Walking in Andalucia

Walking in Andalucia - this is the second largest autonomous region in Spain and 50% of this landmass is mountainous. This means there is some fantastic countryside for just waiting to be explored.

One-third of the area is over 600 metres high and nearly 20% of that are designated natural parks. Andalucia has 24 natural parks, 2 national parks and other protected areas within its boundaries.

Natural Parks -

“are natural areas, little changed by exploitation or human occupation that,
by reason of the beauty of their landscape, the representativeness of their ecosystems or the singularity of their flora, of their fauna, or their geomorphological formations, possess ecological, aesthetic, educational and scientific merits whose conservation deserves preferential attention.”

For some superb walking in Andalucia try some of the following Natural Parks and National Parks.


Almeria

Sierra de Maria-Los Velez
Cabo de Gata-Níjar

Cadiz

Sierra de Grazalema
Los Alcornocales
El Estrecho
La Breña y Marismas de Barbate
Bahia de Cadiz

Cordoba

Sierra de Hornachuelos
Sierra de Cardeña y Montoro
Sierra Subbética

Granada

Sierra de Baza
Sierra de Castril
Sierra Nevada
Sierra de Huétor

Jaen

Sierra de Andújar
Despeñaperros
Sierra Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas
Sierra Mágina

Huelva

Doñana National Park
Doñana Natural Park
Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche

Malaga

El Chorro
El Torcal
Montes de Málaga
Sierra de las Nieves

Sevilla

Sierra Norte de Sevilla
Sierras de Tejeda
Almijara y Alhama

For strenuous walking the peaks of Mulhacen and Veleta in The Alpujarras, the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada in Granada offer challenging walking with their peaks reaching over 3,400 metres.

The natural park of Los Alcornocales is a working cork forest that covers 167.767 hectares from the Sierra de Grazelema to the coast at Tarifa.

The Sierra de Cazorla, Spain’s largest natural area boasts over 2,170 different plant species and is a natural refuge for 280 animal species.

There are now many walking companies in Andalucia that offer both independant, self-guided walks and guided walks, with so much choice it’s often best to choose your destination first and then find a walking holiday company that works in that area.

The Via Verde is an inciative that has opened up many dis-used railway lines for walking and cycling. See the Via Verde de Aceite, GR7 route through Andalucia or the Via de la Plata to Santiago de Compostela.

The area of Axarquia is popular with walkers, see walking holidays in the area. Or my review of the Walking in Andalucia guidebook with 36 different length walks in six of the natural parks.

Of course another alternative is to rent a self-catering house or casa rural and be free to walk from the doorstep in whichever direction you wish.

province, the land of olive oil where you can leave the front door and walk in the olive groves.

Don't forget one of the best times for a walking in Andalucia is in spring when the wildflowers and orchids are at their most beautiful.

For a list of companies that provide guided and self-guided walking in Andalucia see this list.