We saw a sign to the Dolmens off the road up to the Cerco and decided to live dangerously.
I had found information about these on the web and knew they were on a summit to the north of Artajona. Emails to Tourist Information in Artajona had assured me they were well signed. The sign said 3.5km.
At first it was a well made track through the fields. As it began to climb it got rougher. There were plenty of yellow signs (including a hand made wooden one with an arrow) to encourage us on, although they could be hidden by rapidly growing vegetation. The top of the road got increasingly steep and was badly gullied in places. We nearly grounded once and it could present problems for low cars. Michael was reaching the point of saying “let’s give up” only there was no where to turn round.
Then we reached a small parking area with a sign to Portillo de Enériz 40m pointing up the hill and another to Mina de Farango 850m along a flatter track. We decided to head for Eneriz as we knew this to be the bigger dolmen. It was a steep climb up the side of the hill on a rough track which was in danger of becoming overgrown by scrubby vegetation (holly and a small conifer). The top of the hill around the dolmen was clear of vegetation. There was a corridor lined with large stone slabs with a carefully carved U shape stone in the centre of the passageway. In the bare hard packed earth around the dolmen we could see the remains of the stone cairn that would once have covered it.
Michael’s comment was “It’s not worth doing, apart from the wild flowers”. Being on limestone it is a botanists paradise. There was wild thyme growing everywhere which scented the air when you trod on it. There was blue flax, white flowered Cistus, yellow vetches, pink flowered rosy garlic, purple orchids, bee orchids and spider orchids. The yellow gentian was in leaf but it was too early for flowers. It was a lovely spot (once we got there) with good views back to Artajona and walking tracks across the hillsides.
Going back down didn’t seem as long as driving back up but Michael was pleased to be back on the flatter road.
