Just a few hundred metres from Andalucia's famous beaches, the mountains of the Subbetica range rise steeply from the coast to offer some of the finest walking in southern Europe. From the windswept Atlantic shores around Tarifa and Cape Trafalgar to the rugged limestone ridges above Marbella, the dramatic gorges of the Costa Tropical and the volcanic landscapes of the Cabo de Gata near Almeria, this is a coastline that rewards those who look beyond the sunlounger.

With routes easily reached from Malaga airport and walkable year-round thanks to Andalucia's mild coastal climate, this second edition Cicerone guidebook by Guy Hunter-Watts and Mike Yeatman covers 40 graded coastal walks from 6 to 20km (4 to 12 miles), suited to regular walkers of all experience levels. Route descriptions are paired with 1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files, with refreshment and access information provided for every walk.

• 40 graded walks across four coastal areas, covering the Costa de la Luz, Costa del Sol, Costa Tropical and Costa de Almeria, with nearly all routes falling within designated natural parks and reserves and walks graded easy to medium/difficult
• The Costa de la Luz from Vejer to Tarifa is covered in full, with routes along the Atlantic cliffs, the marshes of Barbate, Cape Trafalgar and the gorges of the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, including the celebrated Gibraltar circuit via the Mediterranean Steps
• Walks in The Sierra de las Nieves and Sierra Bermeja above Marbella and Estepona are described with detailed route notes for the ascent of La Concha and walks through the rare Spanish fir forests of El Pinsapar, within easy reach of the Costa del Sol resorts
• The Cabo de Gata, Europe's driest region and a UNESCO biosphere reserve near Almeria, is covered with six fully described walks through volcanic coastal landscapes, remote coves and dramatic sea cliffs found nowhere else on the Spanish mainland
• 1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files are provided for every walk, with suggested walking bases, refreshment stops and access information for each of the seven coastal regions throughout

A year-round walking destination, the Andalucian coast combines reliable sunshine, extraordinary natural diversity and easy access from Malaga airport. This guidebook reveals the side of southern Spain that most beach holidaymakers miss out on. 

Coastal Walks in Andalucia - Quick Facts

Area: Andalucia, southern Spain 
Coastline covered: Costa de la Luz, Costa del Sol, Costa Tropical, Costa de Almeria 
Total walks: 40 
Walk distances: 6 to 20km (4 to 12 miles) 
Walk duration: 2 to 8 hours 
Grades: Easy, easy/medium, medium, medium/difficult 
Difficulty: Suited to regular walkers of all experience levels; some steep ascents and descents 
Natural parks covered: Parque Natural de la Breña y las Marismas, Parque Natural de los Alcornocales y del Estrecho, Paraje Natural de Sierra Bermeja y Sierra Crestellina, Parque Natural de la Sierra de las Nieves, Parque Natural de la Sierra de Tejeda Almijara y Alhama, Parque Natural de Níjar-Cabo de Gata 
Walk highlights: Gibraltar circuit via Mediterranean Steps, Cape Trafalgar, La Concha ascent, El Pinsapar Spanish fir forest, Nerja circuit via Río Chillar, Cabo de Gata coastal walks 
Key landmarks: Gibraltar, Cape Trafalgar, Cabo de Gata UNESCO biosphere reserve, Sierra de las Nieves, Hallstatt 
Best time to visit: Year-round; mild winters make it ideal for winter walking; summer walks are possible thanks to coastal cooling 
Access: Easily reached from Malaga airport 
Mapping: 1:50,000 maps included for every walk 
Digital navigation: Downloadable GPX files included 
Special features: Walking base suggestions for each area; refreshment and access information; notes on history, plants and wildlife

Author Highlight

“In my mind there are two constants in Andalucía: the sea and the mountains. It is such a thrill and privilege, I believe, to be able to experience both in such a dramatic, varied fashion when walking in the coastal ranges of this beautiful country. We walk for many reasons, from simple exercise to pleasant company, but to have soaring vistas and the vastness of the ocean as companions makes every outing special.”

- Mike Yeatman, one of the authors of Coastal Walks in Andalucia

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Preface

Introduction

Seven coastal regions

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 Costa de la Luz

Parque Natural de la Breña y las Marismas

Walk 1 Santa Lucía circuit

Walk 2 Las Marismas de Barbate circuit

Walk 3 Vejer de la Frontera southern circuit

Walk 4 Los Caños de Meca circuit

Walk 5 Cape Trafalgar to Conil via the Torre de Castilnovo

Parque Natural de Los Alcornocales y del Estrecho

Walk 6 Valdevaqueros circuit via Punta Paloma

Walk 7 Río de Guadalmesí circuit

Walk 8 Pelayo circuit via the Torre de Guadalmesí

Walk 9 Río de la Miel circuit

Walk 10 Gibraltar circuit via Mediterranean Steps

2 Costa del Sol

Paraje Natural de Sierra Bermeja y Sierra Crestellina

Walk 11 Manilva circuit via the Utrera Gorge

Walk 12 Casares circuit via la Crestellina

Walk 13 Casares eastern circuit

Walk 14 Casares circuit via La Acedía

Walk 15 Pico Reales circuit via El Pinsapar forest

Parque Natural de la Sierra de las Nieves

Walk 16 Istán circuit via the Infierno valley

Walk 17 Istán to the Río Verde and back

Walk 18 Istán reservoir circuit via the San Miguel chapel

Walk 19 Marbella circuit via Cruz de Juanar

Walk 20 Ascent of La Concha from Refugio de Juanar

Walk 21 Refugio de Juanar circuit via Los Cuchillos

La Sierra de Mijas

Walk 22 Mijas circuit via the Pico de Mijas

Walk 23 Mijas circuit via Puerto de Málaga

Walk 24 Alhaurín el Grande circuit

Walk 25 Alhaurín de la Torre western circuit

Walk 26 Alhaurín de la Torre southern circuit

Walk 27 Benalmádena circuit 

3 Costa Tropical

Parque Natural de la Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama

Walk 28 Ascent of La Maroma from Canillas de Aceituno

Walk 29 Cómpeta circuit via Puerto Blanquillo

Walk 30 Frigiliana to El Fuerte and back

Walk 31 Frigiliana circuit via Cruz de Pinto

Walk 32 Nerja circuit via the Río Chillar

Walk 33 Maro to Frigiliana

Walk 34 La Herradura circuit via Cantarriján beach

4 Costa de Almería

Parque Natural de Níjar-Cabo de Gata

Walk 35 San José circuit via Monsul and Los Genoveses

Walk 36 Presillas Bajas to the Majada Redonda and back

Walk 37 Los Escullos circuit via San José

Walk 38 Rodalquilar circuit via Cortijo del Fraile

Walk 39 Las Negras circuit via El Playazo

Walk 40 Agua Amarga to Las Negras

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Accommodation

Appendix C Glossary

Appendix D Further reading

Seasons

The coastal belt of Andalucía enjoys mild weather in winter, spring and autumn, while even in mid summer walks can be enjoyable thanks to the cooling influence of the Mediterranean Sea.

Centres

The area covered by this guide stretches from Vejer to Tarifa on the Atlantic Coast, and from Estepona past Marbella and Mijas to Nerja and Almuñecar on the Mediterranean.

Difficulty

Walks are graded as: easy, easy/medium, medium or medium/difficult. Several of the 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

A few hundred metres from the beaches of Andalucía's southern seaboard, the mountains of the mighty Subbetica range offer some of the finest walking in southern Europe. Mainland Spain's highest peaks, some rising to almost 4000m, are cut through by deep gorges while a series of high villages facing south to the Mediterranean serve as perfect walking bases.

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