Towards the Mountain Pass of El Quejigal (Up to km 3.8)

The initial part of the Stage is flat, crossing the fields of Alfarnate towards the mountains. The first notable landmark you come to is the crossing of the Arroyo Morales stream. It is a historic fording point, since it is part of the livestock track of the Vereda de Archidona (or del Fraile). You then cross the A-4152 road and the track gradually becomes more rugged with loose stones. Then you meet a steep slope which vehicles are prohibited from accessing. This was once a well-known footpath, the Escarigüela, which zigzags along on either side of the track. Holm oaks gradually become more frequent on the sunny flanks of the Sierra, however Scorpion broom dominates, with occasional Turpentine trees. The landscape is brought to life by the extraordinary karstic landscape at the Quejigal mountain pass, which even has seasonal pools.

The track improves considerably as it descends towards Villanueva del Trabuco through reforested areas with Aleppo pines. The town soon comes into view up ahead after passing the entrance to a farm on your left.

The hollows and depressions of El Quejigal (Up to km 6.8)

There is a sharp turn at km 4, next to a newly-built seasonal amphibian pond along a stream and the first of the buildings in the recreation area. At km 4.8 of the route, you reach the Villanueva del Trabuco Treetop Adventure Park, set in a large basin surrounded by large trees and with an enclosed lake.

Continuing on, you soon come to another basin, called the Virote hollow. It is surrounded by some fine examples of Aleppo pines, large Turpentine trees, very dense woodland of Holm oak and Portuguese oaks (Quejigos), which give their name to the whole area. You follow a footpath that goes up and along the bottom of the Vaga, a local expression for a valley, under dense Gall oak woodland. This brings you to a plain, where you begin to appreciate its elevation. A wire fence, which runs close to the boundary between the three municipalities, guides you to the left towards a small wire gate that leads to the threshing floor of Juan Moreno (km 6.8). This serves as proof of the agricultural practices in this peripheral and complex area for crop cultivation and farming.

Looking back from here are some spectacular panoramic views of the mountain ranges of the Central Limestone Arc, rounded off to the north by the rocky bulk of the Sierra de Loja.

Through the Sierra (Up to km 9.6)

The ravine which the Great Malaga Path now climbs up is in the Sierra del Jobo. The peak of the Morrón del Chamizo is to the east and the Sierra Gorda, to the west. It is difficult to appreciate the magnitude of this second limestone mountain from this position. It is though, from Villanueva del Trabuco, which backs on to it. The footpath then reaches the highest point on the entire GR, just where the Toma y Bebe fountain is found. Keep an eye out for the interesting sinkholes that characterise the area. Above you towards the left, there is also a well-used shelter with thick protective stone walls.

From the mountain pass of El Quejigo and the Llano de la Cueva plateau (km 8.3) at 1,385 m above sea level, you begin to drop down and the Dehesa de Hondonero gradually comes into view. Look for a footpath that takes you to the Hondonero viewpoint, passing by some impressive cliffs with some especially large Maple trees on the way.

The Dehesa de Hondonero traditional farmland (To the end of the stage)

At the Mirador (km 9.6), you take a wide track, which allows vehicle access all the way from Villanueva del Rosario, the stage’s destination. The viewpoint here has a privileged setting thanks to the amphitheatre-like rugged mountain ranges that surround it. The extensive views to the north across the flat expanses around the two Villanuevas, only add to this splendour. From this point on, you will see various information panels intended for those following the Great Malaga Path in the opposite direction. These display a broad range of information (in Spanish) about the Dehesa de Hondonero, and perhaps the most interesting is the information about its geology, its karstic lakes and springs.

The importance of the area lies, above all in the diversity of birds, orchids and geological formations. It is also very popular with walkers, cyclists and lovers of climbing and via ferratas.

The route continues to follow a largely westerly course, but it makes a sharp turn to the north just where the turn-off to the Tajo de la Madera is located. This impressive rocky outcrop of reddish rock is some 500 metres to the west.

The final section of the Stage takes you past successive springs between farmhouses, orchards and holiday homes. Olive trees begin to cover the landscape once again, especially over the wide-open plains visible from the pristine chapel of Nuestra Señora del Rosario (km 14.3). A short detour is recommended from here, to visit the spring of El Chorro, which also feeds the Arroyo del Cerezo. The Great Path now continues between this latter stream’s emerging valley and that of another stream, the Arroyo de Canaleja. Heading towards the Canaleja, it soon reaches a little bridge that leads to the village of Villanueva del Rosario, bringing the Stage to a close.