walking in the Anaga - Tenerife

[charlie]

Just back from Tenerife, they too have had a long cold grey winter (by their standards) which meant everything was lush green and spring like

I should have suspected it was going to be a climb when the bus dropped us at a beach!

DSC_0093 by charliepridham, on Flickr
Looking up the valley I thought " that doesnt look so bad"

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Unfortunately that wasn't the track we were taking, we headed up this lot

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To start with lots of coastal type plants like the sea lavenders

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This whole holiday was testing the results of a recent back operation my wife has had so I was pleased to see the track was mostly ok if a bit uphill!

DSC_0100 by charliepridham, on Flickr
Got one of these but you never seem to get that grey white colour in our climate

DSC_0101 by charliepridham, on Flickr
onward and up

DSC_0102 by charliepridham, on Flickr
on the bare lower slopes the Periploca tend to form shrubs rather than climb

DSC_0103 by charliepridham, on Flickr
as you go up the vegetation starts to get more varied

DSC_0104 by charliepridham, on Flickr

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Looking back to the start point!

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This part of the island has a dramatic coastline as well

DSC_0112 by charliepridham, on Flickr

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to be continued

[tony]

Fab pics Charlie keep them coming. Presumably this is the north of the island which I understood was quite wet, but surprisingly quite arid flora.

[Chrisg]

Great photos, looks like a very suitable winter break.

Hope the back held up.

[charlie]

You have only seen the first 1000 ft Tony, it gets greener as you go up, this was a lower level walk 0 to 2300 feet.

Liz's back was fine throughout, its less keen on work!


DSC_0116 by charliepridham, on Flickr


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The little yellow spots are the Soncus, which were all in full flower (not a seed head to be seen!)

DSC_0131 by charliepridham, on Flickr

This little village was the end of the walk, a bar and bus stop, both welcome :)

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DSC_0136 by charliepridham, on Flickr

For part two the walk was a lot higher (and therefore wetter)

[PeterS]

Really nice pictures Charlie. What's the best time of the year, plant wise, to visit the Tenerife/Madeira area. I would like to see the Echiums in particular - but of course there is a lot more.

[charlie]

Really nice pictures Charlie. What's the best time of the year, plant wise, to visit the Tenerife/Madeira area. I would like to see the Echiums in particular - but of course there is a lot more.

Not sure how much help I am going to be, been to Madeira every year for the last 14 years but always late September Early October, lots of stuff looking great, and the weather feels perfect. but if you want to see their wild flower flora I think Spring would be better but I cant help on the timing. most of the hotels are good or better.

Been to Tenerife only twice, last year Jan/Feb and this year Feb/March, no noticeable difference weather and temperature wise but it was a much colder winter for them this year. I can say very few Echiums are out! the real hard choice is where to stay, we were up in Puerto cruz each time which is up at the green end and good for walking, but you normally have a shield of cloud most days for at least part of a day, if you want sun go to the south, but it then takes you a couple of hours to reach the North. need to be careful choosing hotels, ours last year was poor, this years was great and we paid the same and they are only 40M apart, either side of a road!!

We use buses to get around both islands so need to be where there is a good network

I think on the whole Tenerife has been a big (pleasant) surprise, initially we had gone just for the winter sun, but it gives Madeira a good run for its money plant wise.

[PeterS]

Many thanks Charlie. Madeira and Tenerife are top of my list for places to visit - especially for the plants.

I will have to look seriously at what trips are available