Astonishing Immense Inland Gran Canaria

The team decided to take a day off and go exploring inland Gran Canaria and Tejeda in a rental car. Bit of a late start but we were underway , Mark transport manager, Pete the front seat hazard observer, Hew the backseat navigator and Barbs and Nev doing the photo and OOooh Aaaah. Bits.

Halfway Stop for Coffee

Climbed up and up, and up and up for about 1.2 hrs, taking an “off the main road route! Stopped at little cafe/bar for a much needed coffee, then up and away again.

The houses were sparse and build on steep slopes, it was getting cooler, then we were up in trees and little else.

Cruz de Tejeda

At a key junction, Cruz de Tejeda, at the near top we all piled out. A bar and cafe, a small monastery (now visitor/accommodation place) a little market. Surprisingly selling jumpers???

Off down the hill 5 mins to a little village Tejeda for lunch, beer and good nosh.

Tejeda – Rated the Prettiest Village in Gran Canaria

https://localguidegrancanaria.com/en/tejeda-village/

Lunch

Menu was very good for all apertisers, Pete and Nev tried the local mountain dish of goat meat in a garlic and something source… bones too and chewy but some great flavour.

Firstly a cold beer, and what a beer, ICE floating in the big glasses and the team agreed the beer was OK!

After a long lunch (Spanish style) with local deserts for the hungry and a short walk around the village …

Walk Around

We then discovered that Mr googles map route was closed for the day!

So back up to the road where we had been earlier, turn right and we were on our correct route to Roque Nublo!!!, where we should have been going earlier…??!!????.. As Hew would say “off piste”

Spectacular Roque Nublo and Paque Rural del Nublo

For more information see the following links: https://www.canarirural.com/EN/turismo/gran-canaria/Parque-rural-del-Nublo-ref129

https://www.spain.info/en/nature/pilancones-natural-park/

We arrived at the Roque Nublo (1800 meters) parking and all thought, yes, off we go…a short jaunt to the top…. A great path which started going up, up and up until 40 mins later, we were near the top!!

Across the flat plateau to the base of Nublo which climbs 150ft vertically all by itself. First climbed by the Germans in 1934, still is a rock climbers vertical challenge.

It’s was windy and cool (10 degrees), so now we knew why there were jumpers and jacket sellers down below! Stunning views and as it was 5pm the hews and different landscape highlights were spectacular, the photos don’t lie.

20 mins on top and everyone was ready to go, it gets dark here quickly at about 630pm so need to get back. Stunning adventure, not what was expected, always take a wind breaker or buy a jersey!!!

Birds Enjoying the updrafts

On the way down the wind had really risen and the birds were having a great time soaring in the updrafts.

Beautiful views from every where in a national park with spaced trees and lots of benches for summer picnics out of the sun. Fortunately for us they were empty as its mid-winter!!

All happy back at the car, there was a coffee truck with beautiful eyes (and awful coffee) but we were off home, via another scenic routing with Hew under pressure with delayed instructions and missed turned as Mr Google tried to keep up.

Via Terror and Lanzarote , and the same round about a couple of times, but home safe sound and satisfied …. Inland hills were much bigger and better than expected, need to have the right shoes and clothes and walking/climbing bits. Big sleep tonight

Next Blog: Christmas Week