day 2 walking

This is a circular walk of about 25 kms around the village of Daimalos. Sheila comes to collect the walkers at around 8.30 in the morning because we plan to finish the walk with a 40 min drive to a beautiful restaurant with amazing views over Lake Vinuela.

We start the walk by climbing (quite steeply) to the ridge above Daimalos. (1 km)Our reward for the climb are fantastic views of La Maroma (2065 ms) and the coast. The track of packed earth is easy to walk on and we continue along its gentle ups and down, through olives, vines and almonds until we turn right. (4 kms)Now the track descends at times quite sharply until we reach the river.(5kms) This is an easy peaceful walk with lots of birds, butterflies and masses of wild flowers in Spring. We reach a tarmac road where we turn left (6.25 kms)and climb until we meet a track at the top of the hill where we turn left.(7.5 kms) We contine on this track which again has gentle ups and downs, and fantastic views of mountains, sea and the while villages of Competa and Sayalonga . (10.5 kms.) Then we begin the climb to the ruins of Castle Bentomiz ,one of the last strongholds of the moors.(14 kms). The ruins themselves are distinctly unimpressive but the views are incredible and this is a wonderful spot to have a rest.

Our climb down is steep at first, but then more gradual until we arrive at a tarmac road where we turn left into Arenas. (19.3 kms) Here we walk past the cemetery, turning right on Calle descandero, which begins as a tarmac road which then becomes a dirt tract . The track climbs, at times quite steeply, until we are back on the ridge above Daimalos. We turn right and follow the steep descent back into the village.(24.5 kms)

Here we meet up with Steve who drives us to the beautiful restaurant, El Cantueso with it's stunning views of Lake Vinuela, for lunch.