Reprinted
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.Andalucia's natural and national parks protect some of the most beautiful walking landscapes in southern Spain, from the cork oak forests of Los Alcornocales and the limestone peaks of Grazalema to the high Alpujarras villages of the Sierra Nevada and the ancient woodlands of Cazorla. All six parks share a slice of the magnificent Cordillera Bética and can be enjoyed comfortably from mid-September through to mid-June.
This comprehensive guidebook by Guy Hunter-Watts, who lived and worked in Andalucia for over 30 years, describes 36 graded walks ranging from 4 to 21km (2 to 13 miles) and taking 2 to 7 hours across six of southern Spain's finest protected landscapes. It combines clear route descriptions with local knowledge and practical planning information to help you explore with confidence.
- Six walks are dedicated to each of the six parks, covering Aracena, Grazalema, Los Alcornocales and Gaucín, La Axarquía, Las Alpujarras in the Sierra Nevada, and Cazorla, with most routes circular and graded easy to medium/difficult
- Every walk is illustrated with 1:50,000 maps, and GPX files are available to download, giving you reliable navigation through the parks' varied terrain, whether on paper or digitally
- Detailed information on bases and facilities covers accommodation in and around the protected villages of Aracena, Grazalema, Bubión, Cómpeta, Jimena de la Frontera, and Cazorla, all within the Cordillera Bética
- Local points of interest are woven throughout, including Moorish-era mountain villages, cork oak forests, river gorges, and the Poqueira Gorge and Río Borosa, adding rich context to every walk
- Sized to fit easily in a jacket pocket, this is a practical and lightweight companion for a full day out in Andalucia's natural parks
Six parks, 36 walks, and over 30 years of local knowledge — this Cicerone guidebook is the ideal companion for exploring Andalucia's most beautiful natural landscapes. Discover southern Spain's protected parks with confidence.
Walking in Andalucia – Quick Facts
Region: Andalucia, southern Spain
Walk format: 36 graded circular day walks
Walk distances: 4 to 21km (2 to 13 miles) per walk
Walk duration: 2 to 7 hours per walk
Parks covered: Aracena, Grazalema, Los Alcornocales, La Axarquía, Las Alpujarras (Sierra Nevada), Cazorla
Walks per park: 6 walks dedicated to each park
Main centres: Aracena, Grazalema, Jimena de la Frontera, Cazorla, Bubión, Cómpeta
Difficulty grades: Easy, easy/medium, medium, medium/difficult
Terrain: Cork oak forests, limestone peaks, river gorges, high mountain villages, ancient woodlands, coastal plain
Key highlights: Sierra Nevada Alpujarras villages, Grazalema limestone peaks, Los Alcornocales cork oak forests, Cazorla national park, Poqueira Gorge, Río Borosa gorge, Moorish villages, Cordillera Bética
Best season: Mid-September to mid-June for most parks; Cazorla and Las Alpujarras are walkable in midsummer
Maps: 1:50,000 maps included for every walk
GPX files: Available to download
Author Highlight
“It’s this sense of space that makes walking in Andalucía so special. More people are walking Spain’s southern Sierras, yet the vast majority of the routes within these pages remain blissfully undiscovered. If you decide to head for the hills with this guide, you can be sure of two things: you’ll be walking through areas of great natural beauty, and you’ll meet with few other walkers. There’s nothing to detract from the sheer pleasure of simply going out for a walk.”
- Guy Hunter-Watts, author of Walking in Andalucia
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
ISBN
9781852848026
Availability
Published
Reprinted
17 Sept 2020
Published
14 Jan 2016
Edition
First
Pages
256
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.40cm
Weight
280g
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device. To access your eBook, you will need an eReader app. For more details, visit the eBook FAQs.
Contents
Map Legend
Overview Map
Introduction
Aracena Regional Introduction
1. Aracena eastern circuit via Corteconcepción
2. Aracena western circuit via Linares
3. Alájar eastern circuit via Linares
4. Alájar western circuit via Castaño del Robledo
5. Almonaster circuit
6. Galoroza circuit via Castaño del Robledo
Grazalema Regional Introduction
1. Benaoján Estación to Jimera de Libar
2. Montejaque circuit
3. Grazalema circuit via El Reloj & Simancón
4. Grazalema to Benaocáz
5. Grazalema northern circuit
6. Zahara de La Sierra circuit
Los Alcornocales Regional Introduction
1. Jimena western circuit
2. Jimena northern circuit
3. La Sauceda to Pico del Aljibe
4. Casares circuit
5. Gaucín western circuit
6. Benarrabá circuit
La Axarquía Regional Introduction
1. Maro to Frigiliana via El Camino del Imán
2. Frigiliana to El Fuerte
3. Cómpeta eastern circuit
4. Cómpeta northern circuit
5. Canillas de Albaida circuit
6. Sayalonga circuit via Corumbela
Las Alpujarras Regional Introduction
1. Pampaneira circuit via Capileira & Bubión
2. Capileira circuit via the Poqueira Gorge
3. La Cebadilla High Acequias circuit
4. Bubión circuit via Junta de los Rios & Capilerilla
5. Ferreirola circuit via La Tahá
6. Ferreirola circuit via Busqusitar
Cazorla Regional Introduction
1. Cazorla circuit via San Sebastian
2. Cazorla circuit via El Chorro
3. Cazorla circuit via El Gilillo
4. La Iruela circuit via Fuente del Oso
5. The Río Borosa gorge walk
6. Puente de Las Herrerias circuit via Poyos de la Mesa
Appendices
Appendix 1 Glossary
Appendix 2 Summary of routes
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
802 Reprint 2020 (2.795 MB)
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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