Itinerary
This is path which is marked as 249.1, is a new alternative trail to stage 17 of the 249 Long-distance Path. It starts in Mollina and goes through the Sierra de la Camorra, where it connects the most important natural sites and farming areas in the towns of Mollina, Humilladero and Fuente de Piedra.
Summary
This is an interesting trail section which stretches from km 6.3 of the Great Málaga Path's stage 17, and offers an alternative way to Fuente de Piedra. Instead of going eastwards from the Mollina Mountains, the trail heads to the south at the crossroad between the Perezón Colorado way and Cordel de Santillan, surrounded by pine trees. The trail goes through dry farmland in the north of Málaga and it can take us to three natural sites along the way. These are two mountain ranges – Mollina and Humilladero, and Fuente de Piedra Lagoon.
The way goes southwards up to Mollina, and towards the Puntal de la Sierra, where it reaches a quarry, and turns east along the mountain side of the Sierra de Humilladero covered in groves. The part of the route that goes through the second village continues along the same way, which follows the Charcón Stream Valley. There are also two railways that go across the fields and connect the town of Málaga with the inland of the peninsula. The trail goes under the first of them, which is high-speed rail, and the second makes the trail head north.
The end of the way is Fuente de Piedra village, where stage 17 also ends. The Fuente de Piedra Nature Reserve is close to this spot, where the next stage of the 249 Long-distance Path starts. The route is mostly downhill with small drops, and its highest point is close to the halfway, in the pine forest in the Sierra de Humilladero. It is not difficult and it can be part of a circular walk round the centre of Andalusia if it is added to the original stage.
The best
The Sierra de la Camorra is a high rocky piece of land in the hollow of Antequera, with varied old roads and some currently used ways. Alameda is the closest town to the above reserve that is characterized by biodiversity, and Mollina and Humilladero are nearby the Sierra de Humilladero. The landscape that surrounds the way to Mollina and past Humilladero, has changed little since old times. It is mainly composed of olive trees, cereal fields and vineyards. At some moments, the maze of these crops makes incredible scenery decorated by farming activities.
The line between the olive grove and the pine forest is probably the most attractive feature of this landscape. The coexistence of them probably brought difficulties in the past, but it is stable now. Reforested pine forests can be seen within several kilometre radius along the stage. Although the forest is rather dense, there is Mediterranean thicket in some open areas or at its borderlines. It consists of many different species, above all, the rosemary, esparto, rockrose and broom. Sometimes you can see dots of kermes oaks, followed by oak forest. Bellow Aleppo pines, some wild olive trees can be seen as they can adapt well to this kind of terrain.
Urban areas are rather important on this trail, above all churches and narrow streets in white Andausian villages, as well as mansions, large traditional houses or country houses which are scattered round the fields.
