Rosway Walkers: Rosway Walking Club Lanzarote Walking Week 27th May

Back in November, when the walking club held its planning meeting to organise the walks for the following year, it was proposed by Judith & I that we would organise a walking week to Lanzarote at the end of May. A number of members immediately expressed an interest and so the proposal was entered on to the walks calendar. We held three information meetings, in January, March and in early May. At the May meeting it was confirmed that twenty club members had booked their flights and accommodation and were all set to invade parts of Lanzarote that most visitors to the island never get to see. Everybody that was travelling learned from the meetings what to bring and what the six day walking schedule entailed. And so, on Monday 27^th May at 12 noon in Puerto Del Carmen where we were based, the Rosway Walkers met outside the San Antonio Hotel for the first day's walk.

The first walk consisted of a short walk around parts of Puerto Del Carmen and then we got the local bus to Playa Honda and visited the Deiland commercial centre for a toilet stop, but also to sample the coffees, teas, ice creams and especially the crepes which were irresistible. Then we took the coastal route along the seaside with a stop beside the airport for some plane spotting before continuing on back to base.

On the Tuesday I led a long walk to what is known as the Secret Garden. This is really a treasure of a garden built in under cliffs in a very remote but beautiful location beside the sea. Local knowledge says that a couple who had a very sick child promised to do something special if their child recovered good health. Within a short time of making the promise, the child was running around full of energy and so they started to build what is now called the Secret Garden. It is full of toys, small pieces of machinery, rocks with names inscribed and much more. Also plants, trees, walkways, walls etc. A magical place. Judith did a B walk along the cliff tops which included a refreshments stop in Puerto Calero from Playa Quemada back to Puerto Del Carmen.

On Wednesday we had a private bus hired to take us up to the north and we walked to the most northerly point of Lanzarote and on our return we visited the Mirador Del Rio. This is again a wonderful place to visit. It houses the restaurant with the most incredible views in Lanzarote. What was interesting is we were looking across at the island of La Graciosa which was our destination for Thursday's walks.

We were up bright and early on Thursday morning as we had to get the bus at 8.30am as we were getting the ferry at 10am to Graciosa. The ferry leaves from the port of Orzola which is in the extreme north of the isalnd, so we had a long bus trip to make but it enabled us to have an enjoyable sightseeing drive. La Graciosa is like stepping back in time as there is only dirt roads which are accessible by 4x4 jeeps only. I took the A walkers on a 20k coastal route and a climb up Montana Bermeja and finished at a beautiful beach called Las Conchas. Judith took the B walkers on a 12k hike across the centre of the island and also visited Las Conchas where they had lunch and also bared all in a spot of sunbathing ( I was sorry to miss this). We all had well earned coffees, cakes, ice cream etc. in Caleta De Sebo before boarding the 6pm ferry back to Orzola and then we got the bus back to Puerto Del Carmen.

Friday was the day of the hardest walk of the week. I led five hardy souls (Jim Curley, Kevin Kiernan, Claire Dolphin, John McDonagh and myself) on a 14km hike starting at sea level from Famara beach, up to the highest accessible point in Lanzarote at 640m and then we continued across to the Mirador Haria and descended the Malpais trail down to the beautiful town of Haria, which is also known as the 'valley of a thousand palms'. Judith brought the B walkers on a lovely walk through the vine growing area known as La Geria starting from Uga and finishing in Puerto Calero.

Saturday was our last walking day and we did a 13km hike from the town of Teguise which used to be the old capital of Lanzarote along an old Camino trail and finished in Costa Teguise.

I calculated that in total we covered a total distance of 114kms and climbed an accumulated height gain of 2650m.

We finished up the week in style on the Saturday night as we put on our finest bits and pieces and all went out for a lovely dinner together, We reminisced about all that we had done during the week. The group made a lovely presentation to Judith and I which was greatly appreciated. It was very gratifying to hear our wonderful walking buddies express how much they had enjoyed the week. What the week proved to Judith and I was something that we have said to one another before – that joining the Club was one of our best ever decisions as we agreed that the nicest, soundest people we have ever been privileged to meet are the Roswayers.

NOTE A number of experiences occurred which shall remain under the Official Secrets Act to prevent embarrassment to certain individuals ?????..... What goes on on Holidays – stays on Holidays.

All pics and text by Liam Roche