Walking in Andalucia

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.

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Overview

This guidebook explores six of Andalucía's most beautiful Natural Parks - the Sierra Nevada regions of Aracena, Grazalema, Los Alcornocales and Gaucín, La Axarquía, the Alpujarras and Cazorla - along the great belt of the Cordillera Bética mountains. The 36 half- and full-day walks are mostly circular, ranging in length from 4 to 21km: some involve steep ascents and descents but all are within the capabilities of a reasonably fit walker.

The routes are based around the villages of Aracena, Grazalema, Jimena de la Frontera, Cazorla, Bubión and Cómpeta, all of which lie within protected nature reserves. Year-round walking is possible, but the area is best enjoyed March-June and September-October. Includes detailed route descriptions, clear mapping, plenty of background information about travel, food and drink, language and communications and 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.

Rising to almost 3500m, the Cordillera Bética offers some of the finest year-round walking in Europe, and wrapped within this mighty range are some of Spain's most beautiful villages and trails.

Table of Contents

Contents
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

Updates

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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.

Reviews

"Now, I’m not one to give glowing reviews if they are unwarranted. In this case that’s not a concern because these guides are really well presented and well written.

From what we’ve seen so far – your guides look to be the “bibles” of hikers. They look great, read great, they’re a great size, and contain loads of extra stuff that would benefit anyone. Even my other half was impressed and he’s seriously tough to please."

Spain Buddy

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