Estepona Mountain - Los Reales

Have you ever stood on Estepona Marina, or anywhere within 10kms of Estepona, and wondered how to get to the top of that big red mountain, Los Reales? Drive down the promenade towards Marbella, until you get to the new roundabout where the road becomes a dual carriageway towards Carrefour. Turn left at the roundabout and drive for 700 metres until you see Mercadona supermarket ahead on your right. At the traffic lights just before Mercadona, turn right and drive for 15 kms up an increasingly mountainous road. This is an old smugglers route. You will reach Puerto de Pinas Blanca, the 1010 metre high pass that takes the road into the Genal valley beyond.

Turn left here and drive for a further 4 kms along a single track road that winds further up the mountain. You will reach a refugio on your left and then a parking area. You can comfortably walk on a rough track for less than 500 metres to reach the mirador with fantastic views both up and down the coast.

For those with boots turn right at the mirador and follow the rougher track about another 500 metres until you reach the masts on the very top at 1,449 metres (4,709 feet). For information, the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis is 1,344 metres (4,406 ft).

Los Pedregales

How to Get There: From the west take the A7 to the Marina Casares roundabout and turn left signposted Casares. After a few kilometres take the road right signposted Estepona. The entrance is a few kilometres on the left.

From the east take the A7 to Estepona and leave at the exit for the poligono. At the roundabout at the top of the slip road bear right on the road signposted Casares. The entrance to the park is a few kilometres on the right.

This is a family day out so load the car with kids, football, dogs, barbeque, food and a good book. You will not be disappointed. Do not worry that it is getting late on in the year the park is incredibly hot during the summer. Autumn, preferably after the first rains, when it is cooler, is the best time to appreciate the foliage.

Los Pedregales park is one of Estepona's secrets. Set in the foothills of Los Reales the park preserves the natural fauna and flora of the area. Paths wend their way between the natural outcrops and the flowers, shrubs and herbs that you would expect to find in the more remote regions of Andalucia surround you. Perfect for those who cannot walk far yet enjoy the wild. For those looking for an inexpensive retreat then check out the camping site or the new purpose built wood chalets.

To keep the kids amused there is a large children's play area and a small venta from which you can buy ice cream, drinks and so on. There is also a delightful stream running through the park that is ideal for paddling. Older children may appreciate a game of patanka in the purpose built patanka pit or a game of football on one of the smooth grass areas.

Hardy types, on warm days, can also take advantage of the new swimming pool and paddling pool that was finished this year. For those who want a bit of culture, newly opened this year is a replica of a Bronze Age dolmen. The original was found during the excavations for the toll road a couple of kilometres away and it was carefully moved to Los Pedregales and reconstructed to house a small museum.

Dotted around the park are barbeque areas. If you do not have your own use one of the brick built affairs provided for you. Settle down beneath the shady trees and just enjoy the peace.