Circular Walk via Benaoján & Cat Cave
Summary
Medium difficulty, with a fairly steep climb to the village and a short climb from the cemetery via a zigzag path. Thereafter it is all downhill or flat. Beautiful views along the way.
The walk
- Turn right from the Molino gates and immediately turn right again to follow the concrete track that climbs behind the hotel. Follow this track for 500 metres until there is a fork in the road to the right uphill. Follow this path up to the main road and turn left towards the village.
- Arrive at the roundabout in the village centre with Unicaja Bank on your left. With the bank behind you, continue straight ahead along a road with a central reservation of trees and flowers.
- Leaving the last of the village houses, look for a road to the right — before the left-hand turn to Cueva de la Pileta — which drops down with wooden signposts at its junction.
- Follow this road for 400 metres, passing the village cemetery on your left-hand side.
- Fork right to cross a small stream on a concrete bridge. You should be able to see the zigzag track you are aiming for on the hillside ahead.
- Start climbing on the zigzags. GR249 signs indicate the Gran Senda de Málaga.
- Arrive at a plateau by some wire gates. Carry straight on, following the red and white Gran Senda signs. Ronda should be visible in the distance from here.
- Join a cobbled path which descends, with lovely views of the valley and opposite mountainsides. This route is the original path linking Benaoján and Ronda. The path then becomes more level.
- Pass an R141 wooden post on your left-hand side. In the valley, on the other side of the large muted orange building, is Hotel Dehesilla. You should be at a right angle to this building. Ten metres after the post, look for a narrow path on the right-hand side that points directly at the hotel.
- Follow the narrow path as it begins to drop downhill and, as it descends, doubles back below the path you were on a minute ago.
- Arrive at a high metal fence on the left-hand side, which protects the railway from rock falls. Continue following the path as it descends again.
- Arrive at the Cat Cave. You can climb some steps to look into the mouth of the cave, but further exploration is not recommended.
- Walk over the railway line — there are no trains running at the moment and the walkway has been washed away. Cross the river.
- Pass a stone building on your left-hand side, which is Hotel Cueva del Gato. Follow signs here for Estación de Benaoján. The river is on your right-hand side. The wooden posts are marked SL-A-139.
- Pass behind a large building on your right-hand side. This is Hotel Molino Cuatro Paradas. Continue straight ahead, keeping close to the river.
- Arrive in Benaoján Station. Cross the river bridge. Cross the railway line and make your way uphill to Molino.
- Welcome home.
