The Serrania de Ronda and Sierra de las Nieves are environments of the province of Malaga full of ideal spots to practice adventure sports or lose yourself in nature. But if you want to relax, enjoy the surroundings or share a family picnic, recreation areas are a good option. These are three of the most recommended spaces.
Recreation area of Fuensanta
In the Natural Park of the Sierra de las Nieves is located the recreation area of the Fuensanta, created around an old flour mill of the eighteenth century. A leafy poplar grove and abundant vegetation surround the recreation area, next to which runs a spring that makes even more idyllic this place located in El Burgo.
After visiting the recreation area, you can ascend to Puerto de los Lobos, see the valley of the river Turon and discover the wonders of this paradise declared Biosphere Reserve. To return to El Burgo, you will only have to descend the Parauta cattle path, an area frequented by legendary bandits that inspired the romantic intellectuals of the nineteenth century. Many came to these lands from all over Europe, including British travellers.
How to get to the recreation area La Fuensanta: Less than 19 miles separate Ronda from this mountain village. You can get here by car on the A-366 road. From the villa itself, there is a path that leads through pine groves and centuries-old olive groves to the Fuensanta farmhouse.
Los Sauces Recreation Area
Also in the Sierra de las Nieves is the recreation area of Los Sauces, a very special place where nature is the protagonist. It has barbecues, tables with wooden benches, taps and toilets. In short, everything necessary to organise a fun outdoor family day in a privileged setting.
Although this recreation area belongs to the municipality of El Burgo, it is advisable to follow a route that begins in Yunquera and crosses forests, olive groves and prairies. Through this itinerary you will see impressive ravines and sinuous streams, the ruins of the Convent of Las Nieves and the old iron mines of San Eulogio.
How to get to Los Sauces recreation area: Leaving Ronda, you can reach Yunquera in less than an hour by car on the A-366 road. Once in this village, sheltered between splendid landscapes, you must move to the local football field. It is here where the marked path begins, ending in the recreation area of Los Sauces.
Dehesa del Mercadillo Peri-urban Park
If you choose to visit Ronda, on the outskirts of the city you will find a peri-urban park where you can rest after your cultural tour around the town. It is the Dehesa del Mercadillo, populated by a beautiful pine forest and old oaks. Strolling through this natural space while listening to the singing of the birds that inhabit it, is a real delight.
Whether on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike, you will have the opportunity to discover the surroundings and enjoy a picnic in its recreation areas. From this spot, which owes its name to an old cattle market that was held in the area, you can also get fantastic panoramic views of the Tajo de Ronda. From here you will understand why this city has charmed personalities like Benjamin Disraeli, Orson Wells or Martin Amis, throughout history.
The Dehesa del Mercadillo extends through the north of the famous gorge, less than 2 miles from Puente Nuevo. It is advisable to move on foot, strolling until reaching the pine forest. But if you choose to go by car, you must take the A-374 road, which surrounds the peri-urban park.
