Upper Rock Nature Reserve Attractions & Map

The Upper Rock & Nature Reserve

The Upper Rock & Nature Reserve Entry Points

The Upper Rock & Nature Reserve Entry Points

There are 4 Entry points to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve with ticket Offices where a charge is made

• Jews Gate
• Moorish Castle
• Devils Gap
• Cable Car ticket office or Souvenir Shop

See location The Upper Rock Nature Reserve on our Map

Upper Rock & Nature Reserve Pass

Upper Rock & Nature Reserve Pass (15 Attractions)

A charge is made for the Pass to visit the Upper Rock. The pass allows you to visit 15 attractions that are both on the rock and also on the coast

Attractions Included in Pass Price

• Apes Den
• Barbary macaque feeding station
• St Michael's Cave
• Great Siege Tunnels
• World War II Tunnels
• O'Hara's Battery
• 100 Ton Gun & Nelson's Anchorage
• Moorish Castle Q
• Mediterranean Steps
• Charles V Wall
• Nature Trails
• Jews' Gate Cemetery
• Skywalk
• The Lime Kiln
• City Under Siege
• Princess Caroline's Battery / Military Heritage Centre

The Barbary Macaques wrongly called Apes

2 of the iconic symbols of Gibraltar The rock Top and the Barbary Monkeys

• Many people call these wonderful & mischievous primates as Ape, but they are NOT Apes.
• They are Barbary Macaques a species of Monkey.
• They look like apes due to the fact that they do not have prehensile tail.
• They come from Rif Mountains in Morocco and are the only wild population in Europe.
• Do be careful with them, they are wild and can be dangerous especially if they are alarmed annoyed or feel threatened they will bite.
  • Do not get in between Mothers & their babies.
  • Pre Early warning signs fidgeting & scratching
  • Early warning signs Mouth pouting
    
• They are also thieves, especially food, they have been known to steel spectacles, mobiles
• Place plastic bags & food in your backpack or similar.
  • Still be careful, they know how to unzip backpack
  • They know how to split open the bottom of plastic bags scattering the contents on the floor, so that they can look for food
• The most friendly monkeys are in the area of the Apes den and often climb on people.
• It is illegal to touch or give food to the monkeys.
  
  Illegal

The Apes Den

Queens Gate located on Kings Charles Wall is immediately after the Apes Den, if heading uphill.

• The Apes Den is located on O;d Queens Road between passing under the Cable car Middle Stations & Queens Gate, see photo above.
• The largest troop of Barbary Macaques live in this area.
• The

The Apes Feeding Station

How to get to the Top of The Rock of Gibraltar

• The Summit of Gibraltar is 1400 feet (426m)
• Private Non Resident Cars are not allowed into The Upper Rock Nature Reserve, so that rules out this method, this leaves 5 options available: Cable Car, Tour Bus, Taxi, Walking & Electric Bicycle

Cable Car

• The Cable Car has 3 stations:
  • The Bottom Station. Red Sands Road with a large Car Park
  • Middle Station, Overhead at the top of a pylon over Old Queens Road with a sloping ramp down to the rock face then steps down to the road.
    • Good for The Apes Den & Queens Gate in the Charles V Wall
    • CLOSED in Summer April to October inclusive on Signal Hill.
  • Top Station, On Signal Hill Peak with the Top Rock Cafe with terrific views.
  • The Cable Car is a great way to get to the top of Signal Hill.
  • The main problem with the Cable Car is that there can be long queues

Top Rock Cafe

• Located next to the Top Cable Car Station.
• Tremendous Views from both inside and on the terrace.
• The Macaque monkeys will try to steal your food if you are on the terrace
• Remember it is illegal to feed the macaques

Signal Hill

• The second highest peak of the rock of Gibraltar.
• Was the site of a windmill built by the Moors.
• Location of the aerials of the signal station buildings.
• Location of the Top Cable Car Station & Cafe.

