30.9.2019 - Rock of Gibraltar, 426m (World Country High Point).
Information
The Rock of Gibraltar is monolithic limestone promontory located in the British territory of Gibraltar, near the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula and near the entrance to the Mediterranean. It is 426 m (1,398 ft) high. Most of the Rock's upper area is covered by a nature reserve, which is home to around 300 Barbary Macaques. These macaques, as well as the network of tunnels attract many tourists each year.
Summary
Well getting down to Gib is a feat in itself especially getting a place to stay in a motor home. Managed to get into the Marina harbour site in La Linea and in the morning it was off we go for an interesting hike.
It was a short hike from the harbour to the border and after crossing it it was a simple job to cross the airfield to get into Gib itself. I basically had a route that started by taking me south through Gib town and up gently through a variety of back streets until you get onto a trail that leads you to Hayne’s Cave and Rooke gun batteries and then onwards to Levant battery on the southern tip. The views were great and the trail was interesting with an airy cute suspension bridge crossed at some point. The gun batteries were quite interesting too and getting to Levant was simply superb as you could see straight across to Africa.
Anyway here you head north on a narrow cliff path for a few hundred meters before heading up the famed ‘Mediterranean Steps.’ These steps raise 240m in a very short space of time and were constructed to serve the British gun batteries on the rock. The steps are steep and narrow but safe and the views are simply outstanding as you steeply climb up the cliff face in a zig zag manner.
After getting to the top of the steps you turn right (north) along a single track road (I also visited the interesting O Hara battery with its guns a 150m higher up to the left ). You go along the ridge on this road and pass just below (meters away) the highest point but you can’t get to it as it is a restricted area. As you continue you end up at the busy cable car terminal and veer in and out of a series of other gun batteries/viewing points until you start to drop down Signal Station Road. The views looking along the Rock into Spain is impressive along this entire stretch.
After coming down Signal Station road just find your way back into town and your own end destination. All easy enough…
Parking and Access: I parked in the Marina car park at the start point as I was staying there in my motor home. There is also a huge car park here too.
Route Summary: Road, good trails, steep steps. Nature reserves, gun batteries and lots of monkeys!
Route Statistics: 14km, 580m ascent in 5hrs 20mins (cold beer stopped play!)
Ascent Entry on Peakbagger: Gibraltar
GPX files: For gpx files click on the below.
Interactive map from Peakbagger page.
Location and Route Overview on Peakbagger
Gallery
Above - the up route to the top of the rock.
Above - along the top and down to end point.