Few routes are as endearing and nostalgic as those that revive the old bridle paths and even more if they connect valleys through steep mountain ranges, as is the case of the Játar-Puerto de Cómpeta trail. It is easy to imagine the tired passage of the mules, loaded and sweaty, climbing the stone steps and meandering up to the top of this pass to then descend on the opposite side. These are old tales, you may think, but some are not so old. The passage of the muleteers through this pass lasted until 1970 and occasionally, even later. One of the products that had to arrive quickly and frequently were the fish from the coast, which traveled at night to avoid the heat, but it is not the only merchandise. On the way back there was always something to transport, wool, groceries, cereals and much more.

The hiking trail begins in the industrial area of Játar, about 2.5 kilometres south of the town. From here we can start enjoying ourselves. Right at the beginning and under our feet is the Linarejo cave. You can visit it on the return trip, but for now you must must know that some of the waters that enters the mountains spill over here feeding one of the many streams of clean waters that collect in the Bermejales reservoir.

The trail is easy to follow because it has been marked out by horseshoes and the passing of time. After crossing the Las Cuevas ravine, we ascend through the trench that was created by the weather. At the highest point, it is advisable to take a short break to scan the horizon. Here the path is embedded more than two metres deep as for many hundreds of years horseshoes have ground the rock and water has carried away debris.

We now descend towards Venta Lope. The small springs, now in disuse or used as an occasional watering hole, were highly valued for watering a small garden in the vicinity of the inn. The farmhouse, quite modest and now in ruins, was a place to stop, rest, meet people, enjoy a glass of orujo (grape liqueur), roll a cigarette and converse. Not only did the muleteers stop here, but also shepherds, loggers, hunters, travelers and the bohemians that hung around the area. It is clearly an endearing place, which invites us to drift away and dream about the many experiences in these places, which time has evaporated.

We circulate through the sunny side of the mountain on bluish terrain where there are frequent landslides. Soon after we cross to the upper channel of the Añales river to enjoy the shady dense vegetation, mainly of maritime pine. We climb up to 1,440 metres of altitude to find ourselves facing Puerto de Cómpeta and, even more evident, a precious marble quarry, which is no longer in operation. Recent cuts in the rock allow us to see the white, veined, gray and bluish colours. The cutting benches follow one another up to a height of more than 50 metres. Some debris and remains of machinery still remain in the area as a reminder of the forgotten industry. It is necessary to go through the actual pass (1,404 metres), to find the traces of the old bridle path, which from here descends to the Moorish towns of La Axarquía.