If you're in the UK, shop before Monday 11th December to get your guidebooks in time for Christmas. Based outside the UK? The last posting dates have now passed but there are other ways you can get our guidebooks. Click here for more information.

Walking and Trekking in the Sierra Nevada

38 walks, scrambles and multi-day traverses

By Richard Hartley

ISBN

9781852849177

Availability

Published

6 Nov 2017

Reprinted

21 Nov 2022

Edition

First

Pages

272

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.55cm

Weight

310g

Delivery & Returns

Free 1st Class postage on UK orders. European postage is £3 per item. Worldwide postage is £5 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...

Guidebook to walks and multi-day treks in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Spain's Andalucia. The 38 routes include the highest point of continental Spain, Mulhacén, and take in villages including Trevélez, Lanjarón and Capileira. Includes main ridge traverses, high mountain scrambles and a Spanish Three Peaks challenge.

Seasons

Route descriptions assume summer conditions but seasonal notes are given where relevant for the winter hillwalker, as well as the location of suitable water sources during the hot summer months

Centres

Trevélez, Capileira, Lanjarón, Nigüelas, Dílar, Cumbres Verdes, Granada, Sierra Nevada ski area, Güéjar Sierra, Jérez de Marsquesado

Difficulty

Graded routes of varying difficulty, from easy half-day jaunts and day-trips to tough multi-day treks. High-level routes but also superb lower-level alternatives, including eight walks in the Cumbres Verdes and Dílar Valley hills SE of Granada. Five high mountain scrambles for the more adventurous (graded 2 to 3S).

Must See

Mulhacén, the highest mountain in mainland Spain; Los Tres Picos - the three highest peaks in the Sierra Nevada; Los Tres Miles Integral - a multi-day ridge-walk covering all the main 3000m peaks; high-level summer scrambles

ISBN

9781852849177

Availability

Published

6 Nov 2017

Reprinted

21 Nov 2022

Edition

First

Pages

272

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.55cm

Weight

310g

Overview

This guidebook offers a selection of 38 routes from simple day walks, high mountain scrambles to very demanding multi-day treks in the striking Sierra Nevada, the highest mountain range in mainland Spain. Easily accessible from Granada and Malaga, it is a world of soaring, snow-clad peaks and deep valleys, far removed from the crowded beaches of the Costa del Sol just two hours away.

The routes are spread across the national park, with attractive towns and villages such as Trevelez, Lanjaron, Hoya de la Mora and Cumbres Verdes serving as potential bases for a walking holiday. From more leisurely outings in the Cumbres Verde area to ascents of mainland Spain's highest summit, Mulhacen, there are routes to suit a range of abilities, although most require a reasonable degree of fitness, navigational skill and experience of high mountain terrain.

Whilst some of the routes are day or half-day walks, others take advantage of the region's network of mountain shelters or offer an opportunity to wild camp. Also included are three longer traverses: 'Los Tres Picos' (the Spanish Three Peaks - Veleta, Mulhacen and Alcazaba), 'Los Tres Miles' Integral (a multi-day trek covering all the major 3000m peaks in the range) and an overview of the 302km Sulayr GR240.

The walks can be enjoyed most of the year, however conditions may prove too hot at the peak of summer and extra care and equipment will be required in snow or ice: the descriptions assume summer conditions, but include additional notes for winter walking. The guide also includes advice on transport, bases and safety, a tick-list of the 3000m peaks and a Spanish-English glossary.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Route summary tables

