It’s a little known fact that just outside Sotogrande lies an impressive railway line that snakes up from the Mediterranean coast to the rugged interior of Andalucía. This picturesque route recently featured in Michael Portillo’s BBC series ‘Great Continental Railway Journeys’, and is no doubt set to become more popular following its screening on UK television last month. For those who didn’t watch the programme, it was thanks to the foresight of Gibraltarian ship owner Captain Louis Lombard, investments by Victorian entrepreneur Mr Henderson and the technical know how of French engineer Charles Lamiable, that this pioneering course through the Spanish countryside came to fruition all those years ago.
Now a new tour company founded by Manni Coe, TomaTours, is offering personalised excursions along the length of this railway line, which involves catching a train up to the Serranía de Ronda and exploring the exciting walks, restaurants and sights along the way. One of the stops on the itinerary is the mountain top village of Castellar, where you can hike down to the railway line in the valley below. While here your eyes are treated to a visual feast as they take in the likes of pretty little mountain villages, rustic dwellings and the surrounding mountains on the horizon. During the trip lovers of gastronomy will find themselves in food heaven, as you visit picturesque train stations that have been lovingly converted into enchanting track side eateries.
In between these stations it’s possible to take part in light hikes through the lush natural scenery in an environment that is far removed from the hustle and bustle of life on the coast. Catching the train up to the historic city of Ronda is an ideal end to the journey, where passengers are spoilt for choice in terms of restaurants, sights of interest or tapas bars. So next time you feel like doing something a little bit different at the weekend, why not jump on board?
By Jackie Cruz - Manifesto ·