50km - 1 hour

Leave the N340 coast road at the traffic lights just east of San Pedro and head inland, passing the new Cost del Sol motorway the road begins to climb. It first passes a few luxury developments such as Los Arqueros, La Heredia, and La Zagaleta.

It is a good road reasonably wide, but not suitable for overtaking. So if you a stuck behind a slow moving vehicle, be patient. Also have consideration for the passengers in the back, particularly children. The windy road is not a happy one for those susceptible to travel sickness. The views however are spectacular. Don't forget to take frequent glimpses over your shoulder (unless you're driving that is), as the view of the coast is quite stunning. A motobike video of the road can be viewed here.

As a point of historical interest, the principal route from the coast to Ronda climbed up a different valley from the medieval times until the 1920's. It used to go via Istan and Fuenfria. The present road formed part of a major upgrade in the 1980's with the general widening and straightening of the bends including serious engineering works.. Seen from the road, the reddish mountains offer a good habitat for pine forest and from time to time a stream crossed beneath the road. Near the top, after the bikers halt, a roadside venta called the "Venta el Madroño" (GPS 36.59889N,5.07389W) just below the at the 'Puerta de Madroñal' where the road plateaus, in preparation for an 11-kilometre bend around the mountainside, the newly metalled road to Pujerra can bee seen on the left. It's an interesting trip that takes you into the hidden corners of the Sierra Bermeja.

Soon after the large bend the landscape abruptly changes from its reddish volcanic rock to the white limestone of the Sierra Blanca. The original winding road completed in the period of General Primero can at times be seen, engineering technology was not as advanced and had to cut deeper into the valleys. Today, many of these corners are bypassed by larger concrete bridges, but the old road offers a number of excellent panoramas of the mountains. One of these deserted bypasses with it rounded arch bridge can be found at Kilometre 142,3.

The peak is reached after the long bend and many travellers stop not only to admire the view but look at the by a strange rusty iron two pronged monument, a modern sculpture dedicated to the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke ( 4 December 1875 - 29 December 1926) who visited Ronda in 1913 and described it as the "Dream City". The half built concrete shell of a visitors centre obstructs the view but one day will provide welsome shelter from the winter wind or summer sun. Located at over 3,000 feet this pass is often cold and attracts the snow for a few days in winter. To place this location into northern European relevance, the small peak to the east of the road is as high as Snowdonia in Wales. A recently improved track way opposite the monument leads up into this area. Known as Camino de los Cascajares, it offers an insight into this limestone country and the numerous marble quarries that now litter the landscape. Walkers take advantage of this new road to approach the peak of Cascajares in a less arduous manner.

Looking down the Rio Seco and Genal valley, the landscape is green and wooded and a good view can be seen of Igualeja and many of the Alto Genal communities. It is worth noting that for every pueblo seen, the landscape lost an average of a further two medieval villages after the Christian conquest.

A little further on the right a track leads into the Sierra de las Nieves natural park. The so-called Sierra of the Snows and a forest of a Spanish type of fir which is reputedly found nowhere else in the world. By now you are 3,000 feet about sea level and not far from the Serrania de Ronda uninhabited hunting reserve where wild goats run free and you can sometimes spy peregrine falcons swooping around craggy distant mountains

There are two roads to the left leading down to the villages with unpronounceable names that head the River Genal Valley. Chestnut trees line the roads. The first leads to Igualeja and Pujerra where only 4x4's can continue around the Sierra Bermeja to Estepona. The second via Cartajama, Juzcar, Farajan, and Alpandiere loops back to the Ronda to Gaucin Road. This whole area is known as the Serrania de Ronda. . If you have time for a detour, go ahead and explore, otherwise continue climbing on.

The recently constructed petrol station, the only one on this road must have been welcomed by the villagers. There is a new modern Venta Taurino here for those that seek refreshment. The service is efficient and friendly.

10km further on we descend a little to Ronda which can be seen in the distance. A more traditional roadside halt. (This one with a swimming pool at the back.) precedes the left turn into the town of Ronda.

Turn left into Ronda for the Ronda to Gaucin route.
Continue straight on by passing Ronda for the Ronda to Algodonales road for Seville and Jerez..

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