MOUNTAINS TENERIFE

 Tenerife's northern range of soaring wild mountains remains remarkably unspoiled and is an ideal region for rambling and exploring well off the beaten track. Narrow, twisting roads give access to dramatic landscapes, while for walkers it is still possible to see villages reached only on rough tracks. Here a simple subsistence life continues without any modern conveniences.

Long-distance paths have been way marked by ICONA, the Spanish conservation agency. The ICONA sign posting is clear, so you're not likely to get lost. However, it is unwise to walk without a detailed map. Walking maps can be obtained at the Puerto de !a Cruz and Santa Cruz tourist offices and guided walks through the Anaga region can be organized. There is also an information centre at the Mirador Cruz del Carmen, where maps and pamphlets giving details of set walks are available. Part of the region has been designated a protected area, the Parque Rural de Anaga. Yet though impressive and steep, the peaks are not high Taborno, the highest point, reaches only 1,024m, and a road follows the crests, giving superb views from a string of miradores, panell. However, the exposed northern terrain is often misty, wet or even lightly snow covered on winter days.