The ‘Caminos’ of Jubrique & El Arabí (Up to km 6)

From the Plaza del General Vi as in Benalaur a, head east along the streets Iglesia and Cruz, until you reach the fountain of La Cruz, on a kind of balcony overlooking the Algatoc n Way below. After a sharp bend in the road, once in the outskirts and surrounded by Almond trees, Olive trees and Prickly pears, you reach El Chorruelo fountain. You then turn south-east along a forest track, through ever more abundant Chestnut trees.

At kilometre 1.2, you come to the Bailadero area, a levelled off area for traditional festivals with outdoor gym equipment. From here, the PR A-238 breaks off to the right in the direction of Algatoc n, which can be seen to the south-west. The PR A-291 then continues on from there to Jubrique, off to the left. Away to the east are the whitewashed houses of Alpandeire and Faraj n, settled between the mountains and forested uplands. The route then makes a steep descent through a sun-blushed Cork oak forest with some Holm and Gall oaks. Pine trees become more plentiful once you leave the track (km 2.3), to take a very steep track off to the right.

At the 3-kilometre mark, a not so steep footpath goes off to the left to the Almenta mill, while the Great Path continues downhill until it reaches a country track, at a long bend. El Arab  is a junction of tracks where you take the path to the north-west. This makes another sharp turn when it crosses the Benajamuz stream.

The route continues through the considerable Cork oaks of the public uplands of El Coto and Vega del R o, until it reaches the MA-8305 road. This offers some excellent views to the north-east, over the Picado waterhole and the long straight stretch of the Genal past the Enmedio mill. The footpath now crosses the road twice, descends a steep-sided mound and reaches an old sawmill. Use the tarmac when crossing the bridge of San Juan over the Genal (km 5.7).

The walkways of the River Genal (Up to km 9.5)

Take the campsite track to go round the back of the San Juan Inn, before turning off onto a path that goes past the pretty mill of El  lamo. The route then follows the Genal, with Willows and Poplars on display. The next river you cross is the Monardilla, with plenty of European hackberry trees, Tamarisks and Oleanders. It climbs a little alongside the stream until it reaches the promenade-like El Ventorrillo, where it turns towards a deep oxbow lake. Few places on the Great Path have such a variety of trees and shrubs as here.

The uneven footpath then goes along the riverside, surrounded by dense woodland. After a narrow and winding footpath, you reach the track of the Juan Ruiz farm. There are some steps for a now non-existent bridge before reaching the Genal’s tightest bend where the first walkways and steps are located (km 7.2), opposite the fertile plains of La Estacá.

After a water intake with plenty of Bear’s breeches, you cross the Hondo stream, and come onto the extensive plains of Los Cuarterones, with only a few properties. The route follows the old irrigation channel, which is equipped with safety cables. Go over the Perejilas stream and up a steep slope to reach the much more open landscape of the Los Tejarejos plains. At the next walkway you come to, you climb some steps before going back down to the level of a disused irrigation ditch. This is on a fairly open area on the flood plains, called Los Duros with large Poplar trees, once through a gateway. There are large reed beds that lead on to the last walkway and steps, called Los Limones (km 9.2). This leads on to a ruined weir, before passing between a Poplar plantation, the river and some high slate cliffs. After going through another small gate, there is an optional diversion down a small track to the Escribana water hole (around km 9.5), an important meeting point of paths and tracks and recreational area.

The Shaded Route (To the end of the stage)

Instead of this, the Great Path takes on a stunning climb up the Cordel de la Umbr a (the Shaded Line) to the River Genal. The footpath was created by cutting into the slate, reaching above head height, particularly at the steepest part when it crosses the track to Los Duros.

Heading east and under a mixed forest of Cork oak, Gall oak and Pine trees, you pass a track that climbs to the left, to the Genalguacil road. The path continues to climb steeply until it reaches a small building and begins to flatten out little by little. The landscape opens out and there are numerous lookout spots over the Genal valley.

From a flat area with large Cork oaks, the sharp peaks of the Natural Park of the Sierra Bermeja come into view, while Genalguacil gets ever closer. To the south you can see the Sierra Crestellina and on a clear day, the Strait of Gibraltar. Benarrab  is on the other side of the valley, to the west.

The path runs between small fields and one last climb takes you past the Camino de los Limones on your right, over sections of traditional path and the access lanes to the properties. After the sports facilities of Genalguacil, you reach Las Cruces, where this stage comes to an end.