About 3 hours, medium to hard

Leaving Casa Mariana, turn right through the village and continue up to the 'triangle' junction about ½ mile away. Keep to the right and follow the road down. You can see the Riogordo valley to the left, Comares to the right perched on the mountain top with Rio Solano below it. La Maroma mountain is ahead, at 2068 metres the highest mountain in the region.

As you descend steeply you pass some small Spanish oak trees, on the left, with their leathery leaves which survive the hot climate, also some almond trees with beautiful blossom in February. The prohibido cazar sign means 'no hunting'. You pass a road junction on the right, with a sign on your left indicating Colmenar uphill and Romo Cueva pointing downhill. Continue down towards Romo and a little further on turn left onto a track just in front of a house named Casa de la Luz.

Follow this track down, surrounded by small trees and cacti, with views of Riogordo village and Maroma now on your right, until you reach what was, at the time of writing, a ruined house with a patio that has lovely views and provides a good spot for a breather and a drink.

Continue with the house to your left into an almond grove with the outline of a footpath and some scree leading a short distance down to a further track. As you meet this track you will see a sign warning of bees in beehives in the vicinity: Peligro abejas a 30m. The bees should not present a problem as the hives are set well back from the track on your left.

Turn left on this track and continue, passing an old well on your left as a stream bed passes over the track. On your right are a few grapevines. You will be looking down into a steep rocky valley on your right and the trees are now predominantly olive. Passing a large patch of prickly pear and a carob tree you come to another ruin on your right.

Turn right at the ruin and as you go round the ruin on your left, you come to a small clearing with a footpath on the right. Follow the footpath down passing the carob and eucalyptus trees on either side. The path descends through an almond grove towards the river and a dam.

At the T-junction turn left on to the broad track and cross the dam, turn right following the tarmac road through a small hamlet. A little further on turn sharp left at the Ruta del Rio information board. Follow this road until you cross a concrete bridge.

Crossing the bridge past a large prickly pear patch on your right and a large stand of eucalyptus trees ahead the sound of a number of bird varieties will be heard depending on the time of year. Turn left after crossing the bridge. As you ascend there will be a stream either side of you.

Shortly you come to a junction with a large yellow painted house on the left and a track to the right. Continue on and down, turning left with the house visible across the ravine to your left surrounded by prickly pear and eucalyptus trees.

Follow the track which passes between some pretty houses surrounded by grape vines and up a steep hill on a section of concreted track. The track turns sharp right just after the section of concrete. La Maroma keeps surprising you with its sudden appearance during this walk. The dam and bridge are once again in view to your right.

A little more climbing and Comares comes into view once more Follow the track as it winds up The views becoming ever more spectacular as you rise. The track passes a few houses and eventually reaches the tarmac Solano to Colmenar road, about 2 miles from Solano. Turn left and return to Solano.

About 8 hours, medium to hard

If you complete the whole walk, allow 8 hours to give yourself time to explore Comares, visit a café, bar or restaurant and generally refresh yourself for the return to Solano. If you wish to walk to Comares and arrange a lift back, allow 3.5 to 4 hours. The whole walk is circular.

The walking conditions are variable, some short stretches steep and rocky, most of the walk is on broad tracks with some cross-country sections on narrow pathways. Streams and riverbeds are crossed. Nearing Comares and in the village, water can be replenished from springs. The whole walk is 11 miles, to Comares is 5.5 miles. The views are magnificent, and at the end of the day expect to feel some hunger and tiredness and a sense of achievement.

Turn left out of the house and walk towards the Solano church. Turn left, steeply downwards on a broad and somewhat slippery track. You will have clear views of Comares, and the Maroma, the highest mountain in the area, will be in full view.

The track is bordered by olive and almond trees. Carob trees abound and you soon pass a huge rock with trees growing atop. Wind down to a ruined house on the RHS at approximately 0.8 miles. The grounds are worth a visit being on a secluded plateau. Stay out of the house as it is unsafe.

At a concrete, washed-out bridge at approximately 1 mile, proceed up a rather overgrown track to a small re-built bungalow on your left. You will see a ruined house on your right, walk to the left of this on a narrow track through a thicket. Bear left under a carob tree, keeping a large rock on your right.

