There is a direct service. Times of this route, and others, at ctsa-portillo.com/ima/pdf/torremolinos.pdf .

We did this journey by bus from the terminal in Torremolinos in January this year. Mijas is lovely and the views from the top are spectacular but the journey is very scary. I spent all the time there worrying about comng back down but managed by closing my eyes and travelling with by back toward the front of the bus. The rest of my party loved the ride, I just havn't much of a head for heights.

Polly

The other way to travel from Torremolinos to Mijas pueblo is to take the train that runs to Fuengirloa. It leaves every half hour from the centre of Torremolinos station. When you get to Fuengirola, walk a block from the train station towards the sea and there's the bus station. The Mijas bus leaves from the front on the main drag, not with the others parked alongside the station. As well, you pay on the bus (just over a Euro) rather than queue for tickets as with other routes. The Mijas/Fuengirola bus goes frequently during the day (though not as often in the evening). This route doesn't take that much longer... and you won't have to deal with the narrow winding road that terrified Polly A!

When I stayed at Mijas Pueblo last year, I paid on the bus before heading down the hill from Mijas, but had to buy a ticket at the ticket window in Fuengirola before being allowed back on the bus for the return journey. This may have changed, of course.

Hi Tony...

That's a new one on me. I spend three weeks in Mijas every May/June and again in Sept/Oct and have never seen them sell tickets at the window. The drivers have their own ticket machine and cash till right on the bus. In Fuengirola, passengers queue in front of the bus station and pay as they enter.

When were you there? Could it have been a special occasion or perhaps they change things during the busy months of July and August.

We too had to pay before boarding at Fuengirola.

This was in June this year.

Interesting... it must be summer thing.

I'm back there in September and will see if it's still in effect. If not, I'll ask them about it.

Perhaps in the busy months when the queues are really long it makes things easier for everyone to have tickets before boarding rather than delay the trip by the slow process of pay-as-you-board.

So, Beadle, if you're there in the summer, be advised <G>.

Thank you all so much for your help - much appreciated.