Overview map

Mulhacén and Alcazaba overview map

Map key

Introduction

Plants and wildlife

Climate and conditions

Getting to the Sierra Nevada

Getting around

Accommodation and bases

Respecting the environment

Safety and rescue

Water sources

Weather resources

Planning and maps

Using this guide

Walks

Trevélez

Route 1 Ascent of Alcazaba via Cañada de Siete Lagunas

Route 2 Ascent of Mulhacén via Cañada de Siete Lagunas

Route 3 Round of the Río Juntillas and Trevélez valleys

Capileira

Route 4 Barranco de Poqueira circular

Route 5 Ascent of Mulhacén from Hoya del Portillo

Refugio Poqueira

Route 6 Ascent of Mulhacén from Refugio Poqueira

Route 7 The Caldera peaks

Route 8 Around Mulhacén via the Vasar and Siete Lagunas

Route 9 The Púlpitos

Western Alpujarras

Route 10 Pico del Tajo de los Machos and Cerrillo Redondo

Route 11 Ascent of Cerro del Caballo from the south

Route 12 Ascent of Cerro del Caballo via los Tres Mojones

Dílar valley

Route 13 Silleta de Padul

Route 14 Integral de los Alayos

Cumbres Verdes

Route 15 Boca de la Pesca

Route 16 Trevenque via Cuerda del Trevenque

Route 17 Circuit of Trevenque and Dílar valley

Route 18 The Cerro Huenes group

Route 19 Pico del Tesoro and Cerro del Cocón

Route 20 Trevenque direct

Ski area – Hoya de la Mora

Route 21 Veleta, Tajos de la Virgen and Lagunillas

Route 22 Veredón Superior and Cerro de los Machos

Route 23 Veredón Inferior, Veta Grande, northern flanks and lakes

Route 24 Across the mountains to Lanjarón via Refugio Elorrieta

Vereda de la Estrella/Genil valley

Route 25 Vereda de la Estrella, Refugio Cucaracha and Cueva Secreta

Route 26 Cortijos del Hornillo circular

Route 27 Ascent of Mulhacén via Cueva Secreta

Route 28 Round of the northern peaks via Peña Partida

Jérez del Marquesado and Refugio Postero Alto

Route 29 Ascent of Picón de Jérez and round of the Alhorí valley

Puerto de la Ragua

Route 30 The eastern peaks

Main ridge traverse and longer treks

Route 31 ‘Los Tres Miles’ Integral 3000m peaks

Route 32 ‘Los Tres Picos’ – Veleta, Mulhacén and Alcazaba

Route 33 The Sulayr GR240

High mountain scrambles

Route 34 Espolón de Alcazaba

Route 35 Traverse of Puntal de la Caldera

Route 36 Espolón de la Caldera

Route 37 Arista de las Campanitas

Route 38 North ridge of Tozal del Cartujo

Appendix A List of the 3000m peaks

Appendix B Accommodation

Appendix C Useful contacts

Appendix D Glossary

Appendix E Further reading

Maps

Planning and maps

Don’t expect the same level of accuracy in Spanish mapping that exists, for example, in the UK with Ordnance Survey maps. There are a variety of maps available that are relatively accurate, although you should be on the lookout for possible errors – especially with regard to dirt access roads. In addition, the names and altitudes of some peaks differ across the various maps.

The recommended and most accurate maps are listed below. In this guide, altitudes and nomenclature are standardised as per the Editorial Penibética maps.

Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada 1:40,000 (Editorial Penibética) Sierra Nevada – La Integral de los 3000m 1:25,000 (Editorial Piolet)

These can be bought from most major retailers such as Stanfords (www.stanfords.co.uk). The Penebética map is also available from www.articodis.com

Open Cycle Map

With the onset of mobile apps to help navigate your way around the world, the standard and accuracy of digital mapping has improved in recent years. Mention must be made of the open source mapping software Open Cycle Map (www.opencyclemap.org) – an online global map based on data from the OpenStreetMap project. This can be a useful resource to download and use on your phone, tablet, computer or indeed GPS.

Updates

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

Reviews

This guidebook is just packed with practical info and tips

I bought this guidebook to plan a winter traverse of the 'Los Tres Miles' integral traverse, not sure if I would find enough info... but this guidebook is just packed with practical info and tips and tricks for any season you plan on exploring the range! The book as well as the author have been an awesome help to us!

Arne M

Downloads

Walking and Trekking in the Sierra Nevada - GPX File

Richard Hartley

Richard Hartley has lived in the Sierra Nevada since 2002. He lives with his partner and beloved dogs just outside the spa town of Lanjarón, in the Alpujarras region south of the main mountain range. He is the owner of a local tour and guiding company who run mountaineering, snowshoeing and ski touring trips into the winter mountains of the Sierra Nevada and, further afield, organise regular expeditions to the Southern Patagonian Icecap.

View author profile