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Trails

Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 19. Campillos - Embalses del Guadalhorce
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Trail Type Lineal
Location type Campiña
Distance 23000 m.
Estimated Time 5:15 h.
Starting point Campillos (SE)
Altitude 470 m.
Arrival point Puente del Embalse Guadalhorce Guadalteba
Altitude 360 m.
Net Head in Metres 615 m.
Cumulative Elevation Gain 255 m.
Cumulative Elevation Loss 360 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 23000
    Asphalt or Cement Sections of the Path 3000 13 %
    Track or Forest Track Sections 17300 75 %
    Footpath Sections 2700 12 %
  • Point of Interest

    Spots along the trail

    From the starting position
    From the starting position
    No. Waypoint Ref. UTM / height Partial Route Distance
    1 Campillos C/ Óscar Fernández 30S

    x=37.0534687090146 y=-4.85899286025062

    0,0 km
    2 Cortijo de la Rondana 30S

    x=37.0413220918229 y=-4.83448941521683

    2,2 km
    3 Laguna del Cerero 30S

    x=37.04038942065782 y=-4.816027876392983

    3,8 km
    4 Laguna de Camuñas 30S

    x=37.03138094362351 y=-4.812777945190621

    5,8 km
    5 Laguna de Capacete 30S

    x=37.02313193635514 y=-4.8246657410471965

    8,5 km
    6 Arboreto Cortijo Montero 30S

    x=37.0004118680032 y=-4.79557930663874

    12,4 km
    7 Puerto en el pinar 30S

    x=36.9878329388258 y=-4.7839916727175

    14,3 km
    8 Arroyo de Juan Vacas 30S

    x=36.9791090577073 y=-4.79170816488996

    16,0 km
    9 Cortijo de Rebolo 30S

    x=36.9658234734638 y=-4.80302221532315

    19,2 km
    10 Cortijo del Chopo 30S

    x=36.9564948247279 y=-4.79707437450361

    21,2 km
    11 Viviendo troglodita 30S

    x=36.951720161605 y=-4.79572682502521

    21,8 km
    12 Cabecera de los embalses de Guadalhorce y Guadalteba 30S

    x=36.9408355113223 y=-4.79907571621868

    23,0 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

Highlight

Cartography
Towns
Establishments along the Great Málaga Path
Point of Interest
Accessibility
  • Cartography

    1022-IV (Campillos) to locate the starting point only, then turn to 1023-III (Bobadilla-Estación). The remaining half is on map 1038-I (Pantano del Chorro).

  • Towns

    Campillos

    Where to eat

    Click here

    Where to stay

    Click here

  • Establishments along the Great Málaga Path

    Hostal San Francisco **

    C/ Real Nº 36 29320 Campillos


    See more

Multimedia

Images
Videos
Documents

Environmental Information

Rivers and Waters
Animal Life
  • Rivers and Waters

    The Arroyo de Boquerón and the Arroyo de Capitán are the two sole watercourses of the stage, similar in a way, as both flow into the shallow ends of reservoirs; the first one flows into the Guadalhorce and the second into the Guadalteba. Neither of them harbour any wellpreserved galleried woods, only some tamarisk and elm, and, above all, brambles, reeds and bulrushes.

    The vegetation perimeter around the lakes which can be visited by tourists has been strengthening over time thanks to the lakes being protected. The vegetation belt is very narrow though, due to the harsh environmental conditions that cause cycles of floods and drought, the relentless wind and the saline nature of the soil. In those lagoons with extensive water surface and little depth it is easy to observe thickets of tamarisk of varying density, a plant which is a real specialist in this type of habitat. The bulrush require deeper water, which they conquer with their thick runners, while the reeds colonize veryextensive areas, at times reaching a tangled mass of stems which potentially offers a good hideout for wildlife.

    Flamingos can be easily observed during the season when they turn into resident birds at the lagoons, as well as the Purple Heron, various Egrets, Coots and Moorhens with their dark plumage which are the most abundant along with ducks. Finally, the waders wander along muddy shores deploying a whole repertoire of hunting tactics.

    The reservoirs on the other hand battle with the problem of considerable differences in water level so that the vegetation can become non-existent in many areas: at the dam end of the reservoirs, on steep inclines or on rocky ground, as you will see during this stage. At the tip of Guadalteba, Guadalhorce and Conde de Guadalhorce reservoirs (especially at the latter two) there are dense clusters of tamarisk at the deltas of the Guadalhorce and the Turón. The reservoirs have settled as aquatic ecosystems as a result of human action which did not particularly aim for this result.

    Although the track does not reach the Gaitanejo reservoir, which is located below the three dams, note that it maintains more constant water levels thanks to being regulated and thus it has managed to sustain a diverse galleried wood with the tamarisk being the dominant tree.

  • Animal Life

    Birds

    Stage 19 is the last of the series of stages where farmland is the main type of environment and the next stages become more mountainous. Stage 19 still passes through olive groves and grain fields however its special feature are a group of lagoons, Lagunas de Campillos, and pine tree formations, which together convert this part of the walk into a mosaic of landscapes accompanied by an interested variety of birds.

     

    Highlighted Species

    In the centre of Campillos you will have a chance to see urban species, principally  Eurasian Collared Dove, Common and Pallid Swift, Barn Swallow, House Martin,  Spotless Starling, House Sparrow,  plus Common Kestrel, European Turtle Dove, and Common Starling around the industrial estate located in the outskirts. Once you leave these buildings behind you will enter cultivated fields and olive groves where Red-legged Partridge, Song Thrush, Hoopoe, Crested Lark, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Common Linnet and Corn Bunting are the most common species. Although Little Bustard is chosen as target species of all of Stage 19, and indeed it can be observed during the route, a good spot to enjoy this species is around Laguna Dulce very close to the starting point.

    The presence of large scattered pine trees are the reminder of what the area must have looked like before the land was ploughed and turned into farmland. These trees produce such species as Common Buzzard, Coal Tit and Raven.

    The group of lagoons you will be visiting are, in walking order, El Cerero, Laguna de Camuñas and la Marcela; these are areas which constitute true oases for water birds in an environment dominated by dry crop farming.  The most common species in these wetlands are Little Grebe, Eared (Black-necked) Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Greater Flamingo, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, White-headed Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Snipe, Green and Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, White and Yellow Wagtail, and Meadow Pipit. Moreover, Cranes can be seen in the surroundings in winter months.

    In the pine wood, before you cross the Arroyo del Boquerón, such birds could appear as the Common Wood Pigeon, European Turtle Dove, Hoopoe, Greenfinch, Serin, Crossbill and  Common Chaffinch, whilst in the scrubland, before the downhill section leading towards the reservoirs, you can fairly easily find Crested Lark, Stonechat, European Robin, Song Thrush and Sardinian Warbler.

    During migration periods in this part of Stage 19, Black Kite, Honey Buzzard, and good numbers of Bee-eaters tend to be seen flying overhead; neither is it uncommon to see Griffon Vulture, Bonelli´s Eagle and Peregrine Falcon in flight, frequenting the area in search for food.

    Once you reach the end of the stage at the foot of the reservoirs, water birds become the focus again, even though the depth of the Embalses limits the diversity of species, mainly to Little Black-backed, Yellow-legged and Black-headed Gulls, Mallard, Little and Eared (Black-necked) Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron and Coot.