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Trails

Great Malaga Path (GR 249). Stage 25. Estación de Benaoján - Jimera de Líbar
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Trail Type Lineal
Location type Sierras Interiores
Distance 9600 m.
Estimated Time 3:00 h.
Starting point Río Guadiaro
Altitude 435 m.
Arrival point Fuente de Jimera de Líbar (S)
Altitude 520 m.
Net Head in Metres 560 m.
Cumulative Elevation Gain 320 m.
Cumulative Elevation Loss 240 m.
Difficulty

Green - Very easy

Roughness of environment 1
Guidance along the Itinerary 1
Route Difficulty 1
Guesthouse 2
Assessment according to MIDE
Sistema SIDIF

Summary

Summary
How to Access
Characteristics
Spots along the trail
Trails that are linked
Ways to tour
  • Characteristics
    Type of Section Length % of total
    Longitud Total 9600
    Asphalt or Cement Sections of the Path 1800 19 %
    Track or Forest Track Sections 2300 24 %
    Footpath Sections 5500 57 %
  • Point of Interest

    Spots along the trail

    From the starting position
    From the starting position
    No. Waypoint Ref. UTM / height Partial Route Distance
    1 Estación de Benaoján. Puente sobre el río Guadiaro 30S

    x=36.7124092911518 y=-5.24603192521829

    0,0 km
    2 Mirador de Benaoján y la Estación 30S

    x=36.7077828480367 y=-5.24809119648251

    0,7 km
    3 Arroyo del Agua y venta 30S

    x=36.7013095971626 y=-5.25201035171904

    1,6 km
    4 Mirador del Charco del Túnel 30S

    x=36.6983530173611 y=-5.25345742474292

    2,0 km
    5 Vereda hacia el Cortijo del Quejigal 30S

    x=36.6975429271876 y=-5.25244884605684

    2,2 km
    6 Desembocadura del Arroyo Fuente Enrique 30S

    x=36.6954376348265 y=-5.25320441358326

    2,5 km
    7 Abrigo en la roca 30S

    x=36.6858227089502 y=-5.26071240773308

    3,8 km
    8 Arroyo Seco 30S

    x=36.6832899113306 y=-5.26261891013974

    4,3 km
    9 Punto de accidente histórico del tren 30S

    x=36.6690027119423 y=-5.27642046321694

    6,5 km
    10 Puente peatonal de la Vía Pecuaria sobre la vía del tren 30S

    x=36.6648213273443 y=-5.28015693924658

    7,1 km
    11 Centro de Piragüismo Vagones de Jimera 30S

    x=36.6616356040273 y=-5.28131587316614

    7,6 km
    12 Fuente de Jimera de Líbar 30S

    x=36.6494707086677 y=-5.27506218162307

    9,6 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

Multimedia

Images
Videos
Documents

Environmental Information

Rivers and Waters
Animal Life
  • Rivers and Waters

    It is in Las Angosturas where the Guadiaro river, whose birth you had witnessed previously along the Great Path, acquires its true dimension of an major river. This is because in Benaoján it is joined on its right bank by the important contributions of the Cueva del Gato, the Nacimiento of Cascajales and The Fresnedilla water source (visible from the walk) in just over two kilometres. Furthermore, on the left side there is the permanent stream Arroyo del Agua.

    This important stream emerges a few meters from the Venta in ruins. It was one of the last streams which harboured the native, non-invasive crayfi sh. Note the black rubber pipeline before crossing the stream; these were used to pump water from La Fresnedilla up to Benaoján and Montejaque for drinking water.

    The Arroyo Seco or del Aguila streams do not contribute much to the main river fl ow but in the rainy season they can gain a lot of water level. The Nacimiento de las Artezuelas is important. In summer it is not too big but with enough rain you can see its white cascades across the river, as you are reaching Jimera. This village and Cortes de la Frontera source their drinking water here and the excess is channelled for irrigation of Jimera orchards and gardens.

    It is noteworthy how good the state of conservation of Guadiaro river is, especially since the town of Ronda has started providing the full cycle of water purification. However, there is still some village and industrial waste going into the river. The fi shpopulation is remarkable, the most conspicuous being the Andalucían barbel but also there is nase, chub and eel. This attracts herons in summer and cormorants in winter, and they are pretty easy to see. You can also find freshwater Spanish Pond Terrapins, and, though not as easily, the quintessential mammalian river predator, the otter.

    The Guadiaro thickets of vegetation contain heterogeneous species, depending on the width of the vegetation belt, the type of current and how open the valley is. There are clumps of willow in all sections, including basket willow, also elm, mulberry, white and black poplars and tamarisk. Cattails and brambles are also common around the pools at the more open river beaches.

    The Guadiaro river course along the relevant section described here is perfectly straight (40 º northeast direction) and very compact, 8 kilometres long and with a continuous vertical drop of the current at 100 m exactly (from 415 m to 315 m), i.e.: with an average slope of 1.25%. This, plus the magnifi cent scenery composed of riparian forests, the absence of major dams and good water fl ow make this section of Guadiaro ideal for white water rafting. Jimera Canoeing Centre called Jimera Vagones has been built for that very purpose, close to the railway facilities in Jimera Station, following the tourism development project Plan de Dinamización del Producto Turístico Serranía de Ronda.

     

  • Animal Life

    Birds

    The presence of the river clearly marks the type of bird species you can see at the beginning of Stage 25, soecies which then give way to a community of forest birds in the uphill stretches leading through holm oaks.

     

    Highlighted Species

    At the starting point you can see urban dwellers, such as Eurasian Collared Dove, Pallid and Common Swift, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Black Redstart, Common Starling, House Sparrow and, at the same time, species typical of riverside woods, including Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Sandpiper, Eurasian Collared Dove, Scops Owl, Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Wryneck, Great Spotted Woodpecker, White and Grey Wagtail, Nightingale, Cetti´s Warbler, Wren, and Golden Oriole. Besides, the vegetable plots and scrubland at the first part of Stage 25 hold the European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Black-eared Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, Woodchat Shrike, Great Tit, Goldfinch, Serin, Greenfinch and Cirl Bunting. These birds, together with rock-dwelling species such as Alpine Swift, Crag Martin and Blue Rock Thrush, create one of the most diverse birdlife starting points of all the stages along the Great Malaga Path.

    In the holm oak woods you can find Common Wood Pigeon, European Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker, Song and Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Firecrest, Blue Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Eurasian Jay, Goldfinch and Cirl Bunting, whilst in the shadiest spots with Portuguese gall oaks, Bonelli´s Warbler occurs, and you can see flocks of Long-tailed Tits.

    The river, present virtually along the whole stage, allows for the presence of large birds such as Grey Heron and even Great Cormorant in winter, on top of the already named typical riparian species of birds.

    Stage 25 is highly suitable for watching birds of prey, with such notable species as Griffon Vulture, Northern Goshawk, Short-toed, Booted, Golden and Bonelli´s Eagle, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon. Additionally, during migration passage periods you can frequently observe Black Kite, Honey Buzzard, and Hobby. As far as nocturnal raptors, the Eagle Owl is present, plus Tawny Owl and Scops Owl.  Stage 25 also holds Common Linnet and Rock Bunting, which, together with Zitting Cisticola and Crested Lark occurring in cultivated areas, make up which quite an impressive set of species for such a short stage.