Route: Roque Cano
Area: La Gomera
Date of walk: 9th February 2016
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 7.7 miles
Ascent: 1,800 feet
Weather: sunny and warm
This was the penultimate walk of our holiday in La Gomera and in retrospect we both agreed that it was the best. All 7 walks were wonderful in their own way, ranking amongst the very best, but today’s walk seemed to possess something extra special
Vallehermoso, or ‘Beautiful Valley’, was the centrepoint of our walk and as we climbed up the valley away from the village of the same name we admired the well tended banana plantations, small vineyards and potato fields. The weather was perfect and we felt as though we were walking through the Garden of Eden – but more was to come
After a long climb, with spectacular views all around, we arrived at a small mirador near the Restaurant Roque Blanco. From here we started our descent down a long exposed edge. Our pulses quickened as we looked down the route, which appeared to be impossible at times. As usual, the ingenious Gomeran path makers managed to find a safe way down and we had no need to be apprehensive
On the approach to the village we met the huge wall of Roque Cano, a lump of rock shaped like a spaceship and quite surreal in appearance. The path took us round the foot of the rock before leading steeply down back into Vallhermoso to conclude a magical walk
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Spectacular views from the road as we drive to Vallehermoso on the north of La Gomera
Mount Teide in Tenerife across the sea
The road to Vallehermoso and the distinctive outline of Roque Cano - our eventual descent route will be along the ridge leading to it
On foot now as we leave the town square in Vallehermoso and look up to the 400m tall volcanic vent of Roque Cano
Looking back over the town, with early signs of fruit and vegetable production for which the valley is renowned
We follow a quiet lane leading up the valley
Well maintained terraced plantations
‘The Beautiful Valley’…
The lane had turned into a dirt track, which we leave at this point to ascend a rocky path
Looking back to Vallehermoso, with a spectacular array of mountains and ravines above it
Views in every direction
We’re aiming for the ridge line top left of the picture
We climb up to this house near the head of the valley, which enjoys a rather good view…
Wonderful views looking back…
Near the end of the climb we walk along a lane leading to the largely abandoned village of El Teón
We pass by a busy restaurant and glimpse Roque Cano as we follow the summit ridge
The sea below the clouds
The descent back down the valley is initially along a dirt track
Our path is cut into the steep mountainside
Looking across the head of the valley to our earlier ascent path
A small section of fence protecting us from a big drop to the left
Further along the rocky path
Vallehermoso far below
Roque Cano, looking like a spaceship
We follow the line of the ridge towards Vallehermoso
Vallehermoso below
Looking like Lego Town
From here it’s a short stroll through the town back to the start - what a wonderful walk it had been
The view along the Barranco de Benchijigua as we drove back to the south of the island
Los Roques, where we walked a couple of days ago
And finally, Mount Teide in Tenerife
