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WALK 3

Degollada de Peraza and Contreras

Start/finish	Degollada de Peraza
Distance	14km (8¾ miles)
Total ascent/descent	600m (1970ft)
Time	6hr
Terrain	Rugged paths across steep slopes and cliff faces
Refreshments	Bar at Degollada de Peraza
Transport	Buses reach Degollada de Peraza from San Sebastián, Playa de Santiago and Valle Gran Rey
Note	Route uses Rutas 25, 28 and GR132

Risco de la Fortaleza is completely surrounded by cliffs on a rocky ridge high above San Sebastián and Playa de Santiago. A rugged path approaches it, and an interesting circuit takes in ruined farmsteads on exhausted, arid terraces at Morales and Casas de Contreras.

Little casetas are passed soon after the start of the walk alongside Risco de la Fortaleza

Buses stop at just over 900m (2950ft) at Degollada de Peraza, where there is a viewpoint, map-board and a nearby bar restaurant. Between the viewpoint and the bar, steps drop down from the road, passing a little house. Follow a path down into a barranco, passing palms and agaves, to around 750m (2460ft). Climb gradually to reach a junction on a ridge, beside ruined casetas at Berruga. Turn left to continue along the combined Rutas 25 and 28.

Go down rugged and easy stretches of path, passing palms, agaves, prickly pears, cistus, tabaibal and tagasaste. The path is mostly downhill, but there are a couple of short, steep, stone-paved ascents on the slopes of Alto de Tacalcusie. Eventually, the path turns gradually left and levels out among palms and agaves. Rise past terraces to reach a gentle gap at Llano de la Cruz, at 722m (2368ft).

There is a path junction, and the plan is to turn left along Ruta 28, return to this point later on Ruta 25 and then retrace the route back to Degollada de Peraza. First, turn left as signposted for Morales. The path climbs gently before descending, Note a solitary ruin, but keep an eye on yellow flashes as the path crosses old terraces covered in tabaibal. Drift towards the edge of the Barranco del Cabrito, then away from it, then back towards it.

Walk down towards a ruin, but watch for a sudden right turn away from the barranco. The path leads down to another ruin, then afterwards turns left at a junction to pass yet another ruin. Level out and reach a signpost at the ruined village of Morales, around 520m (1705ft). The buildings are worth exploring, but take care as some are close to collapse.

The Bar Restaurante Degollada de Peraza and Alto de Tacalcusie

Turn right, as signposted for the GR132 for Casas de Contreras, down a rocky path to cross a barranco, then up across a slight gap. Go down to cross another barranco then up across a terraced slope. The path drifts down to a rock wall, which is climbed using a breach; then a gentle descent crosses a terraced slope. A rugged path drops into a barranco and climbs up the other side past a ruin. Watch carefully at a corner, turning right to drop into a deeper barranco. Climb the other side to a ruined mansion at Casas de Contreras, at 400m (1310ft).

Turn right at the crumbling ruins of Casas de Contreras as signposted uphill for the Ruta 25 back to Degollada de Peraza. Climb past the house and the prickly pears behind it. Go up a rocky, boulder-paved path that rises along a low, rocky ridge between terraces covered in tabaibal. Keep climbing to pass three ruins and the path finally levels out at Llano de la Cruz, returning to the path junction reached earlier in the walk. Turn left downhill, as signposted and simply retrace the earlier steps of the day to return to Degollada de Peraza.