The starting point for this walk is the Muelle de Riotinto, down on the bank of the Odiel River. The long pier was built by Rio Tinto in 1874 for loading ore onto ocean going ships.
The Muelle del Tinto is still standing and is enjoyed by joggers, dog walkers and romantic couples.
From the pier you can walk along the River Odiel which has a nature reserve along its banks. You’ll definitely see a lot of curlews, herons, egrets and fish, and if you’re lucky, otters and sea eagles.
Along the way one of the first things you’ll come across is the Estadio Nuevo Colombino. This is the home of Recreativo de Huelva, the oldest football club in Spain, which was founded by British mine workers in 1889.
After this you’ll encounter a swathe of oil refineries and factories built courtesy of Franco in the 50s.
Next you’ll come to the marina and boating club where you can stop for refreshments. A short distance further on and you get to Punta del Sebo, the confluence of the Odiel and the Tinto rivers, which is marked by a towering Cubist statue, the Monumento a Colón.
The statue commemorates Columbus who in 1492 first set sail for the New World from nearby Palos de la Frontera with crews made up of local sailors. It was a present from donors in the US to mark this historical voyage. Many people think the statue is of Columbus himself but it actually depicts a navigator looking towards the West.
The walk from the Muelle del Tinto to Punta del Sebo takes one hour each way, if you don’t dawdle.