Cerro del Tambor

The path climbs gradually through cork oak and Mediterranean heathland. Reckon on about 6.1 km of route according to the official markers, some topos give 6.2 km. The difficulty is rated low, and you climb to the summit in an hour and a half to two hours. The slope stays reasonable but constant, with a few steeper passages in the last part. No water point along the way: bring your own bottle, especially in mid-season when the sun beats down from 11am.

The summit is marked by a former military bunker converted into a viewpoint. That is where it all happens: a due-south view over the strait, over the bay of Algeciras to the east, and above all over Jebel Musa rising opposite, on the other side of the sea. On clear days you can make out the roads of the Rif and the Moroccan coastal villages. It is also a recognised observation post for the autumn bird migration, when tens of thousands of raptors cross to Africa.