Guy Hunter-Watts

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.