Mediterranean Steps
36°07′30″N 5°20′35″W / 36.125034°N 5.343172°W
Mediterranean Steps | |
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Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Gibraltar | |
Designation | Nature Trail |
Highest point | Lord Airey's Battery, 400 m (1,300 ft) |
Season | All year - £16.00 entry [1] |
Sights | Levant Battery, Martin's Cave, Goat's Hair Twin Caves, Lord Airey's Battery, Strait of Gibraltar |
Hazards | lack of water, vertigo, worn path |
Trail map | |
A.Jews Gate B.Levant Battery C.Martin's Cave D.Goat's Hair Twin Caves E.Tunnel and Pumping Station F.WW2 Observation Posts G.View point H.Lord Airey's Battery Top of Steps |
Mediterranean Steps is a path and
History
The Mediterranean Steps were built as part of the military communications system built by the British to allow access to their various defence posts
The steps were restored in 2007
Route
The steps zig-zag up the Rock from the end of
The route is entirely within the
The path 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. These slopes extend towards the top of the Rock (O'Hara's battery).[5] The trail continues on a short path to a viewing platform and continues up the Rock to the twin batteries on the Rock's upper ridge.[3] The path emerges at what was the location of O'Hara's Tower (O'Hara's Folly)[6] 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.
References
- This article contains text from Discover-Gibraltar.com
- ^ "Admission Prices". Visit Gibraltar. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Mediterranean Steps". bonitatrust.org. Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ a b c d Crone, Jim. "Mediterranean Steps (see index)". Discover-Gibraltar.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- ^ 1961 Military Map of Gibraltar
- ^ "Rock Ramblers". RockRamblers. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ Robertson, William (1865). Journal of a clergyman during a visit to the Peninsula. p. 147.
External links
- Media related to Mediterranean Steps at Wikimedia Commons