A trip with my dog to Batería de Cenizas near Murcía (Spain)

This December, I took a trip with my dog to the Murcía region in Spain. While we were there, we went for a hike to visit the Batería de Cenizas near Cartagena. From the top, you have a fantastic view over the Mar Menor lagoon on one side. On a clear day, you can see the entire coastline towards Almería on the other side.

This short hike is definitely worth your time if you are in the area. The views are gorgeous, and the military fortification with its two gigantic artillery guns is quite impressive too. For more information on this walk, please see the details below.

If you are looking to spend more time in the Murcía region, I can certainly recommend the holiday home that I stayed at, if you’re interested you can find my review here.

THE ROUTE

We start at this parking lot which is free of charge.

It is not very obviously sign-posted as you approach, so look for the sign that says “El Llano del Beal” and turn off the main road there. You will then directly see the parking lot on your left.

Please be aware that this is a remote parking spot, so do not leave any valuable items in your car. However, it is very convenient because the start of the route is very close by.

From the parking lot, walk back to the main road and head uphill. You can walk on the bike lane for your safety.

It is only a few hundred meters uphill until you will find the entry point to the hiking route.

You will know that you are in the right place when you find this gate as well as the information map for “Sendero del Monte de las Cenizas”.

The route to the viewpoint is very easy to follow. Simply walk through the gate and follow the path all the way to the top. You can’t go wrong!

Although the path can be quite rocky in parts, it is not very steep, so it was relatively comfortable to walk. My dog did not have any problems with the terrain, and we passed a few others dog with their humans. It seems to be a popular route for pups!

Along the way, you will already come across a number of gorgeous views the coastline as well as Portman Bay.

After around 3kms of walking, you will reach the entrance to Bateria de Cenizas at the top. The entry gate was inspired by Chichén-Itzá, the famous site of Maya ruins in Mexico.

Please be aware that while defunct, Bateria de Cenizas is still considered a military site. It was built in 1931, and the two large Vickers artillery guns were installed to protect the coastline. Fortunately, the guns were only ever fired once: In 1937, it was used to attack a formation of submarines.

Usually, I am not very interested in military history, but I found this site quite fascinating. The size of the artillery guns sure is impressive, unlike any I have ever seen before.

As you walk around the old military installations, you can enjoy some fantastic views on each side. Looking south-west, you can see Portman Bay, the port of Cartagena and on clear days you can even catch a glimpse of Cabo de Gata in Almería. Meanwhile, on the north-eastern side you have a beautiful panorama looking out across the Mar Menor.

While you are enjoying the views, please note that the cliffs are a nesting ground for the Bonelli’s Eagle. Therefore, please stay on the official paths so as not to disturb the wild life.

After taking in the views, it’s time to head back down!

HOW LONG IT TAKES AND WHO IT’S FOR

It is roughly a 3km walk one way to the top. Even though it is uphill, the incline is not very steep and I found it to be not very strenuous. However, the path is quite rocky so I do not think that it would be suitable for prams or wheelchairs unfortunately.

For us, it took about 90 minutes to reach the top, but we were walking slow and enjoying the views along the way. The way down was much faster, around 30 minutes.

THE BOTTOM LINE

This is a very worthwhile hike to do with your dog. When you reach the top, you get rewarded with a beautiful panorama. If you’re in the area, I definitely recommend making the time to visit Batería de Cenizas!