[2025 Gibraltar ] Travel Guide for Mediterranean Steps (Updated Jun)

This has been on my bucket list so to speak for a long time and I finally hiked up the Mediterranean Steps from the bottom to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar. It was a very hot day and not the ideal conditions to be undertaking such a challenging walk, but I managed to complete in about and hour and a half taking many rest stops along the way. This is a moderately difficult route and I would definitely advise taking lots of water, especially in hot weather, and wear comfortable shoes or like me running trainers , it can get a bit loose under foot and some of the paths are very close to sheer drops and cliff edges. To be honest I underestimated the challenge ahead of me, but I took some lunch and had regular breaks to take in the beautiful scenery, it really is a great walk and I had a great day , when I reached the top I was really happy to have finally achieved it. Some Information And History- The Mediterranean Steps is a path and nature trail in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. One of the footpaths in Gibraltar, it’s located entirely within the Upper Rock Nature Reserve and was built by the British military but is now used by civilians as a pedestrian route linking Martins Path to Lord Airey’s Battery (1300ft) up, near the summit of the Rock of Gibraltar. The path offers views of the Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco, Gibraltar’s east side beaches ,the Mediterranean Sea and the Spanish Costa Del Sol. The steps zig-zag up the Rock from the end of St Martin’s Path to near the summit. Martin’s Path starts on the south western slopes of the Rock gently above the derelict Levant Battery near Jews Gate Cemetery and proceeds to its first bend as the path turns to the east side of the Rock and joins the Mediterranean Steps. Martin’s Path actually continues onwards to Martin’s Cave but the way is prohibited and a locked gate protects the cave. Goats Hair Twin Caves can be seen along the way. These caves show evidence of when they were sea caves and the level of the sea was dramatically higher. These are amongst a number of caves in Gibraltar which have given evidence of prehistoric human habitation. The path then leads up to a derelict pre-war tunnel and pumping station, once an operational old fresh water pumping station which collected rain water via the geologically modified slopes above. The trail then continues onwards up a short path to a viewing platform and continues up the Rock to the twin batteries on the Rock’s upper ridge. The path emerges at what was the location of O’Hara’s Tower which was a watchtower built in an attempt to observe shipping in the port of Cádiz. It proved to be useless and lightning eventually created a ruin that was later destroyed in target practice. Opening times- May-September 9.30am-7.00pm October-April 9.00am-6.00pm Admission prices- Included in Nature Reserve Fee

"When the plane landed, the runway actually crossed the road! The brakes sounded and the car horns honked at the same time. I almost thought we were going to crash into the sea..." This is my first impression of Gibraltar 😱. This overseas territory with an area of ​​only 6.5 square kilometers, nicknamed "Britain's nail in Spain", is full of drama from the moment you step into the airport - the only airport in the world where the runway intersects with the road. When the plane lands, cars need to make emergency evasive moves, and the scene is comparable to an action movie! ✈️🚗💨 Day 1: Cliffs, Monkeys and Duty Free Street - Sides A and B of Gibraltar 📍【The Rock: The "Wild Kingdom" on the Cliff】 Take the cable car 🚡 to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar (The Rock), climbing 412 meters in 5 minutes, with the blue Mediterranean Sea 🌊 and the Spanish coastline at your feet. However, the real "masters" of the mountain top are a group of Barbary macaques! 🐒They squatted on the observation deck and even tried to unzip tourists' backpacks🎒! The tour guide warned: "Don't look at them, they will think you are provoking them!" 😅 When going down the mountain, I chose the hiking route "Mediterranean Trail"🥾. There are clusters of cacti 🌵 beside the steep stone steps, and at the corner there are the ruins of a 14th-century Moorish castle 🏰. Among the ruins, I vaguely heard the neighing of war horses from North Africa and Europe thousands of years ago...⚔️ 🛍️【Main Street: The "secret rules" of the tax-free paradise】 Gibraltar's Main Street is like a mini version of London's Regent Street, but 20% cheaper! The 💰cosmetics💄, luxury goods👜, and sherry🍷 counters are crowded with "purchasing agents". The clerk smiled mysteriously 😏: "Our secret is - tax-free + extra 10% off!" However, don't use Gibraltar pound coins 💷 - they will be rejected when you return to the UK! 🚫 🌅【Europa Point: Mediterranean Sea on the left, Atlantic Ocean on the right】 In the evening, take the free bus 🚌 to the southern tip of Europa Point. Under the white lighthouse🗼, the salty sea breeze blows in your face: to the west is Tarifa🇪🇸 in Spain, and to the south is Tangier🇲🇦 in Morocco. At sunset🌄, the clouds are dyed golden red, and the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean collides with the emerald of the Mediterranean Sea, so beautiful that it is speechless...😍 Day 2: Caves, shipwrecks and "disappearing dolphins" 🦇【St. Michael's Cave: The magic of sound and light in the underground palace】 In the heart of the giant rock, the stalactites in St. Michael's Cave look like an alien secret place under the colorful lights. The most amazing thing is the natural theater in the cave - there are concerts every week. When the overture of "Carmen" sounded, the echo wall made every note seem to explode in the skull! 🎻✨ 🚢【Shipwreck Bay and "Ghost Dolphins"】 I booked a Dolphin Safari out to sea🚤, but the captain smiled bitterly: "The wind and waves are strong today🌊, the dolphins may be hiding🐬❌." When the boat reached the Spanish waters, the waves splashed my coat💦, and the cargo ship in the distance was like a silent monster🛳️. On the way back, I caught a glimpse of a dark shadow underwater - it was the wreckage of a World War II ship! ⚓️💥This strait really hides too many secrets...🔍 🍴Food Easter Egg: English Fish and Chips vs Spanish Paella Piccadilly Garden Bar next to the hotel serves fish and chips 🍟 with Gibraltar craft beer 🍺, all for £10 per person. But what’s even more amazing is the Spanish restaurant in the alley - the paella seafood rice 🥘 dyed golden with saffron, with crispy and burnt rice crust, instantly transporting you to Andalucia! 🇪🇸🔥 On the way back, the taxi driver suddenly lowered his voice 🤫: "Do you know why Spain can never reclaim this place? Because hidden in the rocky mountains lies..." Before he finished speaking, the car had already entered the tunnel⛰️. In the rearview mirror, the huge rock is silent and mysterious in the twilight🌌. ​

Andalucia Tour Extra ~ Gibraltar The Mediterranean Steps is a challenging but rewarding hike that takes you through Gibraltar's beautiful scenery. The views from this route are amazing, especially when you reach the top. The trail is well marked but it is worth bringing suitable shoes and water. Perfect for active leisure and nature lovers. The route takes about 2 hours and is a great way to spend a day. It's amazing to see monkeys in the wild, but you have to be careful because they are very thieves and sometimes they will bite you or climb on you. #11月好去2024 #UK旅行 #Gibraltar #Andalucia #Hiking #Hiking trails