Mini Bus Tours

• Tour Buses are an extremely popular choice. They save a lot of walking on the steep, roads & Trails
• Some are based in Gibraltar town and offer various inteneries.
• Others are Day trips to Gibraltar from Spain, and include a wide selection of inteneries when you get there, such as:
  • Upper Rock tours that usually include 2 or more of The Rock main attractions.
  • Duty free shopping.
  • Gibraltar Tour & Europa Point.
  • Dolphin, Orca or Whale Watching Boat Trips.
  • Cable Car
  • Or a combination of these options.
• TIP: Check out our attraction descriptions make a note of what you want to see then select the best tour that fits your selection

Mediterranean Steps Top Attraction for Hikers

• The Mediterranean Steps were built as part of the military communications system built by the British to allow access to their various defence posts at the southern end of the Rock.
• The Mediterranean Steps are within The Upper Rock Reserve therefore you to purchase a pass. A ticket office is at the start
• At the highest point of the steps are the two 9.2 inch guns of O'Hara's Battery. & Lord Airey's Battery and Other gun emplacements and ancillary buildings dating back to World War II are evident along the route
• The route is very arduous,very steep mix of steps & roughish trails but well worth the effort
• There are around 600 steps
• Is is extremely popular with hikers. Don't forget your water bottle, camera 7 sun protection including sun cream & hat
• The view are dramatic & unforgettable and there's is lots to see on your walk, including Jews Gate, Levant Battery, Martin's Cave, Goat's Hair Twin Caves,Tunnel and Pumping Station , WW2 Observation Posts, View point , Lord Airey's Battery (Top of Steps), O'Haras Battery.

Mediterranean Steps Start

• The start of Mediterranean Steps is at the junction of Engineer Road & Queens Road.
• Also near this location are:
  • The ticket office. You require a pass for The Upper Rock Reserve
  • The attractions The Pillars of Hercules & Jews Gate cemetery.
  • Toilets

St. Michaels Cave. A Top Attraction

• The main Tourist Show Cave.
• Most of The Rock Tours stop here for a cave visit
• Absolutely magnificent.
• The stalactites & stalagmites are lit by coloured lights.
• A very large chamber has been converted into an auditorium with tiered seating. Concerts are held hear and the acoustics are magnificent
• The cave was converted into an emergency hospital during World War II, but it never had to be used as such.

Video of St. Michaels Cave

Lower St. Michaels Cave.

• A Show cave for the more adventurous.
• Entry is made via man made tunnel
• A degree of fitness is required.
  • Requires scrambling and minor climbing with the use of ropes.
  • No under 10s.
  • An additional Charge, besides The Pass is made
• The cave is fully lit by normal lighting,unlike St. Michaels Cave which has light shows with coloured lighting.
• To visit this cave you must pre-book at least 3 days in advance. There is often a waiting list.
• If you'd like to contact one of the team contact thee on +350 200 74289 or email enquiries@gibmuseum.gi

Video of Lower St. Michaels Cave

More Caves Upper Rock Nature Reserve

• There are around 300 caves in gibraltar. Some are sea caves others are inland.
• You must have an official guide to enter any of them
• The Rock of Gibraltar was called by The Roman's 'Mons Calpe', which literally means hollow rock
• Below are the best known caves

 

• 1.  Rock Gun Cave.
• 2.  Poca Roca Cave.
• 3.  Transmitter fissure
• 4.  Shed Cave.
• 5.  Ronalds Delight
• 6.  Devils Gap Cave.
• 7.  Inces Cave.
• 8.  Petes Paradise Cave.
• 9.  Bellmans Cave.
• 10. Apes Den Cave.
• 11. Mount Misery fissure.
• 12. Haynes Cave.
• 13. Brays Cave.
• 14. Douglas Cave.
• 15. St. Michaels Guard.
• 16. Old St. Michaels Cave & Leonoras Cave.
• 17. St. Michaels Roof Passage
• 18. Old Lower St. Michaels Cave.
• 19. St. Michaels Cave
• 20. Spur Road Cave.
• 21. Stone Pine Cave.
• 22. Martins Guards.
• 23. Spider Cave.
• 24. Martins Cave.
• 25. Fig Tree Cave.
• 26. Goats Hair twin Caves.
• 27. Gibbons Cave.
• 28. Georges Bottom Cave.
• 29. Levant Cave.
• 30. Tinas Fissure.

Windsor Suspension Bridge

Windsor Suspension Bridge

Windsor Suspension Bridge

Interactive 360⁰ Photograph of Windsor Suspension Bridge

Drag the photo Left, Right, Up, Down or Zoom

• A 71 metre long adrenalin thrill attraction'
• Are you brave enough to walk across as the bridge sways as you walk.
• If not you can bypass the bridge by walking around by the path which in only a few metres longer than crossing by the bridge.
• Located on the Royal Anglian Way, in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, over a 50m gorge
• A slight sway can be noticed as you cross adding to your apprehension.
• Rest assured the bridge is anchored 12m into the rock
• Free access is included in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve entrance fe called Upper Reserve Pass.

Location of The Upper Rock Nature Reserve

See location The Upper Rock Nature Reserve on our Map