Nerja Off The Beaten Path

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We looked at the map and identified a route for a long drive out in the mountains. It had to have a green line along it to indicate that it would be picturesque and have good views.

So we headed east towards Motril and from there found the road that would take us to Orgiva and Lanjaron - a good map is essential for this trip.

Anyone who has read Chris STewart's book "Driving Over Lemons" will find themselves in familiar territory here.
It is a real switch-back of a road with tight bends and precipitous edges but well worth the concentration needed to drive without mishap.

We could smell the powerful aroma of a mixture of wild herbs - mainly thyme - just as we passed a pull-in so were able to stop and take in the atmosphere.
We then took a short walk up the mountain in the late afternoon, just as the sun was beginning to sink low in the sky.

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Some of the most spectacular scenery can be seen if you leave the N340 and travel on the old coast road east of Nerja towards Salobrena. Although much of the land here ( and the sun-marine coastal belt) lies within an area of protected, special interest - the Paraje Natural Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordon - quite a few housing developments have taken place in recent years including individually designed large, luxury houses on the clffs and a small Urbanization, El Nogal near La Herradura.
Famous for its flora and fauna, very popular with bird watchers and walkers it is very much more visited now than whe we first came across the area on a walk near Maro.
There are a number of steep and winding roads that lead to the largely unspoilt coves and beaches with very limited or no parking at all, so only accessible on foot. One beautiful October day my husband took such a precipitous road; as it was out of season we were able to park when we reache the bottom -still on four wheels - but I had my doubts as to whether we would make it back up that 1 in 3 hill!
We did not however stay for a dip when we found ourselves on Cantarrijan, a nudist beach. A short walk further along the beach brought us to a regular beach.

When taking this road we found, by chance a restaurant with the most beautiful of views and excellent food. It was then run by a Swedish family and is now English owned with a very good reputation though we have not been there since it changed hands.
Mirador

Based in Fuente De Piedra, close to the famous Flamingo Lake, El Refugio Del Burrito provide a safe haven with wonderful facilities for some of the many donkeys and mules that have faced a hard, and often badly mistreated, life.

Feeding, treating and providing refuge for their ever growing family of donkeys is an enormous commitment and they depend entirely on donations from supporters to continue and expand their vital work in Spain and the rest of Europe.

You will find the refuge situated in the beautiful village of Fuente de Piedra, Antequera. It is housed in a traditional Spanish cortijo (farm), complete with a charming olive grove and traditional buildings, has been turned into a safe haven for donkeys and mules rescued from across Europe. You can meet the residents and learn all their stories as you walk around the grounds, discovering how they are cared for. You can even adopt one at the Visitors' Centre.

This is a perfect way to discover the beauty of the Spanish interior, while enjoying a fun and interesting visit that will also help the donkeys. The nearby Flamingo Lake is famous for the fabulously coloured flamingos that flock to it.

(much of the above text & photo, is taken from the official website of the refuge, link below).

Entrance to El Refugio del Burrito is FREE.
Open daily from 11am until 7pm

To find us, take the road to Antequera from Malaga. Then follow the signs to Seville, taking the A92 motorway. Take the junction 132 to Fuente de Piedra and head into the village, turning left next to the Hotel Conde de la Laguna. Follow the track and take the second left after passing a large house on your right. We are situated at the end of this track.

A small picturesque village just 10 minutes from Nerja. I would regard it as a must visit place in the region. The small white houses cascade down a steep hillside. It been kept remarkably tidy and no new modern buildings spoil this little village. You really get a feel of what Andalucian life must have been like in the past and will feel you have walked into a time capsule. The village was also the site of a battle in centuries past between the Moors and the Christians, the story of the battle is told in the ornate tiled signs located throughout the village.

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This boat is in the Parque Verano Azul which has a lovely children's playground. The boat symbolises the tourist expansion in Nerja and appeared in the television serie 'Verano Azul' directed by Antonio Mercero at the beginning of 1980.

The park is situated on the Ant. Ferrandis 'Chanquette' which is on the left of the map of Nerja which you can obtain from the Tourist Information Centre.

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This is part of the ruined building of the Sugar Factor. Mr Miguel Sanchez bought this on land purchased from Larios. He died in 1869 and the building reverted back to Larios.

The sugar factory ruin is quite near to the Coaching tapas bar.

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This very Spanish tapas bar is used by the drivers of the coaches and horses in Nerja which take visitors around the town. If you buy a drink, you get free tapas. I think the food is free on a Friday night too. When we visited, we were the only ones there, but it was interesting to be in such a quaint place. The horses are stabled in very humble conditions next to the bar, but despite the simplicity of their stables, they look to be in wonderful condition.

Just outside Nerja (50 km east of Malaga) are some of the largest underground caves in Europe, sporting a maze of enourmous stalagmites and stalagtites. If you're lucky you might even be able to catch an opera or something similar in this spectacular setting. Set an hour aside for some amateur-spelunking! Probably too many stairs for the old or impaired though...