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Trails

Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 13. Archidona - Villanueva de Tapia
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Trail Type Lineal
Location type Sierras Interiores
Distance 17100 m.
Estimated Time 3:50 h.
Starting point Archidona (S)
Altitude 705 m.
Arrival point Villanueva de Tapia (S)
Altitude 680 m.
Net Head in Metres 375 m.
Cumulative Elevation Gain 170 m.
Cumulative Elevation Loss 205 m.
Difficulty

Blue -Easy

Roughness of environment 2
Guidance along the Itinerary 2
Route Difficulty 2
Guesthouse 3
Assessment according to MIDE
Sistema SIDIF

Summary

Summary
How to Access
Characteristics
Spots along the trail
Ways to tour
  • Characteristics
    Type of Section Length % of total
    Longitud Total 17100
    Asphalt or Cement Sections of the Path 3000 18 %
    Track or Forest Track Sections 13100 77 %
    Footpath Sections 1000 6 %
  • Point of Interest

    Spots along the trail

    From the starting position
    From the starting position
    No. Waypoint Ref. UTM / height Partial Route Distance
    1 Archidona, C / Luis Braille con Avda. Andalucía 30S

    x=37.0932480989248 y=-4.38724470448835

    0,0 km
    2 Fuente del Sacristán 30S

    x=37.1133295869741 y=-4.35929389980197

    4,1 km
    3 Puerto en el cortijo del Tomillar 30S

    x=37.1227871998192 y=-4.35120094059062

    5,5 km
    4 Arroyo de la Negra y paso por la Autovía Sevilla Granada 30S

    x=37.1298097916728 y=-4.34397479517486

    6,5 km
    5 Paso a nivel sin barreras 30S

    x=37.1328341711048 y=-4.32109623625581

    8,9 km
    6 Cruce A-333 30S

    x=37.1548126786513 y=-4.3248231251832

    12,0 km
    7 Cortijo de las Monjas_ 30S

    x=36.9438072216493 y=-4.24265167293683 z=580

    12,8 km
    8 Las Palomeras y Mirador de Villanueva de Tapia 30S

    x=37.1696481641248 y=-4.32004744396647

    14,5 km
    9 Arroyo de la Cerca 30S

    x=37.1823963459323 y=-4.33105001930824

    16,2 km
    10 Villanueva de Tapia, rotonda de la Adva. de la Constitución 30S

    x=37.1805886091719 y=-4.33630150684667

    17,1 km
  • Ways to tour

    Regarding the kind of transport which can be used along different stages of the path, these are divided in those that can be crossed on foot, on a mountain bike, or on a horse. Nevertheless, there is to know that you can walk along the entire stage when this class of routes is indicated, but if you decide to travel on a mountain bike or horse, there is to check that there are no temporary restrictions or town regulations that do not allow their use at some parts of a stage, and then choose alternative way. We also underline that riding a mountain bike on some stages may include travelling by uneven or steep road surface, which requires some or a lot of effort.

    • On foot
    • On a bicycle

Highlight

Cartography
Towns
Point of Interest
Accessibility

Multimedia

Images
Videos
Documents

Environmental Information

Rivers and Waters
Animal Life
  • Rivers and Waters

    The Fuente del Sacristán spring gives name to the whole area, including the nearby farmhouse. It must have been very important, not only as the point of a water supply which had a good reputation in the village, but also as a reference point giving name to the road. The nearby Sierra de Archidona mountain range provides a water supply which merits the continued care of its environment.

    The Hoz de Marín stream only gains that name close to Archidona, near where you exit this Stage to enter the town, it is still called the Arroyo de la Fuente de la Loma. The tributaries which feed from the north into this watercourse from left to right are Arroyo de la Acequia de Caballero, Arroyo del Sequillo and Arroyo de la Negra, with the Arroyo de los Pirineos entering from the south.

    The Gran Senda de Málaga introduces you to the Arroyo de la Negra stream which runs parallel to east, up-stream you cross its river bed. In this part the bank vegetation has been altered, with only some tall black poplars and other insubstantial trees. The plants that do prosper are the rushes and bulrushes. The scarce bank side vegetation does not prevent the stream hosting an important fish and amphibian fauna. Some 500 metres before reaching the stream, the torrential rains of 2012 have provoked a 2 metre deep gully in the clayey ground, allowing the walker to recognize the many different sediment layers.

    The Arroyo del Sequillo gully, is of a lesser fl ow and length than that of the Negra (until it is joins with an irrigation ditch), you will cross it higher upstream when walking to beside the motorway, here, just a small stream among the Holm oaks. 

    Although they are not on our path, there are lakes near Archidona, to the east and situated near to the motorway A-92M.

    Lastly, the longest descent of the day leads you to cross the Arroyo de la Cerca gully besides Villanueva de Tapia. The softness of the clays on which the olive groves are grown has been deeply scarred by uncontrolled gullies which the locals have tried to repair and prevent with varying results. There are still some poplars, but more common are the brambles which grow in the earthy slopes. The Fuente de la Alameda is close to the village, but perhaps the most curious place name is that of the Fuente de Allalantes, which you will pass on your right as you reach the end of the section.

  • Animal Life

    Birds

    This stage of the walk starts off with the views towards the Sierra de Archidona quarries and as it continues it takes you through cultivated areas harbouring large specimens of holm oak. You will be walking through a patch of well-preserved dehesa and then, for the first time, you will step into a large extension of olive tree monoculture.

     

    Highlighted Species

    In the Archidona area you will see Rock Dove, Eurasian Collared Dove, Pallid, Common and Alpine Swifts, White Wagtail, Common and Red-rumped Swallows, House and Crag Martin, Black Redstart, Common and Spotless Starling and House Sparrow. Once you leave the urban area behind, your attention is drawn to the mountain views and species such as Common Kestrel, Blue Rock Thrush, Western Jackdaw and Red-billed Chough, which are seen in the distance, as well as some large raptors such as Golden, Short-toed and Bonelli´s Eagle or the Peregrine Falcon. Eagle Owl can also be found in the area.

    Species associated with crop fields are mainly the following: Crested Lark, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Sardinian Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Spotless and Common Starling, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Common Linnet and Serin. The scattered holm oak trees at this section add the presence of Common Buzzard, Long-eared Owl, Great Tit, Raven and Common Chaffinch.

    Once you cross the motorway you will enter an area of dehesa where you may see Common Wood Pigeon, European Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Hoopoe, Mistle and Song Thrush, Western Orphean and Sardinian Warbler, Common Blackbird, Common Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher, Short-toed Treecreeper, Woodchat and Southern Grey Shrike, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, and the quite visible, joyful flocks of Azure-winged Magpies and Hawfinches.

    Now all you have left to do is walking down towards Villanueva de Tapia. Entering an olive grove you will be able to see some of the already mentioned species plus Eurasian Stone-curlew, Red-legged Partridge, Red-necked Nightjar, Crested Lark and, mainly, finches. As you arrive in the village the typical urban dwellers appear again.