Climb to the Torreón, the roof of Cádiz province

El Torreón, also called Pinar, is the highest summit in the province of Cádiz: 1,648 metres in the Sierra del Pinar, according to the Junta. It is a viewpoint over half of western Andalusia: with good visibility you can see Sierra Nevada, the Torrecilla, the Strait, North Africa, the bay of Cádiz and even Seville. The official page gives it 3 km each way, about 2 hours' climb, 779 metres of ascent and hard difficulty. You have to return by the same path, so allow about 4 hours in all.

When you can climb and the permit

It is closed from 1 June to 15 October because of fire risk; a sign at the start says so. The rest of the year it needs authorisation, because it goes through the park's Reserve Zone. Individuals request it at [email protected] or on 956 70 97 33, at the El Bosque visitor centre; companies, clubs and groups, at the park office, on 600 16 19 16 or 600 16 19 06.

The route

The trail leaves the A-372 around kilometre 40, about 5 km east of Benamahoma in the direction of Grazalema, where there is a car park of about 18 spaces. At the start there are remains of a medieval road and a lime kiln. After a gate, the path climbs with stones set as steps among myrtles, mastic trees and savins, and then crosses Mediterranean scrub as the views open to the Sierra del Aljibe and the Bornos reservoir.

From 1,400 metres up, stunted holm oaks and savins and gorse take over; higher up broom and maples appear. The trail crosses several dolines, depressions typical of limestone terrain, and reaches an area of rock where you must take care: the way is marked by cairns and the occasional paint mark. At the top you can cautiously look over the north face and see the Pinsapar from a bird's-eye view.

Wildlife

The Junta mentions golden eagle and griffon vulture, which has in the nearby Garganta Verde one of its most numerous colonies on the continent. On the summit it is easy to come across alpine accentors and northern wheatears, and ibex on the crags.

What to bring

The page gives little or no shade and asks you to carry drinking water. Take enough water, warm clothing for the summit and boots with a good sole for the rock stretch. It is not a route for small children or for anyone not used to the mountains.

If you want something quieter on the same day, the Llanos del Rabel give views of the Torreón from below, and the Majaceite trail leaves from Benamahoma.