Best White Hill Town to visit from Gibraltar?
Apr 27th, 2010, 09:06 PM
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Ok, Hope my first post with a glaring typo just drifts away. We are stopping in Gibraltar on a cruise. We've been there before and have no desire to visit again. We actually thought of driving to Granada (one of my favorite places), and catching up with the ship a day later. Now, we've decided it is too much effort, plus we've missed the White Hill Towns on previous trips to Spain. So. we are thinking it would be nice to spend the day in port visiting one or more.
Questions are: We've always rented a car in Spain, but would like not to have to do that this time. Do we really need to, or would it be reasonable to visit Ronda by bus/train? Is that a good town to spend several hours just wandering around, taking photos, sitting at a cafe, etc. Would another be better? Would it be nicer to drive around to two or three towns, or visit Marbella? I don't want to rush around as if I am on a tour.
Any opinions and any advice on location of train/bus stations in La Linea or Gibraltar Port area, etc. is much appreciated.
Sorry for the confusion.
Questions are: We've always rented a car in Spain, but would like not to have to do that this time. Do we really need to, or would it be reasonable to visit Ronda by bus/train? Is that a good town to spend several hours just wandering around, taking photos, sitting at a cafe, etc. Would another be better? Would it be nicer to drive around to two or three towns, or visit Marbella? I don't want to rush around as if I am on a tour.
Any opinions and any advice on location of train/bus stations in La Linea or Gibraltar Port area, etc. is much appreciated.
Sorry for the confusion.
Apr 27th, 2010, 09:30 PM
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we went to ronda but didn't love it. it would be worth seeing-- but it is just so very overrun with tourists. (i don't mind tourists-- i'm one-- but it was PACKED.) I liked Grazalema much better-- but you'd need a car. -kawh
Apr 28th, 2010, 01:44 AM
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I read your other mail and thought it would be too much going to Granada.
Getting to Ronda is the best option as there are regular train or Bus services. Once there head to the bullring (and nearby tourist information for maps)and then cross the bridge to the other side, that's the old part of town you'll enjoy.
Agree that it may be crowded, but it may be not-so...Grazalema is nice, but you'll need a car, and as it is small, you'll finish pretty fast.
If you want to drive to a town closer to Gib, check Jimena de la Frontera, Medina Sidonia or Castellar (the old town inside the castle, not the new one on the plain).
Getting to Ronda is the best option as there are regular train or Bus services. Once there head to the bullring (and nearby tourist information for maps)and then cross the bridge to the other side, that's the old part of town you'll enjoy.
Agree that it may be crowded, but it may be not-so...Grazalema is nice, but you'll need a car, and as it is small, you'll finish pretty fast.
If you want to drive to a town closer to Gib, check Jimena de la Frontera, Medina Sidonia or Castellar (the old town inside the castle, not the new one on the plain).
Apr 28th, 2010, 05:49 AM
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You'll have to go into La Línea in order to catch a bus to anywhere from Gibraltar. The bus station is located in the center of La Línea, about one block from the border.
www.andalucia.com/travel/bus/home.htm
www.andalucia.com/travel/bus/home.htm
Apr 28th, 2010, 02:14 PM
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The stop is from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., so I figure about 6-7 hours actually off the ship. I don't care about a museum or anything like that, but would like to be in a picturesque place to walk (really meander) and eat. Would like it to be enjoyable and with the least hassle to get there, if possible. I'm really feeling lost here. Rent a car?
Apr 29th, 2010, 12:25 AM
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I'll make a suggestion: Castellar-Jimena de la Frontera-Gaucín, all of them in the same road A-369 (Algeciras to Ronda road). From Gibraltar it is a 25 min drive to Castellar, 45 to Jimena, 90 to Gaucín.
Visits: Castillo de Castellar (Castellar town has no interest, it was built new in the 60's to house the population living in houses inside the castle, which has been kept as it was). In the castillo, most of the houses belong to the Tourist agency and function as a hotel.
Jimena and Gaucin are more the idea of white towns people have.
Recomended visit: La Almoraima, on the road to Castillo de Castellar, well advertised. A former convent-palace in the middle of a big expanse of cork trees. It's turned into a hotel, but the rural activity remains. The building is beautiful and has a small but impressive chapel, also a restaurant. www.notodohoteles.com/hoteles/Cadiz/la-almoraima, and also www.la-almoraima.com/. The hotel is closed till late June, but I think it can be visited. It's worth it.
My suggestion for lunch is Molino del Conde, on km. 42,500 (on the left, before arriving to Castellar-new town). It has a very nice courtyard and the kitchen is great and traditional. An it is very near Gib., in case of hurry. website: www.elmolinodelconde.com
So, to put it clear, if you drive from Gib, first, on the left, the Molino; then Almoraima; then detour to Castillo de Castellar; back to the main road and then you may continue to Jimena and Gaucín, and no further as the road gets more winding.
Another option is taking the faster route along the coast passing Manilva (little interest) and Casares (very picturesque, you see it in the distance on your right) and then Gaucín (Little more than 1 hour) have breakfast, walk the town center and start going back using the A-369 for going to Jimena (which you can miss in case of need), Castellar, Almoraima, Molino and back to Gib.
If you dont want to rent a car, I have phoned La Linea Taxi co-operative (phone 956174800) and they tell me their fares are 69eur the trip to Gaucín and back (I believe using the coastal route); and 13 eur per hour; but they tell me you can make further arrangements with the driver, something that the public relations of the cruise can do in your name when you are to arrive. They pick/leave you at the border.
Visits: Castillo de Castellar (Castellar town has no interest, it was built new in the 60's to house the population living in houses inside the castle, which has been kept as it was). In the castillo, most of the houses belong to the Tourist agency and function as a hotel.
Jimena and Gaucin are more the idea of white towns people have.
Recomended visit: La Almoraima, on the road to Castillo de Castellar, well advertised. A former convent-palace in the middle of a big expanse of cork trees. It's turned into a hotel, but the rural activity remains. The building is beautiful and has a small but impressive chapel, also a restaurant. www.notodohoteles.com/hoteles/Cadiz/la-almoraima, and also www.la-almoraima.com/. The hotel is closed till late June, but I think it can be visited. It's worth it.
My suggestion for lunch is Molino del Conde, on km. 42,500 (on the left, before arriving to Castellar-new town). It has a very nice courtyard and the kitchen is great and traditional. An it is very near Gib., in case of hurry. website: www.elmolinodelconde.com
So, to put it clear, if you drive from Gib, first, on the left, the Molino; then Almoraima; then detour to Castillo de Castellar; back to the main road and then you may continue to Jimena and Gaucín, and no further as the road gets more winding.
Another option is taking the faster route along the coast passing Manilva (little interest) and Casares (very picturesque, you see it in the distance on your right) and then Gaucín (Little more than 1 hour) have breakfast, walk the town center and start going back using the A-369 for going to Jimena (which you can miss in case of need), Castellar, Almoraima, Molino and back to Gib.
If you dont want to rent a car, I have phoned La Linea Taxi co-operative (phone 956174800) and they tell me their fares are 69eur the trip to Gaucín and back (I believe using the coastal route); and 13 eur per hour; but they tell me you can make further arrangements with the driver, something that the public relations of the cruise can do in your name when you are to arrive. They pick/leave you at the border.
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