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Outings in Mazarron - Route No.3 |
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Outings in Mazarron - Route No.3 |
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DIFFICULTY:- AN ALMOST FLAT PATH WHICH PRESENTS NO PARTICULAR DIFFICULTY. CAN BE EXPLORED ON FOOT OR BY BICYCLE. |
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THIS ROUTE IS SEVERELY DISRUPTED BY ROADWORKS NEAR EL SALADILLO. (JANUARY 2007) |
MAPS:- 954-4 TOTANA / La Pinilla & 976-2 MAZARRON /Mazarron Start Point: 954-4 GR:495727 Finish Point: 967-2 GR: 456697 |
1. The railway was planned to connect Totana, Mazarron and Cartagena but was never completed. Abandoned stations, bridges, water passages and junctions may be seen on the route which starts near Casas de Montesinos to the North of Mazarron. The start point is reached by taking the MU 603 from Mazarron and after passing the urbanisation at Camposol turn right towards La Pinilla. As the road starts to rise you will pass a farmhouse named Montesinos about 2.5Km after you turned. There is then a z-bend in the road; the track is on your right more or less in the centre of the curve of the bend. There are a number of similar tracks so be sure to get the right one - it is unmistakable as you can clearly see a railway cutting from the road.
Mazarron.Com route markers 
have been placed
in about 3 locations to confirm your route - they are all near the start,
after which it is impossible to get lost - you just follow the track.Altenatively,
start from El Saladillo resturant; take the track to the left of the
building and turn left after about 100 metres. Look for a route marker.
2. Oyster fossils can be seen here, showing that this area was once below sea level.
3. A bridge carries the route over the Rambla de Fuente Pinilla,
where the vegetation is mainly
of rosebays, ditch reed and salt cedar. Many reservoirs and canals show
water conservation in this zone of scarce rainfall.
4. The path passes through steppes of sedimentary rocks such as marl
and sandstone upon which grows modest vegetation of esparto grass, saltworts
and the like. Olive trees, carob and cereal crops are all grown here.
To the left of the path are the lower slopes of the Sierra de Algorobo
where considerable reforestation
with Mediterranean Pine has been established. Birdlife includes the
bee-eater, swallow, swift, woodpecker and owl.
5. At the village inn of El Saladillo the path crosses the main road (MU 603) and there is a small "hermitage" which is a good example of the modest religious architecture found in rural settings.
6. The path descends slightly through a dry landscape with more almond and carob trees plus some reforestation of eucalyptus and cypress.
7. The route ends at a geothermal spring which was drilled in 1985 and since then has been delivering a constant stream of hot mineral water - 50°C at 12 litres per second. The water flows into the Rambla del Reventon and has encouraged the growth of reeds and is a favourite place for bird life. The traveller should return to the main road at El Saladillo or walk down the rambla towards Mazarron to complete the route.
MazarronCom notes:-
This route does not follow the path of the old railway after El Saladillo (point
5). The railway continued towards Mazarron, crossing the MU603 / C3315
at Casas de Raja GR:473642. From there it skirted the town to it's West, following
the contour of the mining area and finishing at Casa de Espina on the MU6039
road which leads to La Atalaya.
This can be verified if you obtain Map 976 at scale 1:50.000 in it's 1941 edition. The later 1969 /1987 (3rd edition) is not nearly as helpful in divulging old information about the area. The old map can still be obtained without too much difficulty at good bookshops.
Mazarron.com
