The Quéntar Loop
As you wind your way up through the almond and olive groves, you start to get panoramic views of the valley below you, the Quéntar reservoir, the Sierra de Huétor and, finally, the peak of Veleta. Coming back down, you pass a peaceful sanctuary and abundant orchards of pomegranate, persimmon, apple and fig trees. It feels quite steep going up the hill, particularly in summer, but the whole route is very easy going underfoot.
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1. From the bus stop follow the road downhill, then turn sharp left. Follow this road, passing a church on your left, then bearing round to the left. Keep following this road, passing a fountain and then zigzagging uphill.
2. When you get to a wall ahead of you with a big green gate, turn right. 3. Follow the road out of town, passing a school. When it swings up to the left (after about 300m) take the path in front of you. When you meet the road again, after another 300m, bear right. Another 300m further on, you cross a bridge. Turn right straight afterwards - this is the start of the main loop. 4. Continue along the dirt road, which soon starts to climb up through the olive groves. |
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5. After about 1 km, follow the main road as it sweeps round to the right.
6. At the next junction, after a further 1.3 km, take the left fork.
7. Keep winding up through the olive groves, keeping on the main track. After about 1.5 km, turn left at the T-junction. Soon you will see the jagged peak of Veleta come into view ahead to the right.
8. Shortly afterwards, turn right at a T-junction and go through the gate. Just after this, you will merge with another track from the right.
9. Over the next section, again keep to the main track, ignoring farm entrances. When you meet a surfaced road, turn left downhill.
10. Soon you will see white gateposts labelled Argumosa; turn left through the gateposts.
6. At the next junction, after a further 1.3 km, take the left fork.
7. Keep winding up through the olive groves, keeping on the main track. After about 1.5 km, turn left at the T-junction. Soon you will see the jagged peak of Veleta come into view ahead to the right.
8. Shortly afterwards, turn right at a T-junction and go through the gate. Just after this, you will merge with another track from the right.
9. Over the next section, again keep to the main track, ignoring farm entrances. When you meet a surfaced road, turn left downhill.
10. Soon you will see white gateposts labelled Argumosa; turn left through the gateposts.
11. Follow the road downhill, passing the large complex of Cortijo de la Argumosa on your left. At the next fork (about 1.5 km after the Cortijo), turn left. NB, the right fork here leads to the Quéntar reservoir.
12. The road swings round and passes another Cortijo (Prado Montero) on your right. Just after this, there is a path turning off to the left, signposted to Virgin de los Labradores. This short detour takes you to a spring, where you can refill water bottles (take the right fork after about 100m) and a small sanctuary (left fork) with lovely views of Quéntar and the surrounding valley.
13. Return to the main path and, after about 1km, turn right at the junction.
14. After a further 500m, the track merges with another one from the right. Keep going straight ahead.
15. Follow the road round, keeping left when you get to a house, after about a further 700m, until you get back to the start of the loop (4).
12. The road swings round and passes another Cortijo (Prado Montero) on your right. Just after this, there is a path turning off to the left, signposted to Virgin de los Labradores. This short detour takes you to a spring, where you can refill water bottles (take the right fork after about 100m) and a small sanctuary (left fork) with lovely views of Quéntar and the surrounding valley.
13. Return to the main path and, after about 1km, turn right at the junction.
14. After a further 500m, the track merges with another one from the right. Keep going straight ahead.
15. Follow the road round, keeping left when you get to a house, after about a further 700m, until you get back to the start of the loop (4).
