Andalucia Day 47 Playas Genoveses y Monsul walk

The day is beautifully clear and sunny, although the wind is picking up. We drive towards San José on empty roads in the middle of a Sierra which is tinged with spring-like green. On the way a Mirador offers views of cliffs, headlands and blue blue sea below. We park at the start of the road to Playa Genoveses and set off along the path, there are just one or two people about. The path goes past a windmill then through a sort of forest of agave before reaching the beach, between two severe headlands the sand is quite a light colour, unusual for the area, and the water seems transparent.

We press on up and down rocky headlands, the type of rock changes continuously, the sea below is starting to get choppy, every so often there is a spectacular cove, sometimes the sand is darker. The wind is getting stronger and stronger, in some places the gusts push us back a little.

The Wikiloc route we had chosen sent us along the bottom of the cliffs but the waves are getting bigger so we stick to the highlands.

At one point the path is cut into the rock, the wind is gusting furiously and cold. Fortunately it's just for a moment, round the next corner the wind drops a little and we start to descend towards Playa Monsul on the warm dunes.

There are a couple of coves before the famous playa. In the first there's a nudist, brave considering most other people are well wrapped up. In the second we find a reasonably sheltered corner to picnic, the view of the roaring waves and coastline is spectacular and it is mostly sheltered expect for the occasional rogue gust which literally showers us with sand.

Playa Monsul is indeed spectacular, one of the most panoramic beaches I have ever seen, but not so user-friendly apparently since notice boards warning of the rip current and danger of drowning abound. We carry on to Cala Media Luna and then start walking back along the road, the wind is behind us now.

At Playa Genoveses the sand is blown towards the sea and the waves have problems approaching the beach. I paddle, the water seems warm in comparison.

Back in San José there are very few people around, many of the houses are built directly on the rocks, it seems almost a ghost town with everything shut up. Down by the beach we have a lukewarm and expensive coffee but the view of the beach and waves and spray and a father with a little boy running in and out of the water along the beach and laughing compensates.

The nearest Mercadona, or indeed supermarket of any size is twenty minutes drive so we stock up for a few days and are back as the sun is going down. The black cat which has been keeping an eye on us since we arrived is in better luck this evening.

Kilometres by car: 54

Kilometres on foot: 18