Route: Valle Gran Rey
Area: La Gomera
Date of walk: 10th February 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.3 miles
Ascent: 300 feet
Weather: Cool at first, then hot and sunny
Today was the last day of our walking holiday on La Gomera. We decided to visit the west coast of the island to walk a well known route which is normally treated as an ascent, but we followed the advice of our excellent guide book and reversed the direction of travel so that it became a descent instead
After another complicated but fascinating 30 mile drive to cover perhaps 10 linear miles we arrived in the village of Arure, and as soon as we left the village we were treated to some huge views along the coastline from a dirt track. The edge of the track appeared to disappear over a precipice so we kept on the left hand side of it. It was quite chilly at such a height and we had fleeces on for the first time this holiday – though these were soon discarded
It was easy going at high level for most of the walk, until the time came to make the steep descent down towards Valle Gran Rey. Yet again we had to admire the ingenuity of the original path makers who had fashioned a safe and well graded route down the very steep mountainside
As we followed the seemingly endless path round innumerable hairpin bends we passed by other walkers, all of them sweating profusely as they plodded uphill, and we were glad we’d followed the recommendation in our guide book. We’d enjoyed the same amazing views as they had without torturing ourselves in the process
As this was a linear walk we had to get back to the start. The descent ends near a bus stop and since a bus wasn’t due to arrive for a while we took a taxi. It’s a shame we didn’t have enough time to explore the port, but we were well contented with yet another wonderful walk on this island. If anyone who follows this site is contemplating a visit to La Gomera I can offer one piece of advice – go!
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Having parked by the Bar Conchita bus stop in Arure we walk out of the vilage
We follow a side road…
...which soon turns into a dirt track
Our direction of travel is south towards the sea
Looking the other way, there are toe-curling views along the west coast
Thankfully it was a broad path, and we kept to the left to avoid the vertiginious drops on the right
A herd of goats admiring the view
It’s no wonder that the coastline along this section is unpopulated - it’s completely inaccessible
One of the locals
The walk is a long descent in essence, but there’s still some climbing involved
We look across to the road to Arure which we’d driven along earlier - hats off to the roadbuilders
Looking back to Arure
The terrain is quite barren, a complete contrast to the lush vegetation we’d seen on yesterday’s walk
Another view back along the rugged coastline
Looking down into the Barranco de Arure
The Merica trig point, which marks the highest point of the walk at around 3,000 feet
These plants enhanced the scenery along the way, a form of euphorbia known as tabaiba - they were growing everywhere…
We pass by an old ruin overlooking the sea
The start of our descent into La Calera, gentle at first…
...but it soon steepens as we follow a succession of hairpin bends down the mountain side
Despite appearances there are no vertiginous sections - in view of the steep terrain this is a testament to the original path builders
Looking down to Vueltas
Last of the hairpin bends as we finally arrive in La Calera
The end of 7 wonderful walks in 8 days, plus a whale watching excursion - who could ask for more?
