Comares

Andalucia

The Yellow Route requires a day. Take food, drink and wear stout shoes or walking sandals. In spring there are plenty of wildflowers and you may hear nightingales singing in the trees by the river. You stand a good chance of spotting frogs, the occasional egret and, if you are lucky, turtles.

Starting from the main square, head down the road and take the right fork by the fuente. After a very short distance go left, following the signposts, just before the road bends to the right. The tarmac road changes to a footpath. Follow it down, rejoining the road to Los Ventorros. There is another short section of path cutting off a bend in the road and rejoining it. Follow the road into Los Ventorros and turn right on the road to La Brena. After 2Km, there’s a sign to the right indicating an alternative route. If it has rained recently take this way and when you come to the junction go left and descend the hill.

Otherwise take the dirt road on the left to the riverbed. Go right following the river downstream. If there is water you will have to hop from one side to side. After a while the river widens out into a gravel bed. Just before this are some eucalyptus trees on the right bank. There’s a ruin and an old well. Approach the well with caution, as it has a sheer drop.

Continuing on along the riverbed you will reach a barrage with a road going over the top. If you have taken the alternative route it will have brought you here. Cross the barrage and carry on following the river downstream. Passing under the partially collapsed bridge at Llano de Almendras.

Note that the riverbed section is quite long as it weaves halfway round the hill that Comares is on. If you are beginning to flag when you reach the broken bridge you can shorten the route by getting up on to the road here and turning right to follow it back to Comares.

Continuing on, a short while after this you will pass some deep pools on the left and if you are lucky you may spot some turtles here. The Benamargosa - Riogordo road is now above you, to your left and you need to keep your eyes peeled for a way mark sign on your right. Follow this up out of the riverbed. (If you miss this sign, a bit further on you come to the ford at Los Gallegos and you take the road on the right there, to the main Comares road.) Assuming you spot the sign follow the dirt road and when it forks take the left path. This gradually winds up the hillside, eventually joining the main road to Comares. Follow the road for a while to the left fork to La Alqueria. Stay on the main road and just after this turn right on to the path that is also part of the La Lavadero route and climb up the rest of the hill back to Comares. Go straight to the bar and have a well-earned drink.

 Description courtesy of David Jones, regular visitor to Comares and veteran walker.
Photographs from "La Axarquía - Land to the East of Málaga" by Hilary Gavilan

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