Day 23 - Cartagena to Cuevas del Almonzora


Spent a bit of time this morning trying to decide if we should hang around nearby to see a ‘proper’ Easter procession. However, after speaking with the site owner it became apparent that it would be Wednesday or Thursday before there would be a full ‘penitent’ parade and as we are unable to prebook the aire the only options are to hang around for four days or chance a return. Sad as it is to miss out, moving forward seems the sensible plan now, so we pack up and set off.

The roads south of the site are still largely used for vegetables and as the plain opens up there are fields of broccoli, cabbages,  potatoes and other veg planted between shaded frames. It all feels quite small scale and the sort of place you’d have to work hard to live. 

We stop to have a look at a windmill close to the road, it’s the first one we’ve seen that looks full on ‘Don Quixote’. Happens to be close to a garage which proves a perfect opportunity to pick up fresh bread too as being Sunday there’s been nothing open when we’ve passed through villages so far. 

The road exits the plain via a steep windy mountain road with an amazing view back inland across the fields.

A little further its our first planned stop of the day at Las Minas de Mazarron, a disused mining settlement at the edge of the village. I’ve seen social media posts pointing to this but nothing quite prepared me for the intensity of colour or the size of the site. There’s a small carpark, little more than a lay-by , with a very faded information sign which reassures that you are allowed to be there but scrabbling over the rubble used to block the tracks from cars it’s easy to think that you are trespassing. The entire site is open to anyone, you can follow paths, enter the derelict buildings and shout down mine shafts. G felt the need to climb a winch ladder, I was pretty brave to watch. Definitely no risk assessment completed here and much more interesting because of it. Even in some very flat grey light the landscape is stunning and the ruins just make it better… right near the top of our list!




From Mazarron it’s just down the road to another site I’d seen on Instagram. Las Gredas de Bolnuevo. A weathered rock formation also referred to as the Enchanted City’ . It’s striking and well worth seeing but a bit disappointing in that the site is really quite small and at the back of a massive beach side carpark. Understandably fenced, it only takes a few steps to see it all and though interesting, after the scale of the mine site it’s a little underwhelming. 


After this we join the motorway for a stretch to avoid so towns and make a bit of progress south. It’s only for 20 mins or so and costs just over €3 in tolls. When we can see the coast road looks more interesting we drop down . We make a brief diversion following signs to a giant geode which looks interesting but only see the giant entrance building as tours are bookings only, and are full for the rest of the week , so not happening for us. 

Park4night has a string of spots marked along the coast road. The road is lovely with soft sweeping bends and blue seas, though the waves are building. We go down a few tracks and settle on a spot near the cliff edge under a disused mining chimney.

 A quick turn around and dinner is done. Lovely listening to the waves  but the wind is getting stronger and before it’s fully dark we decide to move a little further from the chimney in case high winds dislodge any masonry. 

Miles so far: 1167

Steps today: 7,650

Overnight: tucked in on the old mining tracks by the coastal road, free


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