Shortly you will come to a wide track, here turn left. You will have splendid cliff views to your right. The track takes you through the grounds of a house. Look up to your left and you will see the church from where the walk started. You may encounter noisy dogs here but they will not harm you. Pass to the front of the houses (approximately 1.2 miles) bearing right uphill. Encountering a concrete road, turn right and down a dirt track.

At the junction of the road and the track, you will see an era on the RHS, a large area of stones laid out in a circle as an ancient thrashing ground. Bear right at the Y-junction. You will have some slender evergreen trees on your left. 200 yards from the Y-junction, on your right, pass a house which has huge stone pillars and at the next Y-junction, keep right. At 1.5 miles you will have a clear view of the dam and the big mountain vistas.

When you arrive at a small house turn sharp right into a small thicket. The vegetation is prickly here, and it is rough and rocky underfoot. Follow the black polythene water pipe, visible for someway, bearing right. A dead tree is visible on your left. Make your way downwards with care to a clearing with olive trees - a short scramble over rocks here or walk a little further to the right to avoid this.

Follow a track to the left at the other side of the grove, downwards to a track alongside the river bed at approximately 2 miles. The river bed here is wide and rocky, usually totally or mostly dry. A brief view of the Maroma here, and walk to the dam. Turn right onto tarmac road. Here, if you need to shorten the walk, turn left and follow the road back up to the triangle at Solano.

If continuing, do not cross the dam, but take the track along the river marked Ruta Buena Vista, Río Solano on a wooden signpost. The dam takes water which is routed underground to the reservoir, Lake Viñvela. You can look back here to still water and a rocky riverbed. Descend into the riverbed. If it has a significant amount of water Comares can be reached by crossing the dam, and continuing by road.

At the 3 mile point, follow a wide right hand bend with a large eucalyptus tree on your right. After approximately 100 yards turn right out of the riverbed, sharp right through an olive grove. From now until you reach Comares, the walk is mostly uphill. Go steeply up a good track with grapevines to your right and with views expanding. The track peters out on a bend. You have walked 3.4 miles approximately and the views are great at this point.

Follow a very small path which descends steeply to a house. Keep the house on your left, and ascend towards a large eucalyptus. Another place where you may meet noisy dogs. The path goes uphill through an olive grove then weaves up and down. Cross a stream bed and go past prickly pear cacti, up to a clearing.

With a ruin to the left turn sharp right onto a track and walk steeply upwards to meet a further track and turn right. Here you get lovely views of the Alfarnateo, also the riverbed with the dam in view below. A compound brings you to the four mile mark, with Comares coming into clear view. Continue climbing.

At a sign for Ruta la Teja, take the path straight ahead at a wooden '8 Km' post. Comares will have disappeared again. The track is stony with a pinkness which makes it attractive. You are now walking with a cliff on your right. Bear left at a stone wall, ignoring the La Teja sign. The path has some eroded parts here. The path becomes the beautifully preserved Moorish footpath.

Glimpses of Comares are regular as you ascend and when the village comes into full view you have walked 4.5 miles, though the hilly nature of the journey makes it seem more! You are now at the base of the cliff. Bear left at the stone wall, following a clear rocky path with boulders and trees to the left and right.

Passing a spring – Fuente Delgada – where there is a water tap on the left of the track. A few yards on you arrive at an offset junction, go upwards here passing a sign pointing back to the Fuente Delgada. This is the 5 mile point. You are now below some newer houses in Comares which perch on the cliff top. A welcome drink of cool water is available at the white-painted Fuente Gorda.

Now ascend sharp right through boulders, leaving the road. Steps are just visible. Don't be tempted to use the very rickety wooden handrails. Steps are cut into the rock as you near the top, where views are dramatic. The information board and map is the start point for the rest of the walk when you have spent time in Comares. The village has narrow picturesque alleyways, cafes, bars, shops and breathtaking views to the coast from the square.

Returning to Solano if not by car

At the information board go down steps on the right and then turn right at the small picnic area marked Ruta La Teja. At a wide Y-junction turn right and continue downwards, through vines and almond trees. At a large white house turn sharp left, still following signs for Ruta La Teja. The path narrow (0.8 miles) and there is some erosion. The descent is steep with loose scree.

