Walking in Andalucia

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.

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.

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