Route: Los Roques
Area: La Gomera
Date of walk: 7th February 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.5 miles
Ascent: 2,000 feet
Weather: hot and sunny, rather hazy
The elevation profile of today’s walk was an unusual one and the opposite of the normal profile which shows a climb up a mountain and a descent. Today we would start our walk at a high level, descend to the valley bottom, and then climb back up again
Such a walk is made possible by the roads on La Gomera, which follow high mountain ridges in order to avoid the deep ravines which run across all parts of the island
We parked our hired car at Ermita Las Nieves, at a height of 3,700 feet. The situation here is dramatic and we were enjoying incredible views before we’d even set off on our walk. We followed a track along the rather barren mountain top before starting the long descent towards the village of La Laja. We passed by the village, ignoring the possibility of a detour into it, and then started the ascent back up to the top. This involved a climb of about 2,000 feet but it was relatively easy going
Towards the end of the climb we encounted the extraordinary rock features of Los Roques, a cluster of huge ‘roques’ which have been fashioned by erosion round lava fills – a spectacular sight
A wonderful walk, full of drama but minus the palpitations that are often associated with huge lumps of rock
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A car park with a view - looking back along the road we’d travelled to get to Ermita Las Nieves
Tenerife in the distance
We walk along the access road to the car park, turning off just before the main road
Looking out to sea along the south east barrancos
As we look down into the Barranco de La Laja we try to pick out our descent route
Looking the other way along the barranco towards some reservoirs
The path down the steep mountain side is well graded thanks to numerous hairpin bends
Mount Teide on Tenerife again
Further along our descent path
Gilly admires the view
First glimpse of Los Roques, but we have a big down and up before we pass by them towards the end of the walk
Ruined building near the edge of a rock promontory
Lush vegetation along the way…
La Laja at the end of the barranco of the same name
Tenerife in the distance
We pass by La Laja at the end of the valley
Looking back to La Laja as we start the long ascent back to the top…
House leeks growing out of the rock, some small…
…and some large
Los Roques come into view
A panorama of all 4 roques - Agando, Carmen, Zarcita and Olija
The impressive face of Roque Agando
We follow this path back to the start
Picnic area at the Ermita Las Nieves car park and the end of a fantastic walk
Later that day, sunset from our hotel
