The Rock they call Gibraltar

Our first night back in Spain after Morocco was very chilled, we managed to get a Chinese meal even though it was Sunday and everything in Spain is usually closed.

We parked up close to the Marina which is next to Gibraltar, ready to head there in the morning and get parked up. The Marina is also an aire with services and cost €14 for 24 hours

Gibraltar is a tiny British Overseas Territory at the southern tip of Spain, it is famous for its dramatic limestone Rock that rises 426 meters above the sea. It is just 6.8 km²

We initially drove into Gibraltar before we went to Morocco but we realised how crowded it is and how difficult it is to find parking for longer than a couple of hours

It was very odd, it was like stepping out of Spain and into England but it wasn’t quite right! There was English postboxes and English police cars but they were left hand drive! Everyone still drove on the right but there were English road signs and shops.

We went to Morrisons as we were able to park for 3 hours for free and also take a look inside. All the prices were in £’s and inside the shop the staff all spoke English but with a very strange accent. It wasn’t particularly cheap.

After our taste of Gibraltar we decided that we would come back after Morocco, park at the marina just outside and cycle in.

Cycling into Gibraltar

Cycling into Gibraltar was definitely easier than driving in. We cycled round a little bit and then decided to have lunch before going up to the top of The Rock.

One of its biggest draws is the Rock of Gibraltar, home to the famous Barbary macaques, Europe’s only wild monkeys. Visitors can take a cable car to the top for sweeping views across the Mediterranean, where on a clear day, you can see Morocco. 

There are 2 options you can choose to get a ticket just for the cable car or you can opt for a ticket that allows you access to the nature reserve and the Military History Sites . We decided that whilst we were there we wanted to see it all. The bad news was it was UK prices and a ticket for everything including the cable car was about £36 each at that time ( Jan 2024)

Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus), unlike most monkeys, they have no tails

Around 300 macaques live on the Rock of Gibraltar, split into several troops.

Their presence is centuries old, but how they first arrived is debated. Some believe they were brought over by the Moors or the British from North Africa. A local legend says that as long as the monkeys remain, Gibraltar will stay under British rule.

The macaques live mainly around the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. They’re very used to people, often cheeky, and sometimes try to snatch food or bags from visitors

They’re carefully monitored and fed by the Gibraltar government to ensure their health. Visitors are advised not to feed them, as it disrupts their diet and natural behavior. There are signs everywhere saying there are fines of up to £1,000 if anyone is caught feeding them!

Here are a couple of photos from the top of the rock

The cable car took us up to where all the monkeys are, after that we continued to walk up and the main attraction was St Michael’s Cave.

St Michael’s Cave

St. Michael’s Cave is one of Gibraltar’s most breathtaking attractions and a must-see for visitors worth the extra cost whilst you are there

It’s hidden in the Rock, this natural limestone cavern has been admired for thousands of years, surrounded by legends that once claimed it stretched all the way to Africa!

Walking inside feels like stepping into another world, although the lighting and the way it’s set up is all aimed at tourism. Towering stalactites and stalagmites are illuminated by colourful lights, creating an atmosphere that’s both dramatic and magical. The largest chamber, known as the Cathedral Cave, has been transformed into an auditorium where concerts and performances are held. With its natural acoustics and stunning setting, it’s a perfect venue. They even have a “light show ‘ where you can see what looks like an angel.

During World War II, St. Michael’s Cave was even prepared as an emergency hospital, though it was never used that way. Today, it’s a place where history, geology, and imagination come together — a highlight of any trip to Gibraltar.

Leaving Gibraltar proved to be more difficult than we thought it would be! Firstly we couldn’t actually find where we could pick up the cable car! We actually ended up walking down. Then once we were actually down we were completely lost and couldn’t seem to find the place where we left our bikes!

Eventually with the help of others we found them, then we had to queue up to get through passport control and customs and back into Spain! It seemed like everyone was leaving at the same time!

If you haven’t been to Gibraltar it’s definitely worth going. I don’t think I’d go again though, if I did it would be to see some of the beaches and maybe go to Morrisons. I don’t think you need to climb the rock again once you have done it !

The next post will be about Caminito del Rey and El Chorras Lakes

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