At a Y-junction continue on the path to the left and downwards. The track becomes larger (1.5 miles) and continues downhill. By a large patch of cacti and agave (sharp spear-like plants) go sharp left. Continue descending and when a track comes in from your left keep right where you will have good views of the Mesa de Solano and a very steep gorge on your left.

At a small house (3.0 miles) bear sharp left. Down below is an orange grove. At the next Y-junction keep left and uphill slightly. As you round the bend you will have a good view of Comares. The road soon goes downwards and you pass a mule stable to your right. Go over a concrete bridge and down into the river bed.

To your left is a small footbridge suspended over the river and almost immediately ahead is a track by a large eucalyptus tree leading you towards a cluster of houses. Go up this concrete track between the houses and turn right after the last house. After about 200 yards turn very sharp left towards a newly built house.

Go up the bank to the right of the house, turn right up a narrow path and after a few yards you will join a slightly wider path which takes you up and over the small hillock to join a wide track. Turn right on the track, through two stone pillars and carry straight on and upwards. At the house with decorative metal wheels you are approximately 4 miles from Comares.

A steady climb takes you to the hamlet of El Romo and to the little church, now the school. Turn left through a grove of trees, past Casita de Francisco on your left and to a stop sign. Turn left, following the sign for Colmenar. You are now on a tarmac road and at the top of the hill (about 0.5 miles) you will reach the triangular junction. Turn left and come downhill into Solano.

Remove boots and make a large pot of tea / lie face down on the sofa / have a sleep / open a bottle of wine / congratulate yourself – or whatever takes your fancy.

About 10 hours, easy to medium

Ten hours allows plenty of time for rest stops and a generous stop in Riogordo. The terrain is not challenging generally although there are a few steep up-hill sections. This walk offers a contrast between river valley and mountain and consequently has varied wildlife and plants.

Leaving Casa Mariana, turn right through the village and continue up to the 'triangle' junction about ½ mile away. Keep to the right and follow the road down. You can see the Riogordo valley to the left, Comares to the right perched on the mountain top with Rio Solano below it. La Maroma mountain is ahead, at 2068 metres the highest mountain in the region.

As you descend steeply you pass some small Spanish oak trees, on the left, with their leathery leaves which survive the hot climate, also some almond trees with beautiful blossom in February. The prohibido cazar sign means 'no hunting'. You pass a road junction on the right, with a sign on your left indicating Colmenar uphill and Romo Cueva pointing downhill. Continue down towards Romo and a little further on turn left onto a track just in front of a house named Casa de la Luz.

Follow this track down, surrounded by small trees and cacti, with views of Riogordo village and Maroma now on your right, until you reach what was, at the time of writing, a ruined house with a patio that has lovely views and provides a good spot for a breather and a drink.

Continue with the house to your left into an almond grove with the outline of a footpath and some scree leading a short distance down to a further track. As you meet this track you will see a sign warning of bees in beehives in the vicinity: Peligro abejas a 30m. The bees should not present a problem as the hives are set well back from the track on your left.

Turn left on this track and continue, passing an old well on your left as a stream bed passes over the track. On your right are a few grapevines. You will be looking down into a steep rocky valley on your right and the trees are now predominantly olive. Passing a large patch of prickly pear and a carob tree you come to another ruin on your right as the road bears left.

Turn right at the ruin and as you go round the ruin on your left, you come to a small clearing with a footpath on the right. Follow the footpath down passing the carob and eucalyptus trees on either side. The path descends through an almond grove towards the river and a dam. At the T junction turn left on to the broad track and cross the dam, turn right following the tarmac road through a small hamlet.

A little further on turn sharp left at the Ruta del Río information board. Follow this road until you cross a concrete bridge with a stand of eucalyptus trees on the right. Turn right passing through olive and citrus groves and over another bridge. Continue until the road bends to the left and you see a way-marker pointing back in the direction from which you have just walked. Continue on the tarmac road.

You will have very sharp drops to the river on your left and a boulder wall to your right, built to stop water erosion. Cross the river over a solid bridge/ford. There are terrapins - Galápagos in Spanish - in the water and frogs living close to the river edge. Keep on this road and cross yet another river bridge.

This part of the walk provides contrasting landscapes, passing through lush river valley vegetation and hillsides above. Egrets can be seen around the river here. At the next bridge Riogordo´s cemetery walls come into view. The river can be polluted by grey water in places, a great pity in an otherwise beautiful valley, however the plants and birds seem not to mind.

