Andalucia Day 37 El Torcal de Antequera

We get off to an early start and are at El Torcal de Antequera by ten o'clock. The weather is fine but chilly, 7 or 8 degrees for most of the trip and now we've come up the mountain there's a keen wind blowing as well.

We take the green and yellow paths, but it's a very slow walk indeed, apart from the muddy path with slippery rocks due to yesterday's rain we spend most of the time standing still looking at the unique landscape. The Torcal natural park is an impressive karst landscape where the elements have eroded the rocks into hundreds of strange forms. It's a magical place. We make out a dog, two hooded figures, dozens of robots and daleks, the "cathedral', layers of 'biscuits', some Germans who go by are discussing a penguin....

Access to the park and parking are free, but inside just the routes are marked so if you want to see the particular rock formations you've seen photos of you have to pretty much find them yourself. We also manage to find the ammonite Mirador.

We retreat to the car for our picnic to warm up and then go to the visitors centre for coffee. After we go towards the Natural monument Tornillo but when we get there it starts raining so back to the car again.

Eventually the rain clears so we go back to the Tornillo for another look and more photos and to wander around, on a side path we find another ammonite.

It's getting late so we go back to Antequera for some shopping at Mercadona and then on to our accommodation which is pretty much in the middle of nowhere in Bobadilla Estación, but was a real bargain on Booking.com, is just 15 minutes by car from Antequera and is a nice little house. By now used to continuously changing kitchen, bathroom and bed, we soon have supper ready and turn in for the night.
Kilometres by car: 120
Kilometres on foot:11