Camino Mozarabe, Stage 3 - Villanueva de la Concepcion to Antequera - 16km hike with 510 m of ascent
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- Camino Mozarabe Day Three
Villanueva de la Concepcion to Antequera
Andalusia, Southern Spain
This is a fabulous walk of 9miles/15km, with 1300feet/400m of ascent. It follows an easy route alongside the Torcal mountainside, to the Puerto de La Escaleruela, with sublime views to Antequera and the surrounding countryside. It is definitely more interesting than the previous day. We were planning to take a look round the historic town of Antequera before returning by bus to Malaga.
We packed up early, and returned to the Oasis Restaurant for Breakfast, again having coffee, toast with tomatoes and homemade olive oil. We were leaving when the owner kindly gave us a free portion of churros-in general too greasy for me but very popular in Spain, we then ordered more coffee too. We went to the handy Dia supermarket for water and food. The walk is signed off the main road near Dia, and heads up a steep street to a notice board with details of Stage 3. There was a fabulous sun rise and the mountains looked very appealing. We had spent too long eating breakfast, not leaving until 8.45am, but we made good time along the tarmac road. After one mile it turns into a rough track, passing a large house with beautiful gardens and lots of dogs. Whilst walking parallel to the limestone cliffs to our right, we passed cultivated fields and olive trees with beautiful views of mountains and the sea. We took care when meeting a farmer who came towards us along the path with a very large herd of goats/sheep and a few dogs. Obviously they have right of way. In hindsight I think they distracted us so much that we lost the path. We continued for a while past a white-washed farmhouse, and down into some fields before we realised.that (3.4miles). We looked for the path, but could not see it, and didn't wish to re-trace our steps. Instead we followed the side of a ploughed field, turned right up a dried-up stream bed, before we climbed out of it onto a wide track by a house. Lo and behold there was a yellow arrow, we were very pleased to be back on track, and hopefully would remain so. (10.45am 4 miles).
We followed the signs along a smaller track to the right, then through a roped gate following red and white signs, but no yellow ones. Arriving at Puerto de La Escaleruela (5 miles), we stopped to admire the tremendous views and stopped to eat our empanada. The puerto is a popular destination for a walk from Antequera, and there were a few people around. We followed the ancient steep cobbled path downwards, (signed 4.1km to Antequera), then along a path, passing fields. Look for the mountain to the right which looks like a lying down head. We turned right down a main road, then left down the A343, then right into Antequera with great views of the Alcazaba. Passing a church to the left we stopped for tapas and drinks at Bar la Socorrilla. (12.40pm)
Antequera is a really interesting town, with both Roman and Moorish remains and we were pleased we had arrived in time to enjoy it. We visited the Alcazaba (castle)-definitely worth the €6 charge, with plenty of information boards, old walls and towers to climb, gardens and views over the Roman ruins. We walked through the town to check out where Stage 4 of the walk would start from for another time - near to Santiago's Church in Santiago's Square.
Continuing past the church for another ten minutes, we arrived just outside town at the Dolmens which are thought to be burial chambers of tribal leaders and date from around 2,500 BC. We did a quick tour of the 2 chambers, but didn't have time for the visitor centre. After a thirty minute walk back into the town, we arrived at the bus station in time to catch the 5.30pm bus to Malaga. We were pleased we had booked tickets on-line at lunch time, as the bus was busy. Our rucksacks were stored in the luggage compartment underneath.
Distance 10 miles (16km)
Duration of Walk 5 Hours 45 minutes including breaks
Elevation Gained 1776 feet (510m)
www.tripadviso... Lunch
Information/Advice
There are many Caminos (walks) across Spain created by pilgrims walking to Santiago's Church in Santiago from various parts of Europe, for over 1,000 years. The Mozarabic Way is one of the historical routes used since the Middle Ages by pilgrims from different parts of Andalusia.
Like many of the Caminos the Camino Mozarabe fell out of use during the 19th century. Other routes began to be popular from the 1970s onwards, with an explosion of pilgrims in this century. The most popular one is Camino Frances from Saint-Jean-Port in France, taking about 30 days to reach Santiago.
UA-cam has a limit of 5000 characters on the video description. To continue to read Barbara's blog then go to our website www.hikingwithdaveandbarbara.co.uk 😀
Always fun when you find new people to follow! Just found your channel today when researching the Thames walking route. Thanks for your videos!!
Good luck on the route - Barbara does a great blog that covers all the hotels / transport we used on the Thames Path
hikingwithdaveandbarbara.co.uk/thames.html
Take care and good luck if you decide to do it. Accommodation is the issue for me so defiantly give it a read
Cheers
Dave & Barbara
Love the videos, keep them coming :-)! I'll walk in your footsteps in March 2023.....
Hi Kievit22 - are you going to do part of the Mazarabe ? or all of it maybe ? - cheers Dave & Barbara
@@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629 Hi guys, I'll be starting in Malaga and follow the Camino for two weeks for about 350 kilometers. The plan is to return in 2024 and walk another two weeks on the Camino, and so on. At the moment I am already learning a bit of Spanish. Walking alone I'll need it :-). And the best "after Camino" ever: after these two weeks going back to Malaga and spending another week relaxing and enjoying Malaga and environs with my lovely wife. Thanks again, you are a lovely couple and a true inspiration for me.
Thanks March 2023 not long now - good luck - Cheers Dave & Barbara
Wonderful memories of this area - you're walking past my old house at 2'07"! One day I'll get back there and do the route...
Just checked out the video at 2' 07" your was house near the yellow arrow. I remember walking out of the town - That was a really great day. Are you still in Spain ? Cheers Dave & Barbara
@@hikingwithdaveandbarbara8629 Yes, I would have been a little cheesed off if they had painted that arrow on my wall. That was my garden, and the fence I put in! No, not in Spain anymore, it was a holiday home, by luck rather than judgement sold it just before the financial crash!...I do miss it sometimes, which is why I'd be keen to do the Camino. There's a lot of info online, any websites or guides you can recommend?
@@nicandruna6457 Probably check Barbara's blog on that Camino as she will of put some links in. We loved those first 3 days but will continue from Antequera later this year up to Cordoba - Hope you make it - Cheers Dave & Barbara www.hikingwithdaveandbarbara.co.uk/mozarabe.html