“We tracked Jay Slater’s missing path – here’s what we noticed”

When Jay Slater left the secluded Airbnb he’d been invited to stay in following a rave in Tenerife, it’s believed he made a fatal mistake. The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, had earlier been at an NRG festival rave in Playa de las Americas.

He then traveled more than 30 km north to Casa Abuela Tina, an Airbnb on the outskirts of the village of Masca, after being invited by two men, including Ayub Qassim, 31, a convicted drug dealer who told MailOnline: “He came to my Airbnb alive and left my Airbnb alive.”

On the morning of June 17, Jay left the Airbnb on foot. Orphelia, which owns Airbnb, previously told the Manchester Evening News that Jay “went on the road” alone and “went fast”.

READ MORE The suspect was arrested at Bristol Temple Meads railway station after the discovery of human remains in suitcases

READ MORE LIVE: Day 3 of the investigation after the discovery of human remains on the Clifton Suspension Bridge

Jay called his friend Lucy Law to let her know he was walking back to Los Cristianos – a town almost 40km south of the island where he and his friends were staying – but his phone battery was down to 1%. However, after leaving Airbnb, Jay took a wrong turn.

Instead of heading south to the tourist areas of the island, Jay inadvertently went north, venturing further into Teno Rural Park. This is where his phone made its final call, and this location became the focus of an extensive search operation.

Manchester Evening News reporter Stephen Topping traveled to Tenerife and followed the same journey, recounting his experience. He shared six things he noticed along the way:

1. The road is steep – and tiring

On the morning of June 17, the weather was relatively cool for Tenerife, compared to yesterday afternoon’s high of 20 degrees. He recounted: “Regardless of the weather, the steep climbs of the mountain road up from Airbnb are taxing on the body and at one point I sat on a bollard for a break – despite being relatively fit and an ordinary walk”.

The stretch to the Cruz de Hilda lookout, where emergency services were based during the official search until June 30, is particularly difficult. It’s hard to imagine that the going will be any easier after a night of delirium.

2. It’s easy to lose your footing.

While the area is remote, it is a magnet for tourists who want to explore an authentic Tenerife experience and be rewarded with amazing views. This means that passing cars are quite frequent, and the road being narrow, you need to leave as much space as possible on the side of the road.

There are no designated trails along the road, but there is a curb that runs down the side. He stated: “At one point my foot slipped but I managed to stay upright – although that could have been a challenge if I wasn’t awake.”

3. The surroundings are beautiful, vast and intimidating

When you think of Tenerife, images of the lively Veronicas strip and Brits enjoying cheap pints of Dorada by the sea may come to mind. However, Teno Rural Park offers a completely different experience.

This area, designated as a Site of Scientific Interest, is surrounded by imposing mountains, deep ravines and endless rows of trees and cacti. But while its beauty is undeniable, it can also be intimidating, the vast natural landscape making it easy to lose your way.

4. Earn Strongds are coming fast – and hard

Tenerife may be known for its year-round sunshine and consistently warm weather, but island life can also be quite breezy.

Stephen said: “During my walk yesterday afternoon, what started as calm and warm weather quickly turned to gusty weather by the time I reached the search point. A similar high wind had been present during my visit on Thursday, strong enough to knock you slightly off balance. .”

5. There are steep drops near you

The mountain road that crosses the village of Masca and the Rural Park of Teno is lined with rectangular bollards to prevent vehicles from moving off the difficult route. In some areas, this precaution becomes even more crucial.

Approaching the edge of a ravine or steep slope means hikers must always be aware of their positioning.

6. It’s incredibly remote

Rural Parc de Teno, with its quiet charm, is a stark contrast to the lively party atmosphere of southern Tenerife. However, the area where Jay ventured north from his Airbnb is extremely isolated.

Facilities in this region are sparse – a cafe at the Cruz de Hilda lookout only opens at 10am on Mondays, which is later than when Jay is thought to have been nearby. If Jay had headed to Los Cristianos, he would have met other people and found food or drink in the heart of Masca, or further afield in the town of Santiago del Teide.