Inglis Way
Inglis Way is a footpath with a length of around 1,300 yards that traverses the middle section of the Upper Rock,[1] linking various disused observation posts and emplacements.[2] The origins of its name are uncertain; it may have been named after a person named Inglis, or it may have derived from an old Spanish name, el Camino del ingles, "the Englishman's Path".[3] It is the longest path in the nature reserve after the Mediterranean Steps.[1]
Route
The path, which takes about two hours to walk, starts at Queen's Gate in the Charles V Wall[4] – one of Gibraltar's oldest surviving fortifications, constructed in 1540.[5] After proceeding through a breach in the Moorish Wall, the main section of the path passes under the cables of the Gibraltar Cable Car before passing a series of abandoned Second World War observation posts and searchlight emplacements.[2] A section of the path that proceeds through a firebreak at Bruce's Farm provides spectacular views over the northern end of Gibraltar and across the Bay towards Algeciras in Spain.[6]
Wildlife
The area of the Rock through which the path passes is one of the richest in Gibraltar for flora and fauna.
The start of the path is relatively sparsely vegetated and includes species such as White Asparagus, Common Asphodel, Germander and Esparto Grass. Its later sections proceed through dense vegetation that is typical of Mediterranean maquis shrubland[4] – a widespread biome in southern Europe that consists of densely growing evergreen shrubs adapted to resist droughts.[7]
The trees along the path are predominantly olives.[3] These have all grown since the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779–83) when the Upper Rock's original woodland was felled by the British garrison to serve as fuel. It is thought that the present arboreal flora of Gibraltar is the result of seeds being brought onto the Rock by birds.[8] The maquis flora includes dense knots of creepers such as smilax, December clematis, pipe fine and black bryony, while ferns such as southern polypody and the rusty-back fern exploit the shade provided by the canopy.
Many species of aromatic herbs and flowers also grow alongside the path, including purple Jerusalem sage and bee orchids.[4]
The fauna includes various species of birds that are adapted to life in the maquis, including the Sardinian warbler, wren and woodcock. Barbary partridges can be seen in the more open areas adjoining the path. Europe's largest lizard, the ocellated lizard, also lives in the vicinity, along with Iberian wall lizard, Algerian sand racer and Moorish gecko.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Perez, Charles E.; Bensusan, Keith J. (2005). "Upper Rock Nature Reserve: A Management and Action Plan". Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society. p. 54–55. http://www.gonhs.org/documents/UpperRockNatureReserveManagementActionPlan.pdf. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Inglis Way". Discover Gibraltar. http://discovergibraltar.com/pages/mainlogo/mainfrm.htm. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Guide to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, p. 22
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Guide to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, p. 20
- ↑ Finlayson, Clive; Fa, Darren (19 July 2013). The Fortifications of Gibraltar 1068–1945. Osprey Publishing. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-84603-016-1.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Guide to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, p. 21
- ↑ Habitats of the World, Vol. 9. Marshall Cavendish. 2006. p. 487–88. ISBN 9780761475323.
- ↑ Guide to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, p. 8
| Footpaths of Gibraltar |
|---|
|
Charles V Wall • Devil's Gap Footpath • Douglas Path • Inglis Way • Martin's Path • Mediterranean Steps • Royal Anglian Way |