Time for another day out and back to another of our favourite little off the beaten track places from our previous trip. This small unassuming village with a largely pebble beach is referred to either as Playa de La Aldea or Los Caserones depending on which map you look at. Regardless its a stunning spot tucked in between an array of spectacular and jagged mountains.
Its wonderfully quiet on account of the lack of a sandy beach and its really hard to get to with twisty and somewhat scary mountain and coast roads to get there.
On this day it was sheltered from a brisk wind and the water was gloriously calm and clear.
We took a walk out and and around the harbour.
This spot would have made for some fine snorkelling had I brought my stuff.
The fishing boats set the scene beautifully.
Although this time weren’t treated to a fisherman unloading his catch as we were last time.
After lunch, time for a laze and swim.
I took a stroll down to this brackish saltwater pond called Charco de La Aldea. Fishermen used to “poison” the water with the extract from a local plant making the fish drowsy and easier to catch. The Fisherman celebrate this bounty every year in September with a festival attended by what look like a couple of thousand people from the photos on information board.
A fine view across the bay to the mountains behind.
I took myself off for a short walk into the hills behind the village.
Superb views back to the Aldea Valley, the longest one on the island.
And over to the small beach of Playe de El Puerto – sadly I didn’t hve time to walk down and take a closer look.
A different view of the spiky mountain, visible from our home base.
Superb panorama across the coastline and mountains.
The sweep of bay and the jagged mountains behind is another favourite view. There are some paths through those mountains to a really remote beach – one I’m keen to try one day.
Looking happy in a selfie for a change.
When the Prof joined us, we went back for another day trip. Another chance to have lunch at the superb little Bar Esther, losts of fresh seafood and shellfish and friendly staff.
A nice family photo if only I was actually looking at the camera. No idea what I was looking at!
Another long swim and laze about on the beach.
Its a wonderful little place and shows the benefits of having the car and just exploring. The place doesn’t look much as you drive in down the dusty roads but its a firm favourite of ours on Gran Canaria.
After a few days of easy relaxation we fancied a trip out. The Forest of Tamadaba overlooks the town and as the crow files it’s probably only a a couple of miles. However as the car drives it takes over an hour and half on some very twisty roads.
Its a stunning location and whilst there is a very nice and well organised picnic site we had another spot in mind. A short walk through the forests (and through what looks like a stunning campsite high in the mountains) brings you out to a wooden platform perched right above this sensational view along the coast, the Mirador Llanos de La Mimbre.
Views across the coast to a distant Tenerife and El Teide.
We’d packed a substantial picnic and settled in for a long and leisurely stay in this amazing spot.
Even in winter at well over 3000 feet it was warm in the sun.
The backdrop of blue sea and sky, the red rock and the green pines is irresistable.
Its a dizzying view, the drop just in front of where I’m standing was at least thousand feet straight down.
After our lunch we extended the walk back to the car by sticking close to the edge.
More overlooks to make your feet turn to jelly!
Pine trees for photographic foreground.
Funsters make a much better foreground.
Another photo with a level horizon fail!
The forest suffered a very bad fire the year before our last visit. The green lower down a sign that things are recovering and the trees seem to be largely ok other than some rather badly scorched trunks.
On the drive home we took a circuitous route past the Mirador de Pinos de Gáldar.
Its one of the old volcanic craters on the island although Gran Canaria is no longer “Active” in that regard.
It has a fabulous view over the city of Las Palmas and the surrounding hills.
A great day out finished off, as we did most days, watching the sunset from the seawater pools.
Lets leave the cold grey UK winter behind and head for the sun.
After a somewhat fraught last leg of the journey (flight two hours late, a thunderstorm that soaked the luggage and an unplanned trip at night into the capital in the car to pick up the apartment keys) we made it to our home for next couple of weeks, Puerto de las Nieves on Gran Canaria.
This was our second visit and its the perfect base for us. Quiet, unspoilt and well off the tourist radar.
On the first morning, I was keen to re-acquaint myself with a wander down to the seawater pools. After the previous nights rains, the weather looked far more promising.
However looking south there was clearly some more rain on the way. Whilst we had a short shower while we were having lunch that was the last rains and pretty much clouds, we saw up till the last couple of days.
After lunch and the rains had gone we took a wander about, enjoying the warm sun and speactacular views this place offers.
The rock tower that overlooks the port.
The Funsters having fun.
Views to the Tamadaba Natiional Forest – more on that in the next post.
The view out across the harbour.
One of our favourite spots along the harbour wall.
Looking back to small town and its small collection of restaurants.
The harbour beach where we swam many times.
Every holiday location by the sea needs a seafront promenade. This one is a real favourite especially when the Atlantic waves are in full swing.
And our favourute place by the saltwater pools to watch the sunset. A dedicated sunset post to come in a few posts time.
Now this is the kind of weather I want see on Xmas Day!.
A happy couple celebrating in the best way possible. Strolling together in the sunshine.
And our Xmas Dinner – lots of freshly cooked seafood.
We found a lovely spot on a section wooden decking with great views of the town and the mountains behind.
Can’t beat a swim on Xmas Day.
Our little piece of heaven.
And my favourite view down to the dragon’s back ridge of mountains to the south.
We spent several days just wandering about town, sunbathing and swimming. The weather is close to perfect. Warm enough to sit comfortably in the sun without being too hot. This perch on top of the harbour wall was another of our favourites.
A great place to people watch around the harbour.
And enjoy the changing colours on the mountains as the sun goes down.
