An eco-friendly walking and cycling route at the western end of the Águilas coastline

The network of “Senderos Azules” (Blue Trails) is an initiative promoted in Spain by ADEAC, the Association of Environmental and Consumer Education, to recognize and promote sustainable and environmentally friendly walking paths, this contributing to the enjoyment and preservation of nature and ethnographic heritage.

The “Los Cocedores” route in Águilas has been named as one of these routes and is a perfect way to enjoy the spectacular coastline of south-west Murcia all year round (the municipality also boasts a second trail, that of the “Tres Bahías” or Three Bays, nearer the centre of the town).

The route can be undertaken as a great form of exercise, as a jogging or cycling outing or at a more leisurely pace as a sightseeing and fact-finding adventure – in fact, occasional guided tours are held on the trail.

One of the most noticeable features of the route is the “cocedores” themselves, old rock pools which were used in the past for treating esparto Grass in the seawater prior to using it in the creation of baskets, shoes and numerous other items. This was an important element of the economy of Águilas in pre-industrial times and continued well into the 20^th century.

The western end of the route is at the beach of Playa de los Cocedores, on the boundary with the province of Almería in Andalucía.

Other interesting sites include three old machine-gun bunkers (two at the beach of Matalentisco and the other at Calarreona, both Blue Flag beaches), constructed with a mixture of concrete and iron and sunk into the dunes for camouflage.

Representing the old rural traditions of the area, there are also cave dwellings at some of the beaches, water storage tanks and wells, and even the building of the “Carabineros” (precursors of the Guardia Civil between 1829 and 1940) in Calarreona.

The eastern end of the trail is at the Playa de la Cañada del Negro, alongside the Juan Montiel marina, on the edge of the built-up centre of the town of Águilas.

The full route can be seen online here.

For more local and visiting information, events and news contact the tourist office of Águilas or go to the home page of Águilas Today.

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