This guidebook explores six of Andalucía's most beautiful Natural Parks – the Sierra Nevada regions of Aracena, Grazalema, Los Alcornocales and Gaucín, La Axarquía, the Alpujarras and Cazorla – along the great belt of the Cordillera Bética mountains. The 36 half- and full-day walks are mostly circular, ranging in length from 4 to 21km: some involve steep ascents and descents but all are within the capabilities of a reasonably fit walker.
The routes are based around the villages of Aracena, Grazalema, Jimena de la Frontera, Cazorla, Bubión and Cómpeta, all of which lie within protected nature reserves. Year-round walking is possible, but the area is best enjoyed March-June and September-October. Includes detailed route descriptions, clear mapping, plenty of background information about travel, food and drink, language and communications and the author's recommendations for the best places to stay in or around southern Spain's most beautiful mountain villages, many of which date back to the Moorish period.
Rising to almost 3500m, the Cordillera Bética offers some of the finest year-round walking in Europe, and wrapped within this mighty range are some of Spain's most beautiful villages and trails.
This guidebook presents 32 mainly circular walks in the Ronda region, covering the town and its environs, the Natural Parks of La Sierra de Grazalema and La Sierra de las Nieves (both UNESCO biosphere reserves), and the Genal and Guadiaro Valleys. Ranging from 3.5-16.5km (2-10 miles), many walks are graded easy or moderate and nearly all can be done from mid-September through to mid-June, thanks to the area's comparatively mild winters.
Clear route description is illustrated with mapping, and the route summary table and 'at a glance' information boxes make it easy to choose the right walk. In addition to practical information on transport and bases, the introduction offers an overview of Andalucian plants and wildlife, geology and history, and the routes themselves include notes on points of interest, from trees to chapels and from summits to local traditions. Useful contacts, accommodation listings and a short Spanish-English glossary can be found in the appendices.
The dramatically situated town of Ronda can make a great base for a walking holiday in the mountains of Andalucia, as can any one of the picturesque 'pueblos blancos' (white villages) that nestle among the surrounding hills.
A guidebook to 40 half and full day coastal walks in Andalucía. The graded routes, which are suitable for any reasonably fit walker, range from 6km to 19.5km and can be walked all year round. The walks are located in seven of the region's most beautiful National Parks and protected areas (including La Breña y las Marismas, Los Alcornocales y del Estrecho, La Sierra de las Nieves and Níjar-Cabo de Gata) and are mostly circular in nature, negating the need for any logistical legwork.
Step-by-step route descriptions for each walk are accompanied by 1:50,000 mapping, together with information about points of interest en route. Also included is a useful glossary and route summary table, plus all the practical information needed to explore Andalucía's coast on foot – equipment, safety, when to go, refreshments, accommodation and more.
The picturesque coastline of Andalucía is a walker's dream. Sandwiched between mountain and sea, walkers are rewarded with both dazzling mountain vistas and stunning seascapes. The sense of history embedded in these ancient coastal byways – which dates back to ages past – is an added delight, making the walking all the richer.