Describes a recent walk up a lesser known peak in the Sierra Nevada. Stuck out on a western limb from the main mass of the Sierra Nevada the Silleta del Padul, nevertheless, commands far and distant views out across the vega de Granada. The peak is sandwiched between the towns of Dilar to the north and Padul to the south west.
There are few guidebooks that describe the ascent of this 1500m sprawling peak. As usual the trick is to find the correct start point. We failed badly at this, partly the result of incorrect guidebook advice and partly due to our lack of a decent map. The main Sierra Nevada map does not stretch this far west.
After 30 minutes driving aimlessly up and down various dirt tracks we found the key to a direct ascent from Dilar. By car take the road from the town center towards the “Ermita Nuestra Señora de las Nieves“. This lies on a small shelf to the SE of the town. The tarmas road passes left of the Ermita and then makes a big turn to the right. Follow this for about 1km or so until you meet a farm track on the right and a wooden signpost on the left, opposite. One of the signs says “Vda de Manar”. Across the path is a large boulder, presumably to stop anybody taking a car further!
Leave the car here and follow the track due south across farmland and young olive plantations. You will see the way forward on the forested hillside opposite. After 20 minutes the ground steepens and you must prepare for half an hours toil. The tracks heads directly uphill before trending right to a wide col. Here the main summit ridge can be seen. The area here is part woodland, part open terrain. Lovely walking of a type rarely seen in the Sierra Nevada.
Ahead lies another Ermita with a sign. Follow this but bear left heading east before the steepening to the Ermita on a good track. This track borders the steeper, rougher summit area. After another 15 minutes you will meet a track heading back towards the prominent summit. Very soon you will be standing beside the summit cairn at 1519m, after a short scramble up the rocky cone.
Great views in all directions but especially the Cumbres Verdes and Los Alayos ridge look stunning. The main ridge of the Silleta can be followed eastwards over other tops very easily for a longer day. We headed east and then north of the summit down a loose rocky barranco, towards the Ermita.
Once back at the wide col it took no more than 45 minutes to return to the car. A delightful walk. 600m of ascent giving 3.5 hours walking. Perfect for a half day. 5 minutes after arriving back at the car the area was hit by a heavy thunderstorm. Lucky eh?
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Thanks for this – it looks interesting. I’m not sure if you were using it but the Mapa Excursionista (Sierra Nevada la Alpujarra 1:40,000) http://www.editorialalpina.com which I was sold by the local tourist information office in Lanjaron does seem to cover this area and a number of the landmarks you mentioned on the drive in. Its an inferior map for the actual Sierra Nevada versus the penibetica version, but it does cover the area to the West better.
From this map there seems to be a quicker drive in (if coming from Lanjaron and the Alpujarra’s), via Durcal and turning off the N-323 at Aguadero- have you tried this route and discounted it? I’m tempted to try it tomorrow.
Thanks for the info. Ill try to dig out the old map. Tried to find the access from Durcal before but not successful. If you manage it can you let me have details. Good luck!
OK – I managed to get up to the Silleta to today, but unfortunately not from Durcal/Padul. I found the access road on the map (6kms from the roundabout off the motorway exit, following the N323A) but this quickly became blocked by a barrier – it appears to be a mining access road and so is restricted. This might not be a problem during the week? I explored a bit on foot but I was hoping to drive quite a bit higher and the scenery was not that interesting so I headed back to the car and tried to find your route up.
Going through Dilar I missed the turning for Nuestra Senora de Las Nieves and instead ended up at a bridge over the Rio Dilar, crossing this and following the river for a couple of km, I came to a large car park, just below the “Aula de la Naturaleza Ermita Vieja”. It was well set up, with a popular restaurant and public toilets as well as a well marked tracks heading off North East along the Rio Dilar (looks like an awesome place to have a go at the Cerro de la Boca de la Pesca) and to the South, up to the Silleta amongst other peaks.
Fed up with driving and keen to get burning calories, I opted for the lazy route, following a well marked track which followed the contours below Cerro Domingo, Puerto de Mala Mujer (great names!) up to the Silleta (by the way coming in from this end it is signposted as “Silleta de Dilar……”). The round trip took about 5 hours and the downside of this route was that I had to follow the same path back down again.
The restaurant was closed by the time I got back – so I expect that this is a lunch time thing only and possibly not during the week, but it was certainly popular today. It was a nice gentle gradient on very good track for the most part, an easy day out.
I really liked the look of this area and I think I’ll be back over the winter to try and explore further to the West.
When I said West, I meant East – this could explain why my self guided walks take longer than everyone else’s.
Interesting stuff Andy. Must be access from Padul/Durcal area. In the winter we go up from Niguelas to ski on the Caballo and I know you can get over that way to the back side of the Alayos Ridge. Long 4WD track though.
We park quite often at the Aula de la Naturaleza Ermita Vieja. Boca de la Pesca takes about 1.5hrs to ascend on a steep but well graded track. The Corazon de la Sandia is also accessible from here up a dry rambla to the right.
Good walk up the Dilar valley too but if you don’t want to come back the same way you will be in for a long day!
Never done the Silleta del Durcal from there. We shall have to try to find an alternative route back though so we don’t cover the same ground twice.
BTW The restaurant opening and closing times vary considerably. certainly closes at 5pm and intermittently during the week when the guy feels like it. Shame on a hot day when you have been looking forward to a beer or two!