Climbing el Fuerte from Frigiliana, Spain
A Walk in the Stunning Scenery of the Sierra Almijara in Andalucia
Aug 21, 2008
A well defined path climbs from the Castillo de Lizar, above the hill village of Frigiliana, to the 1000m high summit of el Fuerte, “the tough one”, a massive rock buttress towering over the village and its surrounding peaks.
Climbing steeply at first, the path emerges onto an open ridge carpeted with rosemary, thyme, cistus and all the shrubs and herbs of the garrigue. Breathtaking panoramas appear: northwards across the steep valley of the Rio Higueron to the jagged peaks of the Sierra de Almijara, and southwards over the foothills to Nerja, Torrox and the Mediterranean.
From the ridge, the summit ahead looks daunting - a near vertical wall of rock - but approaching more closely a steep but walkable path can be seen winding to the top. Standing in triumph on the summit, the hiker enjoys exhilarating 360°views towards Málaga in the west and the Sierra Nevada in the east.
The route is best seen in spring, resplendent with flowers and the sharp fragrance of pine, lavender and thyme.
The Frigiliana Start Point
The start point is the alberca de Lisar reservoir just above Frigiliana at map reference 201726. (Mapa Topografico de Sierra de Almijara, 1:25000)
By car, drive west from Frigiliana towards Torrox for about 800m, then, just beyond a left hand bend, turn right on the partly concreted track which winds steeply up to a car park beside the reservoir.
Alternatively, from the bus stop below the Paraje del Ingenio, follow the signs for the Castillo.
Walk Directions for the Ascent of El Fuerte
From the car park, head west on the track along the left-hand side of the alberca. Climbing the steps at the end, fork left following a rough footpath along the course of an irrigation channel or acequia to skirt around the water supply buildings. Beyond the buildings a path, signed to el Fuerte, turns sharply right, away from the acequia to zigzag steeply up the hill towards two electricity pylons. At the first pylon, fork left to wind up the rocky nose of the long spur leading to el Fuerte.
The path rounds the nose of the spur (map reference 201728, distance 0,250km)and then runs along its right hand or eastern side for 200m, now in open pine wood, before cresting the ridge once more and crossing to the left hand side of the spur (map reference 201730, distance 0.550km), in quite dense pinewood.
From here, the path is marked by a combination of signs, paint splashes and cairns and easily followed as it emerges from the pinewood (map reference 200732, distance 0.850km)and skirts along the south western face of the spur, occasionally cresting it, but generally a hundred metres or so below the crestline.
Cresting the ridge for the last time in a prominent saddle (map reference 192743, distance 2.125km), the path drops down once more to skirt around the head of two small valleys, before swinging left to climb diagonally across the far slope of a larger valley immediately below el Fuerte. Shortly afterwards it begins to zigzag to the right up the final, steep, shale covered slope and emerges onto a small plateau between the mountain's twin peaks (map reference 185748, distance 3.900km).
Return by the same route to a cool and refreshing bar in Frigiliana!
El Fuerte Walk Data
Distance: 7.8km.
Vertical Interval: 550m.
Time: 2 ½ - 4 hrs.
Difficulty (1=easy,9=V.difficult): 4. Steep and slippery in places.
Information on Other Andalucian Walks
Full downloadable directions and detailed map for a walk down the Chillar Gorge and other walks in Axarquia.
Walking in the Alpujarras.
Walking in Axarquia.
The Liman Trail from Frigiliana to Maro.
Walking in Andalucia - Caution
Mountain walking is potentially dangerous, especially in bad weather. Always:
- Wear stout, non-slip footwear and carry a walking pole.
- Carry water and weatherproof clothing.
- Tell someone your route and return time.
- Be prepared for sudden storms or mist.
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