Fuerterventura 2025

 Hello blog. This is the record for my 2025 visit.

                                

1. Las Playitas to Faro de Entallada and back.

2. Giniginmar to Pico de Caracol and back

3. Antigua- Morro Janana- Valles de Ortega- Antigua

4. La Oliva to Montaña de la Arena (dos Volcanes)

5. Toto - Pico Lima-Slope of Gran Montana -Toto

6. El Cardón Church to Montaña Pasos return via Tesejerague

7. Pajara South Circ

8. Pico de Zarza

9. Jandia Morro Hable Jandia

10. Las Playitas and Gran Tarajal

11. Buen Paso

12. Gran Montaña

13. Tuineje Tiscamanita Tuineje

14. Statues of Morro Jable

15. Los Pineros Cardon Hermosas Los Pineros

1. Las Playitas to Faro de Entallada and back.

Las Playitas to Faro de Entallada and back. Pretty much all on hard, rough, tarmac surface so tough on the feet. Plenty of uphill totalling over 900 feet. The hill to the lighthouse is particularly steep and the drop offs are intense. The addition of a fresh roadside shrine since last year was sobering. I would still rather walk than drive up it. The scenery is epic.

Lonely mountain on the way to the lighthouse.

The destination in the distance.

More arid mountains on the other side  of the valley.

The treacherous road up to the lighthouse.

A roadside shrine towards the top of the hill.

Faro de Entallada

The route of the road from the top with the precipitous drop offs on the right of it.

From the lighthouse.

Down the cliff

Las Playitas with the glistening sea behind it.

2. Giniginmar to Pico de Caracol and back. This is a brutal up the mountain and back down single track. The slopes are very steep and the rocky conditions treacherous. At least there are no real scary bits, its just  long and very steep. Total ascent 1675 feet.

The route of the mountain from the base. The peak is on the far right.

A pair of volcanoes in the distance one with a caldera. These are examples of geologically recent events and could happen again but it is unlikely.

The south of the island, Pico de Zarzas being the highest peak and the sandunes around Costa Calma cementing the 2 islands together.

The peak in the wispy clouds.

Arrows along the trail are really useful. I repaired this one as a couple of rocks had moved.

Near the summit a grasshopper.

Mount Cardon from the summit.

The white building in the middle is Los Pineros again from the summit.

Its a long way down.

A long view to the north.

First views of Ginginimar on my decent.

Ginginimar from the view point on the headland.

Looking across to the mountain from Los Pineros.

3. Antigua- Morro Janana- Valles de Ortega- Antigua

Setting off from Antigua at 9.15 this walk took 41/2 hours and include a total ascent of 1900 feet. It took in several peaks including Morro del Cortijo and Morro Janana and a long tramp through the valley back to Antigua. The walk was just short of 10 miles. The walking conditions as ever in Fuerterventura were dominated by hard sharp loose rocks and mountain paths with steep drop offs. I do however love the steep paths as they get you high up very quickly.

Setting off from Antigua the walk is laid out in front of me. Up to the saddle on the right and then along the peaks to the left and back down and along the valley back to Antgua. Simples.

Ascending the hill the path is well defined but rocky. 

The route to saddle across the first mountain is wide enough but the drop off on the right is eye catching. At the saddle is a rest cabin where I stopped for a drink of water. There was a young german girl there hailing from Munich so I had to have a chat. The only other 2 people I saw on this walk also stopped for a drink, they were an elderly spanish couple. 

Looking back to Antigua with the plains behind and the coastal mountains on the east coast.

Looking the other way to Betancuria and the west coast. This ridge is the spine of the Island.

Antigua looks a long way away, but this is not the way down so on along the ridge. The steep hills on the ridge are a challenge, in places, its just a grind.

Looking down to the south west of the Island with Pico Lima being the high point of the ridge on the left. I intend to cross that this holiday, though it looks scary, so I may chicken out.

The mountains in the far distance are the ones I walked past to get to the lighthouse, Faro de Entallada. Between them and the peak where I am standing are the 2 more modern volcanoes with the caldera being the obvious feature. 

Looking back to the peak of Morro Janana with its array of communications aerials. This was a very steep and rock strewn hill to climb and descend, tough going.

I descended to the Valles de Ortega and crossed the lowland back to Antigua. I love this photo of the main church in Antigua from an unusual angle with a well positioned palm tree.

