One of the world's scariest walks:
Caminito del Rey
May 19th, 2015
Having managed to book a slot for the walkway shortly after it was officially opened on 28th March this year, I had been waiting with anticipation to see what lay between two points that I had managed to get to before. There's a fairly long walk to each of the entry points to the gorge and the glances through had been tantalising. Now I was to find out.
I wasn't sure how I felt. I was going on my own and I don't really like heights. I alternated between being excited and then downright scared as I walked towards the check in point. Waiting for my turn to enter, I watched as people who had started at what would be my exit point, filed past me. They didn't seem to be euphoric, simply knackered!
The walk is 7.7km long and until recent renovations was described as not only the most scariest walkway, it was also seen as the most dangerous. In certain areas, the walkway is suspended 100 metres above the river and had been closed to the public since 2001 following several climbers falling to their deaths. Originally opened at the beginning of the 20th century, the 100 year old path had fallen into disrepair and was in a precarious condition. It was officially closed although it remained an attraction for adrenalin junkies looking for the ultimate experience. That wasn't my motivation, that's for sure, I was curious to gain access to the inner area, although parts of the walkway I'd seen on videos did intimidate me considerably!
I was keen to get beyond that which I'd seen before and made my way into the gorge proper. It wasn't long before I could see and admire the difficulties which workers had encountered and overcame when constructing the walkway. There were bridges built to convey people and goods, steps winding their way upwards and downwards and systems of irrigation all materials which were transported without the use of vehicles.
The rockfaces were absolutely amazing and it felt like being in a cathedral. The walkways clung close to the rock faces and twisted and turned along their route. Sometimes rock faces overhung the path and reason for the issue of hard hats became clear. I rounded one curve and found three workmen filling in cracks in the wooden slats of the walkway. It was a little unnerving, however in Spain there are never any problems and I was ushered past with assurances ringing in my ears!
The number of people allowed to enter and pass along various sections of the walkway is limited and controlled throughout and so I wasn't too concerned to often find myself alone. I was a bit concerned though, when reaching the glass overhang to read a very large notice stating that no more than 4 people should stand on it at any one time! I waited until some people moved on as I wasn't sure how number would equate to weight! I stood on the glass shelf gingerly, however I stood on it!
As I looked around before moving on, I heard a rumble; a train was passing through on the opposite side of the gorge. What a fantastic opportunity to capture a silver bullet heading out of the rock face before quickly disappearing again.
Then it was onwards to the part which I had worried about the most; the suspension bridge. Again it was monitored and no more than 10 people were allowed on at a time. It bounced and moved as people in front of me walked on, however because there are fantastic views looking out, movement also stopped at times and people stopped to look. Just before the bridge walk, I'd read a plaque which had been erected by climbers in memory of three of their compatriots who had fallen to their deaths in the gorge. I was reminded just how dangerous any kind of accident would be as I looked through the mesh of the bridge far below me.
Water was pouring from the old crossing adjacent to the suspension bridge and in the sunshine a rainbow was created. Once over the bridge, it was a fairly steep descent towards the railway bridge which I'd looked at from the other side a few years back.
Then I was through. I had made it without too many heart stopping moments and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again; at an early time in the day though, a 2pm start on a hot day was quite draining.
Having managed to book a slot for the walkway shortly after it was officially opened on 28th March this year, I had been waiting with anticipation to see what lay between two points that I had managed to get to before. There's a fairly long walk to each of the entry points to the gorge and the glances through had been tantalising. Now I was to find out.
I wasn't sure how I felt. I was going on my own and I don't really like heights. I alternated between being excited and then downright scared as I walked towards the check in point. Waiting for my turn to enter, I watched as people who had started at what would be my exit point, filed past me. They didn't seem to be euphoric, simply knackered!
The walk is 7.7km long and until recent renovations was described as not only the most scariest walkway, it was also seen as the most dangerous. In certain areas, the walkway is suspended 100 metres above the river and had been closed to the public since 2001 following several climbers falling to their deaths. Originally opened at the beginning of the 20th century, the 100 year old path had fallen into disrepair and was in a precarious condition. It was officially closed although it remained an attraction for adrenalin junkies looking for the ultimate experience. That wasn't my motivation, that's for sure, I was curious to gain access to the inner area, although parts of the walkway I'd seen on videos did intimidate me considerably!
I was keen to get beyond that which I'd seen before and made my way into the gorge proper. It wasn't long before I could see and admire the difficulties which workers had encountered and overcame when constructing the walkway. There were bridges built to convey people and goods, steps winding their way upwards and downwards and systems of irrigation all materials which were transported without the use of vehicles.
The rockfaces were absolutely amazing and it felt like being in a cathedral. The walkways clung close to the rock faces and twisted and turned along their route. Sometimes rock faces overhung the path and reason for the issue of hard hats became clear. I rounded one curve and found three workmen filling in cracks in the wooden slats of the walkway. It was a little unnerving, however in Spain there are never any problems and I was ushered past with assurances ringing in my ears!
The number of people allowed to enter and pass along various sections of the walkway is limited and controlled throughout and so I wasn't too concerned to often find myself alone. I was a bit concerned though, when reaching the glass overhang to read a very large notice stating that no more than 4 people should stand on it at any one time! I waited until some people moved on as I wasn't sure how number would equate to weight! I stood on the glass shelf gingerly, however I stood on it!
As I looked around before moving on, I heard a rumble; a train was passing through on the opposite side of the gorge. What a fantastic opportunity to capture a silver bullet heading out of the rock face before quickly disappearing again.
Then it was onwards to the part which I had worried about the most; the suspension bridge. Again it was monitored and no more than 10 people were allowed on at a time. It bounced and moved as people in front of me walked on, however because there are fantastic views looking out, movement also stopped at times and people stopped to look. Just before the bridge walk, I'd read a plaque which had been erected by climbers in memory of three of their compatriots who had fallen to their deaths in the gorge. I was reminded just how dangerous any kind of accident would be as I looked through the mesh of the bridge far below me.
Water was pouring from the old crossing adjacent to the suspension bridge and in the sunshine a rainbow was created. Once over the bridge, it was a fairly steep descent towards the railway bridge which I'd looked at from the other side a few years back.
Then I was through. I had made it without too many heart stopping moments and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again; at an early time in the day though, a 2pm start on a hot day was quite draining.