Ronda Via Ferrata
Text and photos by Diexter Thomas
Through some bendy roads accompanied with beau-
tiful views, we made our way in an 8 seater to Ron-
da, a journey which took us around an hour and a
half from Gibraltar.
This was the first time I had visited Ronda, a
gorgeous village at an elevation of 750 metres abo-
ve sea level which features stunning views of the
surrounding area and a very impressive and iconic
stone bridge which immediately left me gobsmac-
ked. Ronda is rich in history, in fact being the place
where Spanish Bullfighting originated from.
We went with In2Adventures to experience Ron-
da’s two ‘Via Ferrata’ climbing routes. Via Ferrata,
which in Italian means ‘Iron Path’, provides climbers
a safe way of climbing certain areas and are friend-
ly for people from the ages of 9 onwards. Climbers
use the carabiners (hooks) on the Via Ferrata Set to
secure themselves to a steel cable which is periodi-
cally attached to the rock face every 1 to 10 metres.
This procedure is to reduce the height in which they
could fall and prevents a nasty accident happening,
and a helmet to protect against any falling stones.
This makes for a safer and a very beginner friendly
alternative to traditional rock climbing.
The origin of Via Ferrata routes dates back to
the 19th century but they are more commonly re-
cognised to have aided the movement of troops
during the First World War in the Dolomite moun-
tain region of Italy. Many more have been develo-
ped in recent years due to its surge of popularity
and its clear tourism benefits due to its safety
and enjoyability, with there being over 1000 in
the European Alps, most of which being in Italy
and Austria. Closer to home there are more than
50 Via Ferratas in Spain in areas like the Pyre-
nees, the Mediterranean Coast from Girona to
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Murica, the region between Malaga and Cordoba
and of course, Ronda.
Ronda has two routes for Via Ferrata climbing,
one being subsequently harder than the other, but
both providing a fun experience for those new to the
activity. I had never experienced anything like the
Via Ferrata before, and once we were taught how to
manoeuvre the activity by In2Adventures’ Climbing
Expert, Jimmy, there was no stopping our momen-
tum to reaching the top of the first and easier Via Fe-
rrata route. There is a slight feeling of freedom when
you’re climbing, its surreal not having your feet on
solid ground. The Via Ferrata Set’s third carabiner
can be used to attach yourself to the metal steps in
both routes for when you want to relax and take in
the view, or to secure yourself whilst feeling uneasy.
In2Adventures is a company dedicated to provi-
ding outdoor experiences for individuals and com-
panies like paddle boarding, team-building and rock
activities. They feel that with the stresses in today’s
society we never seem to have a moment to spend
quality time with our families and friends, and they
encourage people to take on board the great out-
doors to maintain a balance in our everyday lives.
Upon finishing the second Via Ferrata route which
was shorter but for me was a little bit difficult, we
decided to make our way into the village for a hot
drink and for something to eat. Although we weren’t
in Ronda for long, the place was full with people
walking around, especially the tourists taking in
the beautiful views. I would very much recommend
doing a via Ferrata and going with In2Adventures to
Ronda for a great and enjoyable day out.
For more information about the activities and ser-
vices In2Adventures provide, contact us on info@
otwomag.com or call 22500799
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