Itinerary
The path goes along undulating farming region, where the landscape is composed by the patchwork of olive trees, cereals, and oak forest with meadows, and ranches that speckle this monotonous scenery.
Summary
Stage 13 is a fairly comfortable path between two villages (Archidona and Villanueva de Tapia) which are at the same altitude and without deep valleys between them, so the ascents and descents are minimal and very gentle. Almost the entire stretch of land uses tracks of different grades, but generally well maintained, given the intense use by agricultural traffic.
There is an unavoidable stretch of road and you pass beneath a motorway, plus over a railway line by means of a level crossing without barriers.
The path is towards the Northeast, between some low altitude mountains to the left and hills occupied by Holm-oak woods and dehesas to the opposite side. You will visit one of these areas of dehesa, it is an example of the harmony between the original inhabitants of the territory and the resources needed for the development of human societies.
The best
The two traditional paths, united somewhat artificially for the sake of the motorway and the train line are two examples of traditional infrastructure of impeccable path, part of the common heritage of the villages. The star of this Stage is without doubt the dehesas of Málaga’s north-eastern region, one of whose better spots are grouped around the above-mentioned communication channels.
Following the Arroyo de la Negra upstream, acquaints the walker with one of the streams that forms the Hoz de Marin, this Stage complements the previous one. From an historical point of view, the Trifinio is an emblematic place near to Villanueva de Tapia. In this location three provinces meet; Málaga, Granada and Cordoba, which gives an idea of the disputes unleashed in this area until the boundaries were set in the early nineteenth century.
The Trifinio cairn is where Arroyo de la Cerca joins with the Barranco del Valholgado to form the Arroyo del Cerezo (this name occurs at the beginning and end of this Stage), east of the town and very close to the trail.