- Highlights: Views, history
- Distance: 1.6 miles out and back (our hike was a 4.9 mile loop)
- Elevation Change 997 feet (our hike was a climb of 1,627 feet)
- Trail Surface: Dirt and rocks
- Difficulty Level: Moderate/strenuous
- Trailhead Parking: No parking at trailhead, Engineer Road, Jews’ Cemetery Battery. We walked from our hotel to the trailhead on Engineer Road. Park entry fee required.
- Trail Markings: No blazes, signs at trail junctions
- Website: AllTrails and Gibraltar Nature Reserve
- Beer Pairings: The Angry Friar Pub: Tribute Pale Ale & Caffrey’s Irish Red Ale
Trail Map:
The Hike:
On our recent trip to Spain, we had an opportunity to visit Gibraltar and we jumped at the chance to hike “the Rock”. The classic view of the Rock is the sheer rock face of the northern end of this monolithic limestone mountain. The northern tip is too steep for a hiking trail. From the south, there are several ways to the top: an aerial tram, a taxi tour, walking up the paved road, or the Mediterranean Steps.
We opted to hike up on the Mediterranean Steps via Martin’s Path. The trail dates back to the 18th century when it was used by the British military. Today it’s a series of switchbacks and steps which cling to the edge of the rocky cliffs. The climb is steep, but it’s less than a mile to to summit.
The views are amazing. Morocco in North Africa is visible just 14 miles across the Mediterranean. It’s easy to see why the Rock has been an important military site for centuries. Gibraltar is home to caves, tunnels, and former gunnery sites. Over 500 different types of plants and dozens of bird species are found on the Rock. The Rock is also home to over 200 apes who act like they own the place.
We visited several of the sites on the summit and then worked our way down. From O’Hara’s Battery, we hiked past Queen’s Balcony, Apes’ Den, Pete’s Paradise Cave, to the Devil’s Gap footpath which led us back down to the center of town.
Hike Photos:
Beer Pairing:
We love English pubs and Gibraltar has a bunch of them. The Angry Friar is located just a few hundred yards from the Library Steps, near the foot of Devil’s Gap footpath. The Angry Friar has 8 taps of English ales, a full bar, and a nice beer garden with outdoor seating. They have a full food menu and serve a variety of British food including fish and chips.
Kathy enjoyed a pint of Tribute (4.2% ABV • 35 IBU), a Cornish pale ale brewed by St. Austell in Cornwall. It was the hoppiest beer on the menu—but not as bitter as we would like. Pete remembered Caffrey’s Irish Red Ale (3.2% ABV) from a trip to Ireland years ago. Things have changed a bit and Caffrey’s is now part of Molson Coors. The fish and chips were great!
Hike and drink responsibly. Never drink and drive. Stay safe, be responsible, and leave no trace.