Coves, caves and the Costa Corniche
Delightful bays, hidden inlets and exciting spooky coves make this bit of the Costa an enjoyable and even fascinating area to explore. I know, I’ve done it and been thrilled by it. Sheer cliffs edging an inky blue sea are virtually riddled with eerie grottos and caves reminiscent of the English Cornish coastline described by Daphne du Maurier more than a century ago.
There are numerous coves, some barely accessible except from the seaward side yet inlets beneath the Sierra Helada and Cabo de La Nao do give limited access to small sea battered caverns beneath the rocky escarpments.
Ignoring inaccessible ria estuaries there are exceptions. Meandering along partially unmarked paths I found several almost hidden inlets and admired the picturesque ‘Smoking Cove’ bay. At Mascarat tiny coves plus a quiet little harbour beneath La Galeras de las Palmeras added to the rugged beauty. Beneath the Moraira coast road which snakes sinuously beside several inlets, coarse bracken framed the enriched moorland vista. The urban panorama of Playa del Moraig is spoilt only because the access via sprawling Poble Nou de Benitachell cries out with its modernity!
A steep lane leads into an enclosed beach and the spectacular Cova dels Arcs.
To get into these iconic caves and enjoy their cloisterlike, cavernous sea-bathed presence is something of a scramble over slippery rocks lapped by the sea. I surmounted these obstacles and was fortunate in that I was able to capture a few impressive pictures.
This rocky coastline has so many natural coves and under water gully streams that erosion will always conjure up secluded places for the adventurous to enjoy. Nostalgia driven. I still derive a great deal of pleasure from my photographs and memories of the darting 'salmonettas' and 'pescaditos' lazily basking in the deep blue toned yet sandy floored grotto pools where these tiddlers feed on clinging seaweed whilst deftly avoiding the small but fierce 'cangrettos' scrabbling on the soft sand cushioned beds.
I’m sure the Pirates of Penzance would have loved to snuggle and ‘smuggle’ here between stealthy raids!