Forthcoming outing to Sierra de las Nieves - Saturday 11th June

This Saturday, led by Jill Yeoman, we will be heading for the wide open spaces of the Sierra de las Nieves, near Ronda. This is one of our most popular outings, and for very good reasons: spectacular montane scenery,trees, wildflowers, birds & butterflies that we don't get to see often in our immediate area - and there may even be a  sighting of the elusive Ibex. It is the perfect place to walk in perfectly peaceful,beautiful surroundings and just escape the rest of the world for a few hours! 


We don't have a planned itinery, Jill will tailor our route to suit the needs of the members that turn up.


We will be stopping for coffee and toast at the venta located just past the entrance to the park (Ronda side)before beginning our walk and will be taking a picnic lunch. We will either stop to eat lunch at a scenic spot along our route or at its end, so please carry it with you - all that fresh air and exercise gives you an appetite! Also, please carry water with you and take a hat - it can get very warm and sunny up there. 


Here are just a few of my photographs from our outing here last year:

Sierra de las Nieves offers spectacular mountain views

We looked down onto this Booted Eagle perched on the dead tree, watching it as it devoured its prey (we had Jill's telescope!)

More beautiful scenery

Last year's sighting of an Ibex relaxing in the sunshine 

We visited this enormous ancient Pinsapo pine and picnicked in its shade 

There are some spectacular plants here too

Deer were a first for us here last year - maybe we'll be lucky again this time

     

NEXT OUTING-CAPE TRAFALGAR

Just a quick reminder that the next outing is this coming Saturday (16th), it is to Cape Trafalgar and will be led by Leslie Linares. Our last outing to this part of the wild and dramatically beautiful Atlantic coast was in 2008. The trip was very well supported and the whole day was hugely enjoyable; for those who did not make it, or anyone that may be undecided about this one here are a few of the photos I took on that occasion to whet your appetite:-

Cape Trafalgar is a headland on the Atlantic coast, northwest of the Strait of Gibraltar.The name is of Arabic origin, with the modern pronunciation being a corruption of 'Tarf al-Gharb', meaning Western Cape or Cape of the West. The Battle of Trafalgar was fought off these shores in 1805. 

There is a lighthouse here that was built in 1850: it stands 34 metres tall, is 51 metres above sea level and its light can be seen for 22miles. A watchtower was built in the 9th century and its ruins remain close to the lighthouse. 


The Trafalgar Tombolo was declared a Natural Monument in 2001. This protective measure has the purpose of saving unique enclaves remarkable for their ecological landscape, scientific and cultural qualities. The area of the Natural Monument is 24,19 hectares. It has also been proposed as a Place of Community Interest and is part of the Natura 2000 network, the creation of which was regulated by the European Directive Habitats (Directive 92/43/CEC). This area is called Punta de Trafalgar and has an area of 183,31 hectares and is home to a variety of vegetal species and communities.

Just a few  of the members that enjoyed the 2008 outing 

The main attraction of the cape is its flora and of course its vast sandy beaches and surf that attract water sports enthusiasts.  

This is an easy site to walk, being mostly fairly level and the walking pace is likely to be leisurely with plenty of time to stop to admire views. If you are interested in learning something about the surprisingly diverse flora and the specialized plants that are found here, stay close to Leslie for fascinating insights into how they are adapted to survive here.

The dunes support a surprisingly abundant and diverse flora

We were very lucky to have had some very close encounters with a number of  Black Kites on their migration from Africa as they flew in very low over the sea.

Following the morning's walking and exploration, we headed for a local restaurant where we were served a very enjoyable lunch, enhanced as always on our outings, by pleasant company and interesting chat.  

Looking down onto the harbour at Barbate

An encounter with a Spiny-toed Lizard 

Refreshed,we then headed to a woodland area above the town of Barbate to complete our outing with a walk through a quite different habitat.


Unable to make this outing myself, I am very envious of those that do, but hope you have an enjoyable day.


Theresa