I loved this walk though it was quite long and not easy. I took my time savouring the experience. 

4. La Oliva to Montaña de la Arena (dos Volcanes)

Starting just outside La Oliva's centre I parked near the route. The 2 volcanoes loomed large on the horizon the bigger one being particularly impressive and somewhat intimidating.

Passing along the very rocky lane I came across other hikers and tied up barking dogs. I could see the 2 windmills on what looks like a dam but I am not sure what the structure is.

The first volcano is dark and forboding but didn't look too high.

The caldera from the rim of the volcano was deeper than it looks. It was very windy but I spent some time here looking at the various volcanic features and seeing the volcanoes nearer the coast behind Lajares in the distance. 

From the top of this volcano the second volcano to be climbed today looked definitely a challenge.

From this height you can just make out Coralejo in the distance and the Isle of Los Lobos plus Lanzarote over the water.

The approach to the scond volcano was a long trek via the lane through the lava fields. I met a couple of botanists and discussed the areas on the Island where I had come across the most botany. They had attempted Zarzas yesterday but had given up due to the wind. Good decision as it was very windy and the peak of Zarzas is not the place to be in high winds.

Looking towards the white mountains.

The first volcano from the upper slopes of the second.

The top of the second volcano. The final path to the top was a little hairy with high winds, a narrow path and a scary steep slope. The view from the top was great but the wind made it a little too uncomfortable to stay too long. This is a much bigger cone than the first one.

Views coming down the hill. 

The simple but beautiful inside of the church in the middle of La Oliva. I was thankful for the cool seat to rest on for 10 minutes. Then back to the car and Los Pineros.

This was another tough walk hard stoney ground to traverse and steep slopes to get up the volcanoes. Its a bit of an eyeopener when you find that these cones are only between 5,000 and 10,000 years old. Vulcanism is not quite dead on Fuerterventura. I can hear my geography teachers in the deep recesses of my mind describing the features I saw today. And I felt good.

At just under 8 miles in length and nearly a 1000 feet of ascent this goes down as an easier walk.

5.Toto - Pico Lima-Slope of Gran Montana -Toto

This is a walk I have pondered over for a couple of years as the ridge to Pico Lima looks really scary so I have avoided the route. Today however I decided to finally give it a go and I was not disappointed.

That ridge just looks too steep and sharp to walk over. I was definitely apprehensive walking up the very steep slope covered with very loose rocks.

From the slope below the ridge there was a good view of the road to Betancuria snaking over the pass.

A curious native looked in disbelief as I climbed the slope towards him.

How are goats so agile?

I didn't take any shots from the ridge as I was busy keeping safe and progressing along. This view from Pico Lima shows the 3 peaks of the ridge you have to cross. The last one had a path around it which was a bit easier.

The view to the south with the peaks of Zarza above Coffete beach in the far distance.

Again from Lima looking north towards Betancuria.

I just love this view of the Island especially as I have been up most of the hills in shot.

Tuineje from the slopes of Gran Montana with uncharacteristic greenery, a legacy of the heavy winter rains of early January.

Back to Toto.

This was an epic walk with high paths, rocky paths. 7 miles and an ascent of just under 1500 feet but what an ascent. This definitely is not one for the feint-hearted. Loved it.

6. El Cardón Church to Montaña Pasos return via Tesejerague

Today's walk was a pretty local walk to Marcos Sanchez, indeed I have previously walked to Cardon and back. The climb up to Montaña Pasos is long and hard, very steep in places.

Montaña de Melindraga dominated the view up the the river bed road from Cardon. The dogs in the houses on the slopes to my right gave an early morning welcome of various woofs and barks.

Climbing to the ridge leading to Montaña de Moralito offered a spectacular view of the sacred Montaña Cardon. I have climbed the slopes of Cardon but never been to the peaks as they are not only off limits as a bird sanctuary but look terrifying.

After a long slog up the rough paths of Moralito and Melindraga I came to the knife edge ridge of Montaña Pasos. In the view above the path runs to the left of the ridge and is actually safer than it looks. In the distance beyond the ridge you can see the ridge above Toto and Pico Lima the subject of my last walk.

Ever present in these hills are the wandering Ravens, often, but not always in pairs their barks are the audio back drop to the mountains with the occasional mew of the Eagle and the screech of the gulls.

