Route No.4

The Old Morata - Pastrana Railway

MAPS:-976/1 La Majada & 976/3 Cañada de Gallego.
Start Point: 976/3 GR:377593
Finish Point: 976/1 GR: 354612 (Point 7 -suggested finish point)

1. This route can be explored by motor vehicle or bicycle and covers only a small part of the mining railway which was built to transport minerals extracted at Morata, to Parazuelos to be loaded onto boats for shipping to European markets. Most traces of the railway have disappeared but there are still traces of the loading and unloading facilities.

The start point is rather difficult to locate as there are few distinguishing features. From Mazarron take the N-332 towards Aguilas and look out for the Cazadores resturant on your left, about 10Km from Mazarron. The turning to Pastrana is about 300 metres further on the right. Continue for exactly 3·5Km and look out for Bar Alicia on your left; about 100 metres on you will see a tarmac road to your right just before the "main" road crosses the Rambla de Pastrana.Look out for a small resevoir on your left, and maybe you'll also see the old buildings of Pastrana railway station, but these could be partly obscured by green-houses.

2. Start at Pastrana where the lane mentioned above crosses an experimental farm owned by the Agricultural Council, at Finca del Iryda. This later joins the Rambla de Pastrana leading to Morata. Old railway workshops can still be seen here.

There are no signs to distinguish the experimental farm which seems to be abandoned, and no convenient points to place our route markers at the turning, but one or two markers have been placed further up the lane to confirm the route. Just follow the lane without diverting - it's impossible to get lost.

3. The Rambla de Pastrana has magnificent vegetation thanks to it's water capture.



4. Traces of the old railway track can be seen beside the impressive hills of Cabezo de Monteju and Cabezo de Pastrana.

5. Ruined rural houses and greenhouses for tomato production dot the landscape. This area experiences frost during cold weather.

6. Broom and palm trees can be found in the more protected hollows; the vegetation otherwise is of the characteristic rosemary, hawthorn and others.

 

7. The path joins the Rambla de Tortolos, and there are two tarmac paths. Take the one to the right which follows the old railway track to Morata via a semi-ruined bridge

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MazarronCom notes:
This is a very pleasant stroll, not too exerting through some very pretty countryside. The duration from the start to Point 7 is just less than one hour - continuing to Morata would probably take another 20 minutes or so; if you continue try to follow the track bordering the rambla as the road seems to have been remade and diverts from the original route. We didn't try this bit because of our dogs.

There are a couple of small bars in Morata where you could obtain refreshment (providing they're open !) but little else.

From the start point you can also try to follow the old railway to the South but it is difficult to distinguish and rather overgrown in places - it follows the East bank of the rambla. As it approaches the main Mazarron -Aguilas road it disappears entirely where farmers have placed tomato greenhouses. The stretch to the South of the main road leading to Parazuelos has not been explored to date (May 2000)

Mazarron.com