Lorca beaches: Cala Leña

A wild cove near the southern end of the Lorca coastline 

Cala Leña is the one of a series of beaches and coves which lie along the coastline of Lorca and Águilas to the north of the imposing headland of Cabo Cope, and one of the northernmost on this stretch of coast before the relatively flat terrain gives way to the cliffs at the foot of the Loma de Bas mountains.

The cove is just a hundred metres or so north of the much longer beach of Playa de los Hierros, and extends over a length 55 of metres. At its broadest it is over 10 metres wide, but at each extreme of its crescent shape the sand tapers out gradually.

The surface of Cala Leña is composed more of pebbles and stones than sand, although there is a mixture, and due to its sheltered location bathing is normally calm, although of course the waves can become quite rough: apply common sense at all times, as on this part of the coastline there are no flags or other warnings when conditions are dangerous!

Such is the location of the beach that it is favoured by the kind of beachgoers who prefer to avoid the crowds and enjoy the Mediterranean in unspoilt surroundings, and visitors should be aware that many of these subscribe to the view that formalities such as swimwear can freely be dispensed with. This is not an officially designated nudist beach – the only one in Lorca is La Junquera – but it is not at all unusual to come across sunbathers chasing an all-over tan, or simply communing with nature without obstructions such as clothing to provide any distraction!

Of course, in such a remote and unspoilt location there are no lifeguards or other services and facilities at Cala Leña, and indeed in this case no litter bins are provided. But the beach is located within a nature reserve, and visitors are requested to take litter away with them when they leave in order to protect the environment.

How to get to Cala Leña

The idyllic setting of a completely undeveloped Mediterranean beach almost always comes with some kind of drawback, and in the case of Cala Leña the most important of these for many will be its relative inaccessibility.

In theory it is possible to approach the sand in motor vehicles, but drivers anxious to protect their cars will prefer to make their way along the coast on foot from the cliff-top parking area alongside Cala Blanca: sturdy footwear is required, and it is a testing twenty-minute walk in the heat of the summer sun, past Cala Blanca and Playa de los Hierros.

And even then there still remains the small matter of getting from the path down to the sand, which involves stepping gingerly on loose rocks and earth rather than using wide staircases!

For those arriving by car the Cala Blanca parking area is the simplest option: from the AP-7 motorway take the exit at kilometre 866 and at first follow the signs along the RM-D14 road towards Calabardina and Águilas. After just over a kilometre there is a petrol station on the left, and at this point a sharp left turn is required onto a narrow but tarmacked track which leads off into the countryside: keep the bar-restaurant at the junction on your right!

After around 1.5 kilometres the road bends round to the left (it is possible at this point to take a rougher track to the right down towards the coast, but the surface is smoother following the road) and leads to the small village of El Cantar. At the entry to the village is a right fork which takes vehicles right down to the coast 2km away: this is officially named the CRS-24-96 track, but unfortunately not all of the signposts are in good repair!

On arrival at the coast there is parking space for a couple of dozen cars next to an abandoned building which stands looking out over the Mediterranean. To the left is the path leading down to Cala Blanca, and this is the route which leads to Playa de los Hierros over the next headland and then on to Cala Leña.

For those seeking a slightly more direct route to the beach, continue through the village of El Cantar before taking a turn-off to the right where the road curves left, uphill and inland. This track takes vehicles to within a short distance of Playa de los Hierros (although the last 200 metres or so are rather rough and could cause damage fragile suspensions and undercarriages!) and from here it is only a 5-minute walk to Cala Leña.

It is also possible to reach Cala Leña by boat, of course, and in addition the cliff-top track (part of the GR-92 walking route) is popular among cyclists.

For more local information visit the home page of Lorca Today.