The moon rises over the rock tower above the town.
The setting sun turns the rock a deep golden reddish brown at the end of the day.
The ferry makes a decent subject for a sunset photo.
The comings and goings of the ferry become a regular event through the day.
It was just me and the Funsters for the first week with the Prof joining us for the second week.
Lots more posts to come, gonna take me a while to work through (I took well over 500 photos through the trip!)
It was that time of year when friends from far and wide gather in a hostel in the Yorkshire Dales, eat far too much food and go walking in the rain (glorious weekend two years ago a notable exception).
The forecast was very poor for the whole weekend but we managed a decent walk on both days and stayed relatively dry. An achievement in itself in the current weather pattern.
On the Saturday we took an easy stroll along the River Dee in Dentdale. We set off from Dent village and what a wonderful little place it is. A cobbled main street with two pubs and lots of quaint old cottages, all looking very homely on a dreary day.
The village also has a very large and impressive church that was more reminiscent of an abbey.
It was wonderful inside as well.
There are several bridges over the Dee so we had a walk in mind where we could cut short the walk and return early if the weather turned on us.
Some fine stretches of limestone river beds.
It would make a fine place for a summer picnic with some possible sports for a short and brief swim.
The river pretty much disappeared underground at this point, reduced to a mere trickle of a stream.
We headed up to the road and continued on to the furthest point of our planned walk. Accompanied by a local cat for a good mile or so. It was clearly on the scrounge for food, but gave up and went home when one of the party offered it some vegan chicken!
Our target was the evocatively named Ibbeth Peril waterfall.
With the river running high, it was an impressive sight.
Sadly as we were at our farthest point from the car, the weather did turn on us and it was a bit wet on the walk back.
The village pub looked very welcoming but we headed on back to the hostel.
A pretty decent walk on such a dreary day.
The Sunday was much the same. low clouds on the fells and the threat of rain always in the air.
We headed out on what has become something of a favourite for this location. Over the moorland to Ling Gill Beck.
With its little packhorse bridge its a lovely little spot. Its something of a regret that I’ve only ever seen it on a dank dreary day. Like Dent Dale it must be wonderful on a warm summer afternoon.
In winter the water is deep but whether it remains that way in summer for a dip is uncertain.
We pressed on past the deep ravine below the bridge which looked well worth an explore from the bottom to see if you can access the many waterfalls in its depths.
We stopped of at Calf Hole to take a look at the cave which is deep and impressive and emerges into another small ravine lower down the hillside. You can access the cave from that resurgance but we’ve never quite fancied it in winter.
You can make a fine circuit from here back to the hostel. Fine, other than one extremely soggy, boggy bit which we’ve learned to avoid. Much better to return the same way and enjoy another visit to the valley.
Just the return back over the moors to complete a decent afternoon outing
So despite the weather, another cracking weekend. Limited walking enjoyment but a great time to catch up with friends which is the main objective of this weekend. Looks like we’ll be trying somewhere different for next year though.
Big changes are afoot for the Jones family. TJF has discovered a new found interest in Ancient History after our trips through Europe and most recently our visit to Athens. She is now looking at heading to University to study Archeology!
There was an opportunity to visit Winchester University for an Open Day (which went really well and everything is progressing towards her application).
Whilst she and TBF went to look around, I took the chance for some R&R with another cycle around the New Forest (i’d done similar when I took the Prof for an Open Day at Southampton University a few years earlier)
It was an absolutely stunning day and I first parked up at Janesmoor Pond in the van for some breakfast.
The New Forest is absolutely superb for easy cycling. Not too many hills and a huge array of sandy tracks and quiet roads.
Added to that the forest is mixed and never especially dense so even at this time of year it never feels dark and forbidding and there are many gorgeous open heathland sections with wide expansive views across the National Park.
On my first visit i took a route around the southern part of the Forest so this time I tackled the northern section. This area is the highest part of the Forest and the views were superb from Hampton Ridge.
The long road section along the western edge was also a delight. Quiet with numerous little cottages and villages.
There was also this Ford. Despite being egged on by some walkers to go through on my bike, I decided wet feet on a winters day was not the best idea and went over the footbridge.
Bracken may be a total pain in the arse in summer but it does add a gorgeous deep brown colour in winter.
One of the woodland sections.
I managed to find a relatively sheltered spot for lunch and a cuppa. The downside of such a clear sunny day in winter is that it’s very cold for cycling. I was glad I had my down duvet jacket with me.
My trusty steed.
And the local trusty steeds – the famous and ubiquitous New Forest Ponies.
The final section had some of the bigger hills and I took on an extra loop through the interestingly named Kings Garn Gutter Inclosure.
By the time I’d finished up I was pretty knackered having completed a route of 34 miles and couple of thousand feet of uphill. Took my feet a couple of hours to warm up!
A hot cuppa back at the van started the thawing out process.
A great day all round finished off with some really enthusiastic feedback and future plans to be made with TJF.
I spend alot of my time surfing the web looking for ideas on places to go, walking routes, travel ideas and tips to plan the perfect holiday or day out. (I'm a project manager I like to plan). I thought it was time to share my own experiences and contribute to the vast amounts in information that's already out there.
I'll also add in some gear and tech reviews and when something irks me I may even use this forum to have a rant - I do that pretty well I'm told.There are a few pages at the top that give a bit of background to what I like to get up to and what you can expect to see in my posts. I'm not exactly a creative writer but I hope some people will find my stuff useful or inpsiring or at least enjoy some of my photos.
surfnslide 