Walking in Andalucia

This guidebook explores six of Andalucia's most beautiful Natural Parks, the Sierra Nevada regions of Aracena, Grazalema, Los Alcornocales and the Gaucin, La Axarquia, the Alpujarras and Cazorla, along the great belt of the Cordillera Betica mountains. The thirty-six half-day and full-day mostly circular walks are evenly split within these six regions, and range in length from 4 to 21km. Walks are graded and some involve steep ascents and descents, all within the capabilities of a reasonably fit walker.

The vast mountain range of the Cordillera Betica offers some of the finest year-round walking in Europe. Towering above the Mediterranean, the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada rise to almost 3500m, mainland Spain's highest mountains. And wrapped within this mighty belt of mountains are some of Spain's most beautiful villages and mountain trails.

The routes are based in and around the villages of Aracena, Grazalema, Jimena de la Frontera, Cazorla, Bubion and Competa, all of which lie within protected Nature Reserves. They are best enjoyed mid-September through to mid-June, though mid-summer walks can still be comfortably undertaken in the higher Natural Parks of Cazorla and La Alpujarra. Alongside detailed route descriptions and clear mapping, the guidebook includes notes on the history of Andalucia and its plants and wildlife, practical information about travel, food and drink, language and communications and recommendations for the best places to stay.