Walking in Andalucia
36 routes in Andalucia's Natural Parks
Walking in Andalucia
36 routes in Andalucia's Natural Parks
Guidebook to 36 walks in Andalucia. The Alpujarra region of the Sierra Nevada, Aracena, Grazalema, Los Alcornocales and Gaucin, La Axarquia, and Cazorla each have 6 day walks. Most of the walking routes are circular and range from 5 to 21km, are graded for difficulty, and many are suitable for all walkers.A guidebook to 36 walks in the natural and national parks of Spain’s Andalucía region. Graded by difficulty from easy strolls to strenuous mountain hikes, there are routes to suit both beginner and more experienced walkers alike.
Walks range from 4 to 21km (2–13 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–7 hours. They are split between six diverse areas based on the six parks: Aracena, Grazalema, Los Alcornocales, La Axarquía (the coastal plain around Nerja, just south of the Almijara), Las Alpujarras (in the Sierra Nevada) and Cazorla.
- Clear route description illustrated with 1:50,000 mapping
- GPX files available for download
- Information on bases and facilities
- Local points of interest
- Sized to easily fit in a jacket pocket
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.
Map key
Overview map
Preface
Introduction
Six natural parks
Plants and wildlife
Andalucía over the years
Getting there
When to go
Accommodation
Eating out in southern Spain
Language
Money
Communications
What to take
Maps
Staying safe
Using this guide
1 Aracena
Walk 1 Aracena eastern circuit
Walk 2 Aracena western circuit
Walk 3 Alájar eastern circuit
Walk 4 Alájar western circuit
Walk 5 Almonaster circuit
Walk 6 Galaroza circuit
2 Grazalema
Walk 7 Estación de Benaoján to Estación de Jimera de Líbar
Walk 8 Montejaque circuit
Walk 9 Grazalema southern circuit
Walk 10 Grazalema to Benaocáz
Walk 11 Grazalema northern circuit
Walk 12 Zahara de La Sierra circuit
3 Los Alcornocales
Walk 13 Jimena de la Frontera southern circuit
Walk 14 Jimena de la Frontera northern circuit
Walk 15 La Sauceda to Pico del Aljibe and back
Walk 16 Casares circuit
Walk 17 Gaucín circuit
Walk 18 Benarrabá circuit
4 La Axarquía
Walk 19 Maro to Frigiliana
Walk 20 Frigiliana to El Fuerte and back
Walk 21 Cómpeta eastern circuit
Walk 22 Cómpeta northern circuit
Walk 23 Canillas de Albaida circuit
Walk 24 Sayalonga circuit
5 Las Alpujarras
Walk 25 Pampaneira circuit
Walk 26 Capileira circuit
Walk 27 La Cebadilla circuit
Walk 28 Bubión circuit
Walk 29 Ferreirola northern circuit
Walk 30 Ferreirola eastern circuit
6 Cazorla
Walk 31 Cazorla southern circuit
Walk 32 Cazorla southwestern circuit
Walk 33 Cazorla southeastern circuit
Walk 34 La Iruela circuit
Walk 35 Río Borosa gorge walk
Walk 36 Puente de Las Herrerias circuit
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Useful contacts
Appendix C Accommodation
Appendix D Glossary
Appendix E Further reading
Seasons
Andalucía's Natural Parks enjoy generally mild winter, spring and autumn weather so walking can be enjoyable at any time from mid September through to mid June. Even in mid summer walks can still be comfortably undertaken in the higher Natural Parks of Cazorla and La Alpujarra.
Centres
The six areas covered by the guide are in and around the villages of Aracena, Grazalema, Jimena de la Frontera, Cazorla, Bubión and Cómpeta, all of which lie within protected Nature Reserves.
Difficulty
Walks are graded into four groups: easy, easy/medium, medium and medium/difficult. Most walks involve some steep ascents and descents but the routes have been chosen so that all are within the capabilities of anybody in good health who walks on a regular basis. The guide contains a mixture of half-day and full day walks.
Must See
Walking in six of southern Spain's most beautiful Natural Parks, all of which share a slice of the magnificent range of the Cordillera Bética. Includes 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.
August 2024
Walk 10
Walk 10 Grazalema to Benaocáz - there is no longer a return bus as stated in the route description.
Thank you to Anders Laage Kragh for the update
February 2020
Walk 12
Page 101 paragraphs 1 and 2
The narrow path that is reached beyond the black metal gate is very overgrown with gorse and brambles.
So rather than turning right down the track at the sign Zona de Seguridad best to stick to the main track and follow it down to the Arroyo de Bocaleones and pick up the route notes at timing 2hr 55mins.
November 2019
Walk 14 Map Update
The river is incorrectly positioned on the map although route description is correct , the gpx file provided shows correct positioning.
November 2019
Route updates included in 2020 reprint
October 2019
Route update and corrections
Walk 25.
The footpath leading up from the Poqueira gorge to Cortijo de Bubión is now overgrown and tricky to follow.
The author has re-routed the walk which will be included in the next reprint following clearer footpaths. Details now available above in pdf of "route updates included in reprint 2020".
The amended GPX track is available via Cicerone or the author.
April 2019
Walk 7, page 71
The river crossing described in line 3 of the walk description has been washed away by flash flooding. In order to cross to the River Guadiaro’s east side from the railway station, head up hill, passing left of the shop Electrica Serranía de Ronda, to meet the road leading to Ronda, the MA-7401. Turn right, cross the bridge over the Guadiaro, then on its far side hop over a crash barrier and follow a narrow path down to reach a track running along the river’s east bank. This leads you to the far side of the damaged bridge where you pick up route notes at the point ‘Sendero Río Guadiaro, 7.3km’.
Feb 2019
Walk 11- page 93, 5th paragraph
There's a little wire and post gate, normally not attached but when it is, it's opened with a loop of wire about 2m beyond the metal gate which is now kept locked.
Walk 18 Benarrabá Circuit
Page 134. 30min timing should read 45min therefore ignore the Casa Los Limones timings of (55mins)
page 137. Following torrential rains then flooding in October 2018 the point where you cross the River Almarchal has been affected. You now have to walk closer to the farm in order to get to the river then carefully cross using a stick for balance. On the other side of the river you now need to climb over a huge tree that has fallen across the path.
Page 137. Paragraph 4. The salmon-coloured house is now painted cream.
Jan 2019
Walk 14 page 116: Two of the concrete stepping stones over the river have washed out but river crossing still doable.
Walk 23 page 164 : Bridges have now been added for the crossings described along the Cájula river.
page 167 3rd paragraph: The sign for Sendero is no longer there but the path is easy to spot, deeply descending to the right.
Walk 30 page 206:
In the paragraph starting “Here head straight on, climbing slightly for 30 meters” amend to “Here head straight on, ignoring the track cutting down to the left, climbing slightly
for 30 meters”.
May 2018
Walk 23...page 167... line 13..." Presently there is no sign pointing up left for Sendero so .... climbing gently now , for some 900m (it's worth pacing this out) just as the track begins to bear round to the left - cut right down a narrow path .
Oct 2017
Mapping error - page 220
Height of Puerto del Tejo is incorrect should read 1566m instead of 1766 m.
Walk 7
The ascent/descent stats for this walk should read 45m of ascent, 140m of descent.
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