VISITING NATIONAL PARKS AND AREAS OF OUTSTANDING BEAUTY

There are several National Park areas within driving distance to the south and west of Mojacar.

The first, Parque Natural Cabo de Gata-Nijar, is a land and marine area, protected from development, and accessed by driving down the Paseo del Mediterraneo, heading south-west (towards Carboneras as opposed to towards Garrucha) past the Best Indalo Hotel and along the coast road for some 20-30km. This is a road trip that combines some spectacular sea views with a visit to an unspoilt beach frequented by locals with the sinister name of La Playa de Los Muertos. The road takes you into the hills next to the sea via a golf course development straight into the National Park. There is a spectacular viewing point on the crown of the bend before you drop down into the town of Carboneras. To get to the beach, you continue through the town following signs for town centre and beach (AL 5106) and avoiding Otra Directiones (N 341) (which will take you in land back to the A7/E-15 Motorway). The main promenade exits the town and takes you through a massive coastal mining works past a building that resembles the cement works equivalent of the Pompidou Centre in Paris and back up into the mountains. At the apex of the hill, there is signage for the beach, and a car park (4 Euros). Walk down the hill path for 30 minutes or so to access the beach.

Other National Parks, within driving distance, which afford opportunities for walking, cycling and horseriding include the westernmost edge of the Parque National Sierra Nevada,which lead into the mountain range of the same name further south towards Granada. This is a forested area of conifers, holm oaks and chestnuts which ascends ultimately, above the tree line to an altitude of 2,000m, with ski resorts in winter, down towards Granada.

Between these two, and epitomising the bewildering blend of contrasting geographical topography in this region, is the Paraje Natural Desierto de Tabernas, The Desert of Tabernas.This is well known throughout the world as the European film location that most closely resembles both the Mojave Desert and the desert regions of the Middle East because it was here that several Old Wild West spaghetti westerns of the Sergio Leone mould were filmed (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly), a Clint Eastwood classic, For a Handful of Dollars, as well as some scenes of David Lean's classic Lawrence of Arabia and a few Hollywood cast of thousands biblical epics including Cleopatra. One film set, a one-horse cowboy town complete with bank and saloon bar, remains as a permanent testament to these famous movies, Poblado del Oesteaka Mini HollywoodYou can sit in the saloon bar with the cowboys and Mexicans, all played by local actors, watch a choreographed bar room brawl, see a Mexican stand off outside complete with shotguns and movie style horse pratfalls. And, as I recall, an execution. It's tremendous fun. The only thing, regrettably, not on the itinerary was a card game and visit to the bordello. For bookings, see Useful Information section of website

However, it is the stretch of coast in the National Park Cabo de Gata-Nijarwhere the mountains reach the sea, from Cabo de Gatapromontory in the south up to Carboneras Playa de Los Muertoswhich, for me, offers the most arresting landscape. The coastline is punctuated by villages and small resorts with typically Mediterranean single storey whitewashed stone houses - with a backdrop of unspoilt, sometimes deserted beaches and coves. This National Park is nearest to Mojacar by car and, road trip sightseeing-wise the jewel in the crown just might be San Jose (A7 /E15 Exit 479 onto AL 3108).

For a glossy picture book style guide to the Almeria area which shows all the natural and cultural riches of the area with great photographs, go the the Bookshop either on the grounds of the Hotel Best Mojacar (recessed just back from the road on the hill behind Playa del Cantal beach in the middle of Mojacar Playa,or visit the bookshop partway up the hill in Mojacar Old Town, between the main square and the church. It is called Almeria An Oasis in the Desert of Civilisation(strange subtitle, but otherwise well translated) Publisher Otermin Editiones. It gives you a great series of snapshots of what there is to discover, if so minded.

For a free brief narrative and pictorial guide to the National Parks Natural Almeria (Green Cover), collect a copy from the hexagonal Tourist Information booth which is situated at the beach side of the Avenida del Mediterraneo just past the Centro Comercial (towards Garrucha). This is just past the roundabout which annexes the Avenida Andalucia, the link road which takes you back up the hill towards Mojacar Old Town. There is also a booklet Poniente Almeriense (Green Cover) which describes all the natural attractions to the west of the city of Almeria, should you be planning a mini trip-within-a-trip to Moorish Granada and the Alhambra Palace.