Itinerary
There are several important factors that you should bear in mind during this route, such as the altitude (the top is 1,452 metres high), and windy and hot weather as this mountain is cut off. The terrain is mountainous and rocky, which creates some rather steep slopes and stretches with uneven steps and pebbles. Nevertheless, considering its length and elevations, this route is quite accessible. There are areas with dense thicket and those with almost no plants.
Summary
This circular route is formed by three official paths, which belong to the network of the Andalusian Mountain Federation or the Public Use Plan of the Natural Beauty Spot Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja.
Firstly, you will follow the Short-distance PR-A 242 Genalguacil – Los Reales Path, which is downhill. At the beginning, there is 2-kilometre-long narrow asphalt road with little traffic. It later turns into a short-distance path up to the Plazoleta de Genalguacil, and after this point it turns into a public footpath, for example, the one at Los Reales, which goes to the summit.
The downhill walk to the start point is along the SL–A 168 Local Path, known as Climb to Los Reales Summit. This path consists of a 1-kilometre-long pebble track and footpaths.
The Natural Beauty Spot Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja has one of the greatest Spanish fir forests in the world. The forest grows on peridotite rocks, a very rare igneous rock derived from the Earth's mantle. The soil which these rocks generate is rich in heavy metals, so there are plenty of plants that need such terrain. The animal life also tries to adapt to this inhospitable environment. The mountain goat, a hoofed animal population which is endemic on the Iberian Peninsula, is of great importance.
However, the most attractive feature in the area is the landscape. While walking along the route, you will have wonderful views of four main spots, such as the Serranía de Ronda, the Alboran Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar. The mountain rises high between two continents and two seas at the viewpoints or at any of the high slopes along the route.
There are also important historic sites where some of the last battles with Moors against Christian armies happened, and where some distinguished scientists discovered extraordinary animal or plant species hidden in the Sierra Bermeja.
The best
Historic sites
Due to the hostile terrain with peridotite rocks, there are no villages in the Sierra Bermeja. They developed further away over slate or marble soil. Because of its isolated position and roughness, this land was used as a shelter by the last Andalusian Moors. Moreover, some bloody battles took place there. There are ruins of an old fortress, probably the famous Calalui Fort, in Los Realillos,
However, what brought numerous scientists, like Edmond Boissier, who discovered the Spanish fir in the first half of the 19th century, to this place was the uniqueness of the igneous rocks, evolved from the Earth's mantle, and the extraordinary plant life. It the recreation area, there are some monuments in honour of these eminent visitors, as well as several places which are dedicated to distinguished people from the field of nature sites and areas conservation.
Panoramic view of two continents and two seas
The Sierra Bermeja is a gigantic reddish rocks formation, which is the first of the higher western mountains that the Baetic System consists of. Actually, it is the highest mountain in the west coast of Málaga.
From the beginning and the end of the path, it is even possible to sea Estepona and Algeciras Bays, the Rock of GIbraltar and Moroccan coastline on a clear day. The Pillars of Hercules from Greek mythology, which were applied to the promontories on the both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar, were placed on the Andalusian flag by Blas Infante, a famous politician from Casares.
From the zones that face west or north, as well as from the mountain tops, the white villages in the Genal Valley can be seen. These are Gaucín, Benarrabá, Algatocín, Benalauría or Genalguacil, which is the closest. When the weather is nice, it is also possible to see Cortes de la Frontera or the Mountains of Cádiz.
Moreover, the panoramic view includes mountain range that extends to the Sierra de las Nieves.