Route: Roque Bermejo
Area: Anaga Peninsular, Northern Tenerife
Date of walk: 7th February 2018
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.6 miles
Ascent: 2,200 feet
Weather: Sunny, becoming cloudier later with several showers
The Anaga Peninsular is a very remote area in the far north east of the island, and the car journey to the start of today’s walk was an adventure in itself, part of which involved a 1 hour journey along narrow roads with countless hairpin bends and staggering views along the way, and some big drops to the side. Full concentration was needed and the car was in 2nd gear for most of the way
Eventually we arrived at the end of the road – literally – as it’s not possible to drive any further than the start of today’s walk from the hamlet of Chamorga. We set off along a narrow path along the northern wall of the barranco in the direction of a dramatic ‘devil’s head’ rock. The area is a paradise for botanists and we admired the local flora covering the rocks of the mountain side as we progressed along the way
We made an airy there and back walk to a drago tree perched at the end of a narrow ledge – the views from here were spectacular – and then commenced a slow descent around the cliff face towards the lighthouse, enjoying more amazing views as we went along the narrow path
After reaching the lighthouse we descended to our destination, possibly the most remote and isolated hamlet on Tenerife – Roque Bermejo. There is no road access to this place and supplies are brought in by sea. We didn’t have time to descend to the stony beach and after reaching the small chapel it was time to embark on the return leg
It’s a rule of walking a circular route that what goes down must go up, and having descended some 2,000 feet we knew beforehand that we’d have a considerable climb back up the barranco to the start of the walk. As we set off the weather closed in and there were a few heavy showers along the way, but it was easier going than we’d anticipated and after an hour or more of huffing and puffing Chamorga came into view and after another 15 minutes we were back at the start. We visited the only bar in town – Casa Alvaro – for refreshments and then made the spine tingling car journey back down to valley level
It had been a classic walk, one of the very best, and we were glad to have made the effort to get here
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The start of the walk from the bus stop outside Chamorga
Looking back to the village, one of the remotest on Tenerife
We're aiming for the protruding rock top left and will return via the path up the barranco below
We follow a narrow path along the cliff face
Looking back
We pass by the rock outcrop
Looking back down over Chamorga
The flora along the way was a particular highlight of this walk - here is a giant house leek
We continue up the narrow path
Spectacular mountain scenery on the far side of the barrance
Looking out to sea
From the col just ahead we'll make an out and back diversion to the end of the Tafada ridge
The ruin of Casa Tafada
Start of our diversion along the airy ridge
We aim for a lone drago tree
Looking back
The dramatic islands of the Roques de Anaga come into view
The end of the ridge, and from here the views are magnificent
Looking across the barranco
And now looking down into the barranco, which will be our return route in due course
We retrace our steps along the ridge
We now follow a wonderful path around the mountain side
The Roques de Anaga again
Our path will take us to the lighthouse below on the north east tip of Tenerife
Wild flowers line the way...
It's a steepish but quite straightforward descent
To the lighthouse
We look down on some ruined buildings which we'll pass by our our way back up the barranco
Approaching the Anaga Lighthouse, built in 1863, and one of the most remote lighthouses on the island
The rocks of Anaga again
On reaching the lighthouse we descend to the right
We follow a wide path downhill
The ruined buildings come into view again and remind us that we have a long climb ahead of us back to the start
We descend to Roque Bermejo - there is no road and the village can only be reached on foot or by boat
Clinging to the rock face
Looking up a dry stream bed
We walk through the tiny village
There is a small harbour beyond the church but this is as far as we go - there's a long climb ahead of us
We leave the village and start the climb back up the barranco
We pass by the ruined buildings that we'd looked down on earlier
Gilly looks up and we can see a couple of walkers and poles indicating our route
A last look back to sea as we head deeper into the barranco
The path has been in use for centuries, and is easier than we'd anticipated
A rockfall has caused the path to cross the stream, before crossing back over again
Interesting flora, especially cacti, along the way...
We glimpse the edge of Chamorga
We arrive back in the village to conclude a wonderful walk - one of the very best
