Tragalamocha, El Capistrano, Nerja, Spain
There was another shorter walk directly out from the top of El Capistrano village, up the shapely ridge which overlooks it, and I used this to stretch my legs a couple of times. This is how I wrote about it 9 years ago:
This rugged-looking hill - actually the start of a long ridge - overlooks El Capistrano, and commands a superb view over Nerja, the coastline, and the surrounding hills. Despite this, it is a relatively easy climb for anyone of moderate fitness, and an excellent antidote to an excess of lazing by the pool. During the summer it is best climbed in the calm of the early morning, or to the sound of crickets in the evening.
Although the terrain is rough and stony, with scrubby vegetation, the path is mostly straightforward, with a clear objective.
An unsurfaced road leads north directly towards the hill, from the top of the road looping around Capistrano village, past Los Jardines. Continue straight on past the high house walls on the left, with olive trees to the right, reaching a higher road that runs along a terrace at the foot of the hill. Cross this road and head uphill, past the pylon and then to the right of the small pine wood, onto the ridge. The path leads upwards to the rocky hilltop, where you can rest and enjoy the panoramic view.
In the distance the higher tops of the Sierra de Almijarra can be seen. Navachica is 1835m, and Maroma away to the north-west reaches 2065m. However you don't need to go that far to get a great view.
You may feel this is sufficient, and, having rested, set off down again by the same path. However, having climbed to this height, you can continue north over two more rocky outcrops (with alternative easier routes round to the left side), and join the ridge leading round to the left (south-west). This leads to a cairn on another hilltop, with views north-west to Frigliana. Look out here for a track leading down, steeply at first, into the valley to the south and into San Juan holiday village. Once there, where the road down from San Juan swings right, take the left turn back into Capistrano.
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