A walk to La Concha

A Linear Walk from Refugio de Juanar to La Concha - 1215 Metres

Map of Route
There is car parking just past the entrance to Refugio de Juanar, plus more further up the track to where the gate is.
	Follow the vehicle track up the zigzag bends and pass through the side of the gates that close off the track to vehicles. The track passes through olive groves, with the prominent peak of Cruz de Juanar rising ahead. Continue on the track until reaching Cortijo de Juanar, an old derelict-looking white building on the right, which I believe, is the old Refugio de Juanar. (photo, left: The peak of Cruz de Juanar. Photo, right: La Concha, the furthest peak in the distance)
	Take the track to the right of the building, then right at the end of the building. Follow the track down for a 100 or so metres then left as it enters the pine forest. Shortly after entering the forest, a fingerpost is reached. Take the left turn to la Concha. (Photo, left: View northeast from the track. Photo, right: Looking back to Cruz de Juanar)
	The wide track now passes through the pine forest, rising slowly on the west side of Cruz de Juanar. Eventually, the track becomes a narrow rocky path climbing higher alongside a wire mesh fence. The path levels out at the southwest side of Cruz de Juanar. (Photo, left: The route out to La Concha. Photo, left: View down to a cloud covered Marbella)
	The path turns right, becoming a little vague in places, as it passes through gorse bushes up the hill side. A col is reached at Salto del Lobo where the path drops down the valley for a short distance. It then veers left and goes along the face of the peak to the left. (The path is relatively safe to pass ) (Photo, left: The path to the col in the distance. Photo, right: Looking back to the col - the path runs along the wall in the shadow)
	The path now skirts round a peak to the right. gently climbing to a level area. The path now drops southeast slightly, to reach Cepillo del Enebro. Here, the way ahead becomes more exciting! The path now pass to the right of the high peak, where for one little section the hands were required. (Photo, right: The ridge leading to La Concha. Photo, left: Looking east, and the first 'bump' to pass over!)
	Once past, the route returns to the crest. Continuing along the top, although the path can be difficult to see on the rocks. There is a lower path to the right, but we missed it on the way out. Still, it was more interesting along the top. (Photo, left: Finger post pointing to La Concha - along the crest of the ridge. Photo, right: View east from along the crest of the ridge)
	La Concha is reached by following the crest of the ridge ...... and it is the only way to go as the there are very steep 900 metre drops either side. Eventually, La Concha is reached after a short descent on the path .... where there is no further to go! (Photo, left: Passing a razor-back ridge leading down to Marbella. Photo, right: Looking down on the southern end of Embalsa de la Concepcion - reservoir in the Istan valley)
	The route is retraced to return to the Refugio de Juanar. (Photo, left (Me) and right (Clare) on La Concha.)