Torre del Tajo Trail, in La Breña

The Torre del Tajo trail is a short walk through the pine forest of the La Breña y Marismas del Barbate Natural Park that ends at a watchtower perched on a cliff more than a hundred metres above the sea. The Junta gives it 2.1 km each way, 45 minutes and low difficulty, with plenty of shade and no permit needed. From the tower you see the coast towards Barbate and Zahara de los Atunes and, on clear days, the other shore of the Strait.

The tower

The Torre del Tajo, also called Tembladera, is a Property of Cultural Interest. It was built in the 16th century to watch the coast against Barbary corsair attacks, was reformed in the 18th and has been restored. It is over thirteen metres tall and, according to the Junta, is the second tallest tower in the province. Inside it has a single vaulted chamber six metres across and seven high, and a spiral staircase climbs to the roof terrace, where the horseshoe-shaped lookout post of the tower keeper stands. From above, warning was given with smoke by day and fire by night. The park's sheet advises calling first at the Natural Park information point, in Barbate marina (956 45 97 80), where a visit to the tower can be arranged.

The path

It is a sandy path that ends in a firm dirt track. Shortly after the start there is a path on the left that links with the Acantilado trail. The rest goes through a stone pine forest, planted since the end of the 19th century to hold back the dunes, with dwarf fan palms, mastic, wild olives, rockroses, savins, junipers and broom. Foxes, mongooses and the chameleon live here, a vulnerable species whose presence was one of the reasons for declaring the park.

On the cliff nest yellow-legged gulls, rock doves, jackdaws and peregrine falcons. From the viewpoint behind the tower you see the Barbate cove and the Retín and Plata ranges, and the panorama stretches from Cape Trafalgar to Cape Spartel, in Morocco.

Getting there

From Barbate, take the A-2233 towards Caños de Meca; about 2.5 km from the marina, around kilometre 19.5, on the left, is the car park, with about 40 spaces. From Vejer it is about 20 minutes by car.

With children

It is a short walk, with little height difference and lots of shade, very good for families. The only delicate part is the end: the cliff is high and you must not go near the edge. To extend the day, Cape Trafalgar is a few kilometres away along the same road.