The Lighthouse at the End of the World

Eucalyptus and almond blossom. The church square and picnic zone look and smell wonderful in the bright morning sun. The square is dotted with tourists taking photos and enjoying the quiet of the simple but attractive church and the trees bedecked in the pink of the blossom. I do the same as I take my photos and enjoy the ambience but this is probably my only connection with these holidaymakers. I look at my watch, it is 10.50 am and I turn and leave the square and the idyllic scene and take the first steps towards my destination. 

Puerto de Erjos to Las Portelas

Large Leaved St.John's Wort

Yesterday, I set off from a fairly cold and cloudy parking spot by an information board at Puerto de Erjos overlooking the Erjos Pools to walk the Cumbre be Bolico and Cumbre de Masca ridge to the village of Las Portelas in the El Palmar Valley.

An Erjos circular walk

Dodging the puddles on the way to Las Portelas

The village of Erjos, which is situated at over 3,000ft above sea level in the north-west of the island, is crossed by numerous footpaths and offers many opportunites to create circular walks in the area. I had planned a route from the village to Las Portelas from where I would climb to the Cumbre de Masca and then onto the Cumbre de Bolico before returning via the Erjos Pools.  As I set off to walk to Las Portelas, the air was cool and a little damp, the wet roads and puddles on the footpaths evidence of overnight rain.