La Matilla Springs Walk

[duncolm]

Following on from Jock's thread about the spring water available at La Matilla, I've had a really enjoyable walk up to the actual springs on the hillside above it, les Fuentes de El Chupadero.

Don't know how often we'd looked at the set of steps which start the walk as we've driven past. Park between the 50 and 70 speed limit signs at the edge of La Matilla.


There's an info board. The path leads to the springs and then up onto the hilltop.


The first thing we came to was a patch of vetch which was filling the air with its scent.


The path leads up past abandoned terraces and other relics of farming activity


There's a good crop of barley growing wild here


The path then turns a bit more steeply uphill


Here's the first spring


Yes, a proper well!


This rest point is as far as I climbed on this occasion. It's an easy half hour to get to it.


From here the walk continues onto the top of  Montaña La Muda, but I gave that a miss on this occasion, due to having a number of good excuses.

[Jock719]

If you ate interested at all in geology, have a look in the old quarry adjacent to the path which rises up from the road, it's a well documented locality for good examples of the mineral Analcime.

http://www.mindat.org/min-210.html

[gattaca66]

Brilliant, thank you! We've driven past the steps countless times and mused over whether it might be worth walking up there, if it's possible etc....now on our 'to do' list!

[duncolm]

Thanks Jock.
Hadn't even realised there's a quarry behind there until I looked on Google Earth just now. I'll have a closer look next time.

[Jock719]

I've collected a few good samples of Analcime from the quarry, great site. Interesting geology, I believe a lot of Universities use the quarry for field work.