Gran Canaria walk 12th Feb 2015 Ayacata up to Alto del Campanario 1926m down to San Bartolome via Cruz Grande

Last night San Bartolome was shrouded in mist and drizzle but today looked more promising with the clouds starting to break up. A quick walk down to the village and a visit to the bakery for some snacks and water.At one time the 18 bus used to run up to Tejeda every two hours during the day to connect with the bus coming the other way through the cumbre from Las Palmas via San Mateo, but the service is now more restricted with the one leaving San Bartolome at 9.00 am only going to Ayacata and the first one through to Tejeda not being until 10.30.
However these combined with the last bus back from Tejeda at 5.00 pm still makes it possible to do most of the walks off the main road.

Before we got to Ayacata driver and passengers stopped for a short coffee break at the La Candelilla bar.After alighting at Ayacata I headed straight up the path to La Goleta reversing the route that I took in 2013.It's one of the most beautiful on the island especially with the almond trees in full blossom.
 (click on any photo to view series in a larger format)

From the pass at La Goleta I took the main ridge path separating the north and south of the island ,along to Degollada de los Hornos and up to El Campanario.The cloud had been closing in then clearing which made the gaping chasm below this peak and Pico de las Neives seem even more impressive.

Roque Nublo

 

El Campanario

Pico de las Nieves

After a snack I retraced my steps to Degollada de los Hornos to take the old camino down to Cruz Grande.
As I found on the other walks on this trip ,the old GR path signs have gone and all the paths are now shown as local ones.

No pictures of the rest of the scenic route down to Cruz Grande and renovated path to San Bartolome as the battery in my new camera drained from showing as half full to empty rather quickly! A good excuse to go back again.