Ruta del Cordel del Fontanal

Details of the route:
Length: 13 km (roundtrip)
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Linear

Sight-seeing Highlights:
Scenic nature viewsValor paisajístico y natural (Complex mix of viticulture and birdlife)

Beginning of the route:
From the Medina Highway A-346 we can get to Avenida de los Campesinos and then continue along the Avenida del Fontanar passing Highway A-48, until the beginning ot the cordel (path). A visit to the Complejo Endorreico lagunes of Chiclana requiire permission from the property owners of the nearby farmhouses, or administrative authorization from the Delegación Provincial de la Consejería de Medio Ambiente (Provincial Ministry of the Environment).

Description:
From the starting point on the path, we can observe the remains of a ceramic Roman oven, in the lower area next to highway A-48, and the gateway of an old farmhouse. Practically the whole road winds between vinyeards, a very characteristic feature of Chiclana.

Off to the right, begins the "Colada del Rosalejo" that we will also see again later on. We continue straight ahead until we get to a place known as the Calera Alta. The path called the "Cordel del Pinar de María" opens out here too. We continue until we get to a magic point called the "Mira la Mar" (look at the sea). At the left, there is a marvelous view of the bay of Cadiz, the sea and the open country. Moving on along the road, we will come to a split in the road in which we can return to the beginning point, or take the road to the right, which will lead us to the "Cordel de los Marchantes" (Path of the Marching).

Once we have chosen to take the path to the right, we will come across the Laguna de Geli (Geli Lagune), of which we have a splendid view.
If we continue to the left until the following cross in the road, we will find the road from Medina to San Fernando, which would take us about 300 meters to the right, and from there we could observe the Laguna de Montellano (Montellano Lagune). Both lagunes are included in the Complejo Endorreico de Chiclana (Natural Reserve). If you´ve got optical equipment such as Si vamos provistos de material óptico binoculars, telescope, etc, you can observe characteristic species of this wetland such as: waterfowl, coot, flamingos, etc.

Following our footsteps back along the road we came, we will follow the road from Medina to San Fernando (in direction San Fernando). On the way back, we can enjoy some prety views of the Cortijo del Inglés (English Farmhouse) and of the Cerro de Picapollos (Hill of the Picapollos). From here, we return to from where we came, passing along a vinyard plantation, that brings us again to the Cordel del Fontanal.