At the northern most point of my walk looking back towards the spectacular peaks already passed.

From the descent off the high ridge I got an interesting, though hazy, view of Tarajalejo on the coast with Pico Caracol on the left and Morro de la Cruzada on the right. 

Coming off the hill I hesitated when 2 dogs came across the rocky hillside from a farm barking wildly. I realised that they were wagging their tails and backing away whilst barking so I was happy to approach them. A lady came up the path from the house to put leads on the dogs but by the time she arrived I was already petting them. The smaller dog was called Sophie and she was a bit of a terrier. I missed the name of the bigger one but he looked like a cross between an Alsation and a Scottie!!

The route back through the valley with the top end of Tesejerague below the ridge I climbed from the other side earlier in the day.

There are plenty of farms and little houses throughout his area.

Not sure what was holding what up here but the sails were still turning though I could see no water flowing. 

Back to Cardon after a hot, long walk through the valley mainly on tarmac. My feet were sore. The heat is dry and the sun pretty relentless but with factor 30 and a good sun hat I was well protected

I parked next to this charming little church with its typical red tile roof, white walls and bell tower. 

This was a tough walk of about 10 miles with a total ascent of over 1600 feet and a long dry walk through the valley back to the start. I always prefer the hills but there was some charm in the valley. I encountered no other walkers.

7. Pajara South Circ

This walk south of Pajara is like crossing a stony desert. There is no water and no farms so it is a very lonely area.

The first hill out of Pajara does not look much but I had problems just getting on it. My route did not seem to match with a path and it was extremely steep. I climbed up a gulley and then set off sideways because the gulley was just too dangerous. The higher I got the easier it was.

From the hillside the small town of Pajara with the hills behind.

Once I got on top of the hill it was just a matter of heading south along a line of rolling hills with Mount Cardon in the far distance still cloud covered. Although only mid morning it was getting hot and dusty. I saw no one.

I crossed the desolate valley bottom and began climbing through the foothills towards the hill I had been on, the other day, on my last walk which was the place these 2 walks connected. The old irrigation system though no longer functioning looked substantial.

Thesee animal bones, probably goat, gave an enigmatic message. Someone has too much time on their hands or is it...........

At the top of the hill on the same range as Mount Pasos the east coast towards Las Playitas can be seen in the hazy distance.

Coming off the hill I nearly went the wrong way. Thank goodness I checked or I would have been miles in the wrong direction.

Looking north towards the hills of Betancuria it looked a long way to Pajara. Downhill all the way but stoney and dusty.

The oasis of Pajara and my feet were hot and sore.

I cooled off in the very dark cool church. My flash enhanced the photo but it really was gloomy.

The same church from outside. Similar to the one in Cardon but bigger.

This was a walk of 9.5 miles climbing a total of 1700 foot and took 4 hours. The sky was blue not a cloud to be seen and the sun constant. I love the isolation of this walk but in places its just hard work.

8. Pico de Zarza

The walk starts above Jandia near the water works. From there its a straight 4 miles up to  the top and 4 miles back down. There are no real options for alternative routes up or down so it is what it is. The whole point of the walk is the view from the top.

 

The lighthouse at Jandia.

The task ahead. Plenty of early starters on this cloudless day.

Looking towards Caracol rising out of the haze. The sand mountain in the middle is at Sotovento.

At the higher levels there is a lot more vegetation but it is still desert like. There is a herd of domestic goats but they have to be fed with vegetation brought up from below by a 4x4. Not a journey I would like to take in a vehicle.

On the ridge opposite is a disused rock pen for goat herding but it must have been a real challenge to get to it.

The top in all its glory. It was possible to see a clear outline of Gran Canaria in the far south west but the camera didn't really pick it up. 

         

 

Jandia and the golf resort on the way back down.

Esquinzo with its myriad hotels.

I do this walk every year at around the mid point of my stay. It is a hard walk of 8 miles, the latter stages difficult high stepped rocks but an easy path to follow. It takes around 31/2 hours but 1/2 hour of that is looking at the view from the top. The ascent is 2500 feet or so and it takes about 20000 steps but is technically simple. Its a lot quicker coming down than going up.