As you approach the town you have walked about 10.4 km (6.5 miles). As you enter the town you approach an open space with a water fountain on the left. This is a chance to replenish your water containers. Go uphill with the fountain on your right until you reach an attractive square, the Plaza de la Constitución. Explore town/rest/visit café bars or shops. Get a lift home if you have pre-arranged to do only the first part of the walk.

To continue, return to the point of entry to the square, turn sharp left into Calle Real, walking downhill. At the bottom of the street turn right into Paseo de Andalucía. A small park will be on your left, turn left at the end of the park, cross the river bridge and walk uphill on a tarmac road into open country. On this stretch expect some traffic.

After about 0.75 km (0.5 mile) turn left at a sharp right hand bend in the tarmac road onto a track walking towards a tall stand of eucalyptus trees. At the next junction you will have extensive views of Riogordo, rolling arable land and high rocky mountains. Bear left here through an avenue of eucalyptus trees. The track is steeply uphill at this point.

At the next junction keep sharp left, Riogordo on your left. Continue uphill. At the crest, La Maroma, the highest mountain in the area (about 6500 ft) comes into view. Continue straight ahead on the same track. Bear sharp right at the next junction, away from the town. Comares can be seen to your left in the distance and a deep gorge immediately to your left.

Continue, ignore a right turn and continue straight ahead on a long uphill stretch of track, eventually reaching a ridge. Walk along the ridge ignoring any turn offs. When you reach the tarmac road turn left and walk back to Solano. If you dislike road walking you could arrange to be picked up at this point, about 5.6 km (3.5 miles) from Solano.

About 4 hours, medium to hard

The road is very quiet (last 2 miles) but if you dislike road walking, arrange to have a car waiting for you at El Tropezón. Otherwise allow about 3.5 to 4 hours for this walk, to include water/food/viewing/resting stops. This walk is demanding in short sections, with a few steep upward climbs, but affords tremendous mountain views with a glimpse of the sea at one point.

Leaving Casa Mariana, walk down the track in front of the house. Keep to this track for about half an hour until it ends with a large white house on your right and a large agave hedge on your left. Ahead you will see a garage. Keep this to your right bearing left downhill.

After a very short distance you reach a stream bed. Don’t cross here, turn sharp left almost back in the direction you came from, down to the stream about 100 yards further on and cross the stream. Walk up a broad, steep shale track until you reach an olive grove.

The next section, until you meet a broad vehicle track, requires careful attention as the route is sometimes not absolutely clear and winding through shrubs. If you are unsure, remember to follow the ridge for most of the way. A large white house appears on your left as you approach the wide track. Continue up the ridge path until you join the track.

Skirt the olive grove on the left for a few yards and take a narrow footpath to your left which immediately crosses a water course. You will now have a ravine to your left with good views of Comares in the distance. Below you can see the house you recently passed. The path goes through shrubbery and becomes somewhat ill-defined. Your aim is to reach the ridge to your right.

Just beyond a large oak tree bear right through the shrubs. You should now have a steep drop to your right. Rise steeply and pass another oak on your left. Bear right along the ridge which features rocky outcrops and trees. Keep to the ridge top or as near as possible. At a small stony clearing with 360° views continue up the ridge through broom bushes, passing a stand of oaks. You will now be slightly to the right of the ridge. Shortly join the wide track and turn right upwards.

At the next junction, turn right, upwards, and at the next turn right again. You will have a clear view of La Maroma on your right. Pass between 2 pylons with an old house/smallholding on your left. At this point views are spectacular and here is your chance to glimpse the sea if the day is clear.

At the next pylon turn right and downwards on an earthy track. Follow this track for some way until you reach a Y junction. At the Y junction, within an olive grove, take the right path, going to the right of a small house and down past prickly pear cacti on your right. Continue down through the olive grove towards a house. Keep the house to your right, avoiding its garden and descend a short shale bank to a broad vehicle track and turn left.

Continue up the track passing a house on your left. At another large house on your right take the right track downwards. Further on ignore a track to the right and continue on downwards, ignoring another track to the left, crossing a water course, a damp area where orange trees grow, and then upwards joining the tarmac road at El Tropezón. Turn right and head back to Solano, on foot, or by car according to preference.