The Lagoon Surprise | Solo Fastpacking Andalusia 25km

Alcaudete to Baena — 25km along the Camino Mozárabe through ancient olive groves, an inland lagoon alive with migratory birds, and one of the loneliest stretches of trail in inland Andalusia. This is Day 1 of the Camino Relay — Series 2. Four days, four episodes, Alcaudete to Córdoba. Sarah runs one day, Steve runs the next. It's a training block for a bigger adventure coming later this year (more on that soon), and a chance to share one of Spain's quieter Caminos before we finish with a rest day in Córdoba. Today, Sarah's running solo. Storm clouds in the forecast, Saharan dust in the air, a rumour of flamingos at the Laguna del Salobral, and a 25km point-to-point through olive country to find out. New episode every Saturday — subscribe and join us for the rest of the relay 👣 What we cross today: Alcaudete, Jaén — start point, beneath the medieval castle of the Calatrava order Camino Calvatrao — the local section of the Camino Mozárabe leaving Alcaudete M432 — the main road crossing over the Barranco de la Cueva Río Guadajoz — crossing from Jaén into Córdoba province Laguna del Salobral, Luque — inland salt marsh and protected nature reserve, alive with stilts, herons, skylarks and a short-toed snake eagle Vía Verde del Aceite — old olive railway line, briefly (and gladly bypassed by the new Camino route) Olive pumice power plant — biomass energy from the olive harvest waste Baena, Córdoba — finish point, Camino junction where the Málaga spur joins the main route 💡 Tip: This is a hot, exposed stretch with very little shade between Alcaudete and Baena. Carry more water than you think you need — Sarah didn't, and paid for it in the last 5km. Best run in spring or autumn; avoid summer. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Alcaudete 00:50 Today's route — the plan 003:37 The M432 crossing into Córdoba province 04:55 Into the olive sea 05:00 Solo on the trail 12:00 Halfway — olive grove mud 14:47 The lagoon — flamingos or not? 23:00 The long hot stretch 24:00 The olive pumice power plant, Baena 24:30 Arrival in Baena 25:30 What's next — Baena to Castro del Río 🗺️ Route: Alcaudete → Baena via the Camino Mozárabe (~25km) 🎒 Series: Camino Mozárabe — Alcaudete to Córdoba | The Camino Relay 📏 Stage distance: 25km, ~200m ascent 📸 Instagram:   / caminorun_official   👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... #CaminoMozarabe #TrailRunningSpain #Andalucia