9. Jandia Morro Hable Jandia

In a change to my normal hill climbing this walk is predominantly on the flat walking the length of the town to the port and back along the beach. Its definitely a touristy day so no rucksack or walking shoes. Just a hat, vest, shorts, deck shoes and a phone.

The roundabout at Jandia with the lighthouse on the beach and the wonderful artwork on the roundabout. As usual the palm trees around the old zoo entrance were wick with noisy parakeets.

Along the roadside are a series of shops and arcades. The normal fridge magnets and beach tat abound but there are some more upmarket jewelry, clothes and designer outlets. There are several cafes. This is not my favourite part of the island but its good to look at occasionally.

Looking back towards the commercial area. There are many German tourists in this area and it is the predominant language you hear on the street.

I tried to go down this stairwell to the beach but it was being worked on and there was no entry. It was a shame as this was a place Babs and I visited on our first visit to the island. I was looking forward to the view.

I followed the road round, down the steep hill past the police station and to the bottom where there are quite a few statues dotted around. I quite liked this group. I walked up and down a couple of streets full of shops and cafes and was a little suprised at the variety of things on sale. 

Walking up and over the hill I descended through the newly improved gardens down to the port.

The view south from the port with mountains in the background reminded me of the desolate walk to the southern tip of the Island where there are no tarmac roads and not many people. I wouldn't want to do that walk again, it was brutal.

I intended to have a bun and an americano in the port cafe but it was shut for refurbishing so back up the hill through the gardens.

The Nuestra Señora La Virgen del Carmen with its statue on the headland is a modern church in a lovely location.

The view from near the statue of the boats off the headland on the turquoise, tranquil sea.

A couple of views of the beach as I descended, the newly completed pathway, off the headland.

My favourite Gelato place was open so I indulged with a chocolate, cherry and lemon tub. The lemon was sharp and icy but didn't really go with the rest but I still enjoyed it enormously.

Looking back along the beach to the corner at Morro Jable where my favourite icecream parlour is. I had my shoes in my hands and my vest stuffed into one shoe whilst I paddled along this beach with a procession of Germans and a few Irish accents could clearly be heard.

Approaching the lighthouse with the lifeguard station on the right. 

Looking back to Jandia the mountain peak in the middle just to the left of the darker nearby hill on the right centre is Pico Zarza, the highest point on the Island that I ascended 2 days ago. To get to the ridge leading to the peak you have to first go over the dark hill.

A view tro the headland at Jandia leading to Esquinzo beyond. My walk turns at the headland.

The end of the beach. the last bit is on a walkway across the nature reserve to the car park at Jandia.

A very different walk of just short of 7 miles with a suprising ascent of 450 feet more than I realised. 
Over 19000 steps and a lot of those were on the beach..... Its a hard life.

10. Las Playitas and Gran Tarajal

These are 2 small walks completed between longer walks. Las Playitas is a beautiful little seaside town but the beach is rubbish. Gran Tarajal is one of my favourite places with a wonderful beach but parking is a nightmare unless you are willing to park and walk.

First Las Playitas. I parked in the car park next to the international golf and sports resort. 

The view from the jetty of Las Playitas and the sports resort across the bay plus the mountains over which is Gran Tarajal.

Las Playitas from the jetty.

An interesting cactus climbing the wall.

A view along the wall below the town. This is meant to be a garden.

From the other end of the promenade looking back to Las Playitas. Around the headland is the Faro de Entallada. (see walk 1)

The sports resort is well run, well maintained and a pleasure to walk by.

This noisy excercise class were hard at it.

The walk was about 2 miles and only about 100 foot ascent.

Gran Tarajal was the second of the 2 walks.

Its pointless trying to park in Gran Tarajal centre so I normally park in the marina where parking is plentiful. Its also a nice walk back to the centre.

A view of the marina. This is the commercial fishing area.

A view of Gran Tarajal from the harbour.

The square next to the bay where most of the cafes and restaurants are.

A view across the square to the cafe where I had a lovelly americano and a really nice lemon meringue pastry all for 4.5 euros. It was really nice.

This is the new multipurpose centre and library. It took them about 3 years to build it but it is a very nice building.

Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria church next to the post office and fountain below. I spent a good 15 minutes in the cool building contemplating. Not religious contemplation as I am a heathen.

There were plenty of noisy birds in the trees around the fountain.

