Walking on La Gomera and El Hierro. Paddy DillonЧитать онлайн книгу.

      The walk starts by climbing past houses to leave San Sebastián

      Follow the path onwards and go down a rocky ramp above palms. Cross a gap and climb, exploiting a soft red layer. Climb onto a ridge and pass lots of cardón and tabaibal scrub. Rocks have been shifted to make the path, but watch carefully as it rises across a slope of prickly pears. A pointed peak rises ahead, so keep right and pick up a path contouring along a soft, creamy layer of rock. Later, zigzag up towards palms then head downhill. The path contours round a hollow in the mountainside around 500m (1640ft). A reddish, stony zigzag path cuts through old terraces, becoming vague as it crosses the shoulder of Jaragán around 625m (2050ft).

      Swing right along another soft, creamy layer on the rocky slope, slicing across the face of Jaragán, sometimes cut so deeply that the rock overhangs. Dogs may be heard barking up the cliff, at a little goat farm. Keep following the terrace path onwards, wary of rock-fall. When the far end of the ridge is reached, scooped-out steps lead downhill and a sign announces the Parque de Natural Majona. Zigzag down to a bend on a dirt road at 599m (1965ft), and make a decision. The dirt road can be followed right for Hermigua, continuing along the GR132. It is easy, but very long and convoluted.

      The dirt road could also be followed left, winding easily down to the main road, but Rutas 31 and 32 run straight up a rocky path instead. It starts awkwardly but becomes easier, climbing a broad ridge between forest and scrub. Climb only until a path drifts left, Ruta 31, which links with a narrow, stone-paved path zigzagging down a steep slope of dense scrub. Cross the main road near Las Casetas and go through a barrier to continue the descent.

      Follow a short stretch of dirt road, but turn left down a narrow zigzag path on another steep and scrubby slope. When a house is reached, turn left down a red-tiled path, cross a streambed, go down steps and pass some banana plants. Turn left to cross a bridge over a river then turn right to reach a road beside the Bar El Atajo at Lomo Fragoso.

      Walk down the road, all the way through the Barranco de la Villa to San Sebastián. It sounds simple, but it is 6.5km (4 miles) to the town centre. Pass San Antonio and pass the Bar Restaurante La Cabaña at El Langrero. The road turns left to cross a bridge over the barranco then turns right past an ambulance station. Follow the road into San Sebastián, keeping left as signposted ‘centro ciudad’ under a road bridge. Walk straight into the town centre.