La Batería de las Cenizas in Cartagena

Driving Time: 1:45
Walking Time: 2.7km/1hour
Google maps directions:
La Manga Golf Resort

My name is Heidi and I come from Helsinki, Finland.

With my husband Olli-Pekka and our 3 dogs we live in Gran Alacant and enjoy the brilliant Mediterranean climate and possibility of discovering new hiking routes all over our Alicante province and sometimes even a bit further.

Ironically, I have a fear of heights, but I love the views from tops of the mountains too much to stay away. Our dogs are getting older so all the hikes need to be suitable for them too as they always go on our adventures with us. I also love photography and always take load of pictures from our hikes.

This month we would like to take you to La Bateria de las Cenizas in Cartagena. It is a beautiful and interesting picnic place for the whole family and shade can be found along the way and on top.

Directions: Continue the road RM-314 from La Manga golf forward. From the road RM-314, turn to the road RM-F42 (following the sign El llano del Beal). Right after the intersection on the left is a parking lot (dirt field) where you can park your car. La Batería de las Cenizas in Cartagena is a very popular picnic place during weekends. If you follow people from the parking lot you cannot get lost. Even if there’s no one near, just follow the road uphill from the signpost next to the road RM-314. The road up the hill is wide and easy to walk. In many areas pines give a nice shadow while walking. There are no services, so carry enough water and snacks for you.

La Batería de las Cenizas was built between 1930 and 1934. It was built to mount two of the four large Vickers 381 mm guns that would go to the fortifications of the naval base of Cartagena after its purchase from the British as a result of the Defense Plan of 1926. You can even sit on top of these two cannons more than 17 meters long, manufactured by the British company Vickers-Armstrong in their factory in Sheffield. Range of the cannons was about 35 kilometers. La Batería de las Cenizas was one of the most modern and effective artillery of the time.

When the Civil War broke out (1936-1939) La Batería de las Cenizas was already in service and operational, and had an important role during the conflict. It was also in use during the WWII, even if the weapons were already outdated. In 1994 it was ceased to be in service and abandoned.

The views from the top of the hill are stunning and there’s lot to explore.

In the August issue we will get to know the counterpart Batería de Castillitos and the Batería de Jorel on the other side of the bay.

Next month we go on foot again.
Hasta luego,
Heidi & Olli x

Check List:
Always when going on hikes check that:

- Your Mobile Phone is fully charged
- Water – climbing up is hard job & you will need it
- Snacks (Remember to take all the garbage back down with you!)
- Have good shoes for walking
- Have small first aid kit with you
- Have layered clothes. Up hill might be

– very windy and cold, even on a warm day.
– Coming down might be chilly, so extra dry
– t-shirt to change into if needed is not a bad idea