El Caminito del Rey a.k.a 'The Kings Walkway', (El Chorro) Spain
Massive props to Stepping Lightly for this, I finally managed to free up some spare time away from the UK to get this done before the inevitable work starts
When it rains go to Spain...
And believe me it shit it down the duration we were there, we had committed to getting this done, so whilst the Spanish weather was making news, we quietly crept up to the walkway high up in the mountains of El Chorro
It was a memorable experience, despite SL throwing my phone in the wash later that evening, luckily the special brew San Miguel's took the pain away
Sorry pic heavy, also video at bottom..
Original 'way on', now described as "intransitable" by the Andalusian government
Since the first 60ft or so has been demolished, you have to start your ascent under the original path..
This involves some basic via ferrata and traversing along the mountain below the walkway across some old brackets a good 4 to 5ft apart, with a perilous drop, and an exposed climb with a good 70ft drop!
(It's understandable why people turn back at this point)
Within no time you are a good few hundred feet above the lagoon below
The pathway initially winds around the gorge via a set of 190 year old steps and a 3ft decrepit concrete pathway, offering little protection and having seen better days
(Also the first traverse of many across some shonky iron-work - Sadly no pic, but *SEE VIDEO at bottom for more detail)
Around the next corner can be found the Aqueduct which crosses the gorge
But first you have to traverse across the most exposed section of the walkway (here there is no path) just some rusty iron, with nothing but a 500ft drop below
Ahead is the Aqueduct which crosses the gorge, the water is carried through a large steel pipe
S.L wasn't hanging about as we stopped for a couple of snaps, fully aware it is f00ked and ready to collapse any time!
At the other side you can climb down to a cave-like entrance into a tunnel which runs through the mountain, I didn't take any pics, but it's covered off in the video..
Just around the corner is this memorial, which kinda puts it all into context.. these poor buggers fell over 500ft as the pathway gave way (and also a zipline they had rigged)
Make no mistake, this place is as sketch as it comes, it's not "The worlds scariest path" for no reason!
S.L Points the way on...
From here on in there are several similar sections
'Life on the Edge'
'Stepping Lightly'
Eventually the walkway winds down into the gorge and opens out in a valley following a trail through a forest and another Aqueduct for around a mile..
..It then re-appears the other side of a narrow gorge in the form of a crumbling ledge as it heads towards the power station
Eventually the walkway comes to an abrupt end, as just like the start the last section has been removed, with no way off
The only choices now are to traverse back or a 40ft climb up the rock face,
we opted for the climb and to take a look at the hydroelectric station and dam
We had a quick poke about - Here the exit from the walkway, now inaccessible from the other side
We scrambled back up the mountain and abseiled back down onto the walkway below
It had been a long day and I was f00ked if I was traversing back the way we came, so was quite relieved when SL suggested an 'alternative route' back,
which if caught would have landed us in a whole load of bother!
BUT first we had to cross the bridge of death; this thing is proper f****d!..
The rest, well it's only a 6,000 euro fine, so with SL's pop star wages we thought we'd chance it
Shouts to Stepping Lightly & Ninjaboy for a memorable trip
(Switch it to HD 1080p crank up yer speakers and sit back!!)