Many of the walls in Gran Tarajal have paintings on them, some better than others. Some are now quite dilapidated but they do occasionally get replaced.

A final look at the whale skeleton at the harbour side of this lovely town before I returned to my car in the marina car park.

This walk was about 2 miles with an ascent of only 75 feet.

11. Buen Paso

The track for the pass at Buen Paso can be approached from below or above. I chose above and parked in the new large carpark at Vega de Rio Palmos. I was the first there.

The mountain ridge on the left was craggy and uninviting but it was actually the ridge I had negotiated on the Pico Lima walk but from the other side.

The artwork decorating an artists studio on the way to the pass.

The entrance to the path to the pass.

The track is well marked. There were loads of small birds I recognised a shrike and chat but some others were new to me.

Looking down the gorge from the top.

A few early morning birds in the water in the pass. This is unusual on Fuerteventura as the water is flowing even though it is very sluggish

Rocky

The building on the right is the chapel. This Island has little chapels in some great locations.

A large cactus.

Looking back up the gorge with the palm trees taking advantage of the shaded damp lower slopes.There is no water leaving the gorge it just disappears.

Back up the gorge with the dam at the top and the impressive peak beyond. 

Back to the carpark passing  the artists studio and the Ridge and Pico Lima in the background.

The track up and down the gorge is narrow and well worn. There were many more people there when I returned than when I descended. The walk was only 41/4 miles in length but descended and ascended 650 foot. Not an easy walk but interesting and different from the mountain hikes.

12. Gran Montaña

Walking through the oustskirts of the small village of Tiscamanita I cxould see the big mountain in front of me.

A few caged donkeys.

These are the smaller peaks leading to the higher land.

Looking back to to Ticamanita I am struck by the uncharacteristic green which I have never seen up here. The early January rains had an effect.

This path is rough, steep and very hard going.

Finally I get to a hill where the path starts moving towards the peaks again. They seem further away than when I set off.

Looking towards Pasos and Cardon a wonderful view.

The last slope to the top of the twin peaks of Gran Montaña. The top part is not an official path its just find your own way.

A big bush.

An eagle, one of a pair.

Looking towards Pico Lima reminding me of the exciting ridge I scrambled over the other day.

Views from the top

An unusual relic on a saddle on the way back down

The views just keep coming. This was a dry almost windless walk and the views just keep presenting themselves.

A slope full of cacti.

Tiscamanita in the distance down the hill.

The beautiful church of Tiscamanita but not only was the side door shut it was padlocked. Still it was lovely and so well kept. 

Gran Montaña is worth the effort to climb it for the views but make no mistake whichever route you take to the top the going is tough but not technically difficult. Just over 1650 foot ascent and nearly 7 miles in distance it feels a lot more. It is quite close to Tiscamanita so if you reverse the direction I took you are on the hill in no time but I have already done the walk that way so I just reversed it for variation.
 As a footnote the birdlife on the mountain was impressive. There were a number of smaller birds including the Fuerteventuran Chat, Berthelot's Pipit, Skylarks, Hoopoe, Spanish Sparrow, Black Caps, Swifts and some larger including Common Buzzards, Ravens, Gulls, pigeons and doves and most spectacular of all 3 Egyptian Vultures. There were also several smaller brown birds I have not identified, I think there was a spotted flycatcher and am reasonably sure the clacking of a smaller brown bird was a wheatear..The vultures were magnificient and I was above them on the higher slopes as they soared from below and away to the south west classically rising in circles all the while. Wish I had had a suitable camera to get some good shots. Mine returned just dots in the distance.

13. Tuineje Tiscamanita Tuineje

This is a great walk into the hills and then out onto the plain. From the town through a town and back to the town, Fuereventura style. Just so cool.

Starting in Tuineje near to the camel rider.

I crossed the street and passed the large church.

The hills look lonely, the twin peaks of Gran Montana on the right look a long way away but that is where I am going, luckily not to the top again.

Its a rough track basically a Barranco or dry riverbed. I can see the green hill with the path on it looks like its my hill for the day. 

It does look very green there are even flowers on the left. This is not typical for Fuerteventura. 

A real hidden valley 

My first view of Ticamanita in the distance.

Views from the top.

Gran Montana is a big mountain and as I descend into the valley below it it looms higher and larger above me.

A view of Tiscamanita from the base of Gran Montana.

