There is a very impressive skywalk, known as The Windsor Suspension Bridge, within the upper rock, nature reserve |
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Collection of sites found on Gibraltar's Nature Trails © VisitGibraltar.gi |
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Upper Rock Nature Reserve - Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a place of remarkable geographic importance due its location at the mouth of the Mediterranean and its exceptional natural heritage. Despite its small land area, Gibraltar supports an extensive range of terrestrial and marine species including rare plants and animals. Some are native to the Rock and others can be found on mainland Europe: - Gibraltar Campion (Silene tomentosa), a delicate and extremely rare flower once thought extinct. - Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus), the only free-living population of monkeys in Europe. - Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara), a species more commonly associated with North Africa. In addition to this unique resident biodiversity, the Upper Rock is especially significant as a vital waypoint for migratory birds. Positioned at one of the world's majot migratory crossroads, it acts as a natural bottlenek where thousands of birds pass during their seasonal migration between Europe and Africa. Storks, swifts, songbirds and birds of prey depend om the Upper Rock's cliffs and updrafts for resting, feeding and gaining altitude before tackling the nearly 60km crossing of the Strait.
Access to the URNR
- Opening Hours – (May – September) : 9:30am – 7:00pm, (October – April) : 9:00am – 6:00pm. Closed December 25th and January 1st.
- Entry fees: Adults (age 11+) £30, Children (age 5-11) £22, Infants (age 0-4) free. These entry tickets include access to the Nature Reserve but can be included in tour prices if you're booking bus or taxi tours.
Be sure to look at these pages to see tour prices and booking fees:
Nature Trails
Some of the most incredible views from the rock can be found outside of the usual 'Rock tours'. The Nature trails that are accessed through the Upper Rock Nature Reserve include the Mediterranean Steps, Royal Anglian Way, Douglas Path, Devil's Gap Footpath and Inglis Way.
- Mediterranean Steps: 1.8km with 246m of elevation. Staring point: Jew's Gate
- Royal Anglian Way: 0.6km with 50m elevation. Including Windsor Suspension Bridge crossing, Rooke's Battery, Hayne's Cave Battery (est 1797 with 20th Century artillery pieces still present). Staring Point: near St Michael's Cave
- Douglas Path: 1.2km with appx 280m elevation. Featured in the opening scene on the 1987 James Bond film 'The Living Daylights'. Starting Point: near Skywalk viewpoint.
- Devil's Gap Footpath: 0.5km with 85m elevation. Includes one of the oldest batteries on the peninsula used during the Great Siege. Starting point: Union Jack Steps
- Inglis Way: 1.2km. Views of Charles V Wall constructed in 1502. Starting Point: Queen's Gate
