del Guadalhorce" here and below.

The Malaga Lake District

In the company of our friends Wayne and Jan, we drove out today to the Malaga Lake District, about an hours drive to the east of Olvera (our route here).

The drive is very scenic with the road winding through pine forests and mountain scenery and it wasn't too long before we came upon a viewpoint overlooking the three reservoirs that form the lake district.

Wayne and Jan.

  Snapped by a kind spanish visitor at the viewpoint.

After visiting the reservoirs of the Guadalhorce, we continued through beautiful scenery to the reservoir at El Chorro below.

  The "Camino del Rey" (Kings path) is a walkway that winds its way around the edge of the cliff face but is in a very dangerous state of repair. However, it obviously appeals to those seeking a thrill as we saw quite a few crazy climbers attempting the route. You can safely experience the walk by watching a YouTube video here. Just don't look down.

 Right next to the gorge, the very pleasant restaurant "El Pilar" offers an excellent and good value menu so we stayed for a delicious lunch before heading home.

Off to the lakes

A cooler day today, at about 32°C and a pleasant breeze. So a trip out to the area referred to as the "Malaga Lake District", about an hours drive southeast of Olvera.

Leaving the main A-357 Campillos-Malaga road, we turned onto the MA-452. After driving for about fifteen minutes we came to a viewpoint where all three reservoirs, the Embalse de Gaitanejo, Embalse del Conde Guadalhorce and the Embalse del Guadalteba-Guadalhorce can be seen.

The information boards detail much about the geology and history of the area, highlighting particular places of interest within the spectacular view.

Leaving the viewpoint, we drove on for twenty minutes or so, stopping at the Bar Restaurante El Kiosco for a refreshing soft drink.

Opposite the bar is a pleasant beach area at the lake edge. Drat, we'd left our cossies at home !!.

Turning off onto the MA-448, we headed for the reservoir of El Chorro, famous for its gorge and walkway around the face of a sheer cliff.

Leaving El Chorro, we headed to the town of Alora but unfortunately with no pre-planning we took a few wrong turns and frustratingly couldn't find anywhere to park. We'll try again another day.

So, heading out of town we stopped off at the Restaurante Fuente de la Higuera, named after the fresh water spring nearby.















The terrace offered great views over the Malaga landscape.
















Energy restored after a delicious meal of Carrillada for me (stewed pork) and Boquerones (fried filleted fish) for Anne, we headed back on the road from Alora to Carratraca.

As always, the views were stunning although the road was in particularly bad condition with lots of potholes and subsidence in many places. Driving with care definitely recommended.

We joined the A-357 at Carratraca and headed back to Campillos and home to Olvera.

Embalses de Guadalteba-Guadalhorce

We headed out this morning, on a lovely sunny day, to the Natural Park area of the Guadalteba-Guadalhorce reservoirs, about 50 minutes drive from Olvera, just off the main A-357 Campillos-Malaga road. We journeyed in the company of our good friends Dan and Alison who were visiting for a long weekend.

We stopped the car at a Mirador (viewpoint) and climbed up to the top to the promised view of three reservoirs, definately worth the huffing and puffing of the climb. The views were spectacular although the reservoir levels were well down.

I see no ships says I !.

Over there says Dan !.

A short distance from the Mirador is the Cafeteria Bar El Cantina where we stopped for refreshment.

A rare picture of us both together, as I'm usually behind the camera, courtesy of Dan.

We stopped for lunch at a very busy restaurant that sits above a tunnel on the road.

Leaving the restaurant after a delicious lunch, we headed towards another nearby reservoir at El Chorro, famous for its gorge known as the "Garganta del Chorro" and the walkway, now closed, that runs around the side of its sheer cliff walls.

Not surprisingly after the hot summer months, the reservoir was dry but no doubt will be replenished in the months to come.
A brilliant day out in great company and a beautiful area to visit, not only for the reservoirs but the stunning scenery and rock formations of the Natural Park.