The valley above Tiscamanita is so green. Its just not normal.

The centre of Tiscamanita. There is really nothing there but a couple of cafes both closed as it was too early for lunch and a small shop.

Out of Tiscamanita looking towards Tuineje at the base of the hills in the distance.

Looking across the plain towards the coast with Gran Tarajal in the centre.

A reminder of the geology of the area the Caldera de Gairial a relatively young cone. Its a nature reserve for ground nesting birds so I have avoiding climbing it. It also looks technically difficult.

Looking back at the route you can see the green hill in the photo on the right behind the windmill ruin. It looks a long way away.

The last stretch into Tuineje with the ruin on the left.

This walk with its contrasting scenery was wonderfully varied. I got barked at by scared dogs who ran for it when I looked at them. I saw many of the same birds I saw on Gran Montana 2 days ago and also saw a hunting Kestrel. In Tiscamanita a door to door sales lady tried to sell me some wool and yarn. Maybe it looked like I was intending to knit a jumper whilst I was walking. In all the walk was over 71/2 miles long and ascended 950 feet high. Some of the climbing and descending tracks were quite technical and the wind climbing the green hill was wicked. My feet hurt from the rocky ground. Can't wait for the next walk. 

14. Statues of Morro Jable

I'm not going to say who these are statues of, you will just have to guess. These are specific to the town of Morrom Jable not the port and not Jandia next door where there are even more statues and roundabout art installations.

This one you might recognise as Willie Brandt who frequented Fuereventura so he wasn't all bad.

The following are the views from the passageway from the top of the hill at Morro Jable to the beach  which I tried to capture on my Jandia Morro Jable walk (no9) but workmen had denied access.

This was meant to be a rest day but I still managed to walk about 5 miles.

15. Los Pineros Cardon Los Pineros

This is a local walk starting and finishing at Los Pineros.

Along the valley through Marcos Sanchez  beyond the fincas (farms or country houses) there is the mountain of  Melindraga in the distance at the base of which is the first turning point of the walk, Cardon.

I passed the cart track and was seen off by a couple of junior guard dogs. Barking and tail wagging was this pairs speciality.

I said hola to a lady walking her dog a friendly floppy puppy. The view from the roadside up towards the hills around Tiscamanita was cool especially as I had walked all these ridges and peaks.

From the road looking towards the green line below Cardon which I know is my way onto the mountain slopes via the GR131 long distance route. This is a big mountain.

Again Melandraga loomed a little larger now on the horizon.

The bulk of Montana Cardon with the windmills not adding to the view filled my left hand horizon. There is a certain ambivalence to the preservation of the natural beauty in Fuerteventura and remember this is also a nature reserve and a holy mountain. 

The track off the main road runs directly towards the north end of Cardon before turning south.

Looking back I can see Cardon in the top of the valley below Melandraga.

The huge windmills do dominate the view east so embrace them They are also quite noisy.

Looking down the valley in the far distance I can see where the sea meets the land at La Lajita. It's pretty desolate.

On the left is the hill on the other side of which is Los Pineros

There is a long trek along the side of the mountain.

As the path dips off the hill the GR131 long distance path continues up to the right but I head down into the valley. This is one of my final views from the side of the mountain down towards the sea.

I came across a flock of about 30 Trumpeter Finch in the very isolated valley bottom before I reached the road. This is not my photo but it was definitely an unusual bird to come across

Reaching the road to Las Hermosas I pass over the spare land passed a load of resting hikers and 3 cyclists, the only people other than a couple of locals I had seen on the walk. At the top of the small hill is Los Pineros but I had to follow the road to get there.

This walk well over 7 miles and with 600 feet of ascent felt to be always close to civilisation but it was pretty desolate in places. The mountain can only be described as majestic.

Done

This is my last major walk of my 2025 walking holiday in Fuerteventura. My feet ache and my achilles is sore from the constant rocky surfaces so its a few beach walks and some sunbathing to rest and recover before I fly back to the UK on thursday. I have plenty of miles in the legs now and am looking forward to extending the blue line map back in the UK. I should explain that 3 walks a week on average leaves 4 days for sunbathing, beach walking, cafes, shopping etc. Its not just the walking here which is important to me it is also the relaxation, people and places.

Extra

Antigua Church

I popped in whilst strolling around the tiny town centre.