General Information

Duration:

7 Days

Location Start:

You decide

Location Finish:

5 or 6 hours later

Phone:

0034952512684

Payment Types:

Credit/Debit Cards, Paypal, Travellers Cheque, Payment Transfer

We Speak:

English

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 -The walk of the bountiful valley For our first day we will begin with a relatively easy circular walk of about 10 kms. Steve collects us about 9am and drives us to the village of Sayalonga to start the walk We begin to descend, passing beneath the cemetery on a concrete track, dropping down through fertile groves of fruit trees. The track meets the river(1.5 kms), runs alongside it for a short distance and then crosses over a narrow bridge with railings. We continue along with the river to our right past two very grand houses. The track climbs through more lush well irrigated terraces.

The track soon heads directly away from the river up a small side valley, climbing steeply. We pass some bamboo and then pass between a cluster of farm buildings. One of the farm houses to the right has secaderos (drying beds).We continue climbing and Competa is soon visible to the right and soon Corumbela comes into view. We pass several small farms and cannot escape the smell of the goats! The track descends slightly (3 kms), passes over a gulley and then passes Las tres Fuentes (the three fountains), a lovely spot to rest for a while.After a short distance we hit the tarmac road which by passes Corumbela.

The village bar Cantero, is a good place for a cool drink.(5kms) Refreshed we continue on a track which passes by a farm where you can buy wine. We reach a fork where there are fantastic views down to the sea. We follow the ridge and soon see Sayalonga on the other side of the valley.

The track descends sharply until we reach the river (ford), which we cross, and follow a concreted road steeply uphill. Shortly after passing a pylon we come to a white building to the left of the track, housing pigs. Immediately before this building we branch left and climb steeply up a stoney path which runs along a metal fence and then between two metal fences. It soon widens and meets with a concreted section of track which brings us to the first houses in the village. Steve meets us at the top of the village (10 kms) and takes us to a lovely restaurant for a late lunch. Afterwards we may visit Sayalonga's famous round cemetery.

Day 2

Day 2 A walk around Daimalos This is a circular walk of about 25 kms around the village of Daimalos. Sheila comes to collect the walkers at around 8.30 in the morning because we plan to finish the walk with a 40 min drive to a beautiful restaurant with amazing views over Lake Vinuela.

We start the walk by climbing (quite steeply) to the ridge above Daimalos. (1 km)Our reward for the climb are fantastic views of La Maroma (2065 ms) and the coast. The track of packed earth is easy to walk on and we continue along its gentle ups and down, through olives, vines and almonds until we turn right. (4 kms)Now the track descends at times quite sharply until we reach the river.(5kms) This is an easy peaceful walk with lots of birds, butterflies and masses of wild flowers in Spring. We reach a tarmac road where we turn left (6.25 kms)and climb until we meet a track at the top of the hill where we turn left.(7.5 kms) We contine on this track which again has gentle ups and downs, and fantastic views of mountains, sea and the while villages of Competa and Sayalonga . (10.5 kms.) Then we begin the climb to the ruins of Castle Bentomiz ,one of the last strongholds of the moors.(14 kms). The ruins themselves are distinctly unimpressive but the views are incredible and this is a wonderful spot to have a rest.

Our climb down is steep at first, but then more gradual until we arrive at a tarmac road where we turn left into Arenas. (19.3 kms) Here we walk past the cemetery, turning right on Calle descandero, which begins as a tarmac road which then becomes a dirt tract . The track climbs, at times quite steeply, until we are back on the ridge above Daimalos. We turn right and follow the steep descent back into the village.(24.5 kms)

Here we meet up with Steve who drives us to the beautiful restaurant, El Cantueso with it's stunning views of Lake Vinuela, for lunch.

Day 3

Day 3 The watchtower Steve collects us at 9 am and drives us to Competa where we begin our walk. We climb gradually up a good track through fir trees and the remains of a forest fire. There are fabulous views of the coast, mountains and Competa. After 3.5 kms we drag ourselves away from a stunning viewing point and turn left to contue our climb, at times quite steeply until we are directly below a look out station for forest fires (5.2 kms) The track is shingle/stones so can be a bit slippery. We are very high so the views are amazing particularly of El Lucero (1,700 ms) and La Maroma (2,065 ms). The track levels off and we continue for another couple kms along gentle ups and downs, enjoying the staggering views until we start to descend through lovely fragrances of rosemary and sage. The track is steep in parts and quite slippery on loose stones. Shortly after passing some behives we arrive at a wide good quality track, where we turn left. A very gradual descent takes us to a tarmac road (13.25 kms). The walk becomes flat and easy taking us through cultivated land of olives, almonds, oranges etc. until we arrive at the Ermita at the top of the village of Canillas de Albaida We stop for lunch at a lovely restaurant in the main square. (15.5 kms. After lunch and a short tour round this picturesque village we continue our walk by following a tarmac road which drops steeply to the river Cajula taking us past the chapel of San Anton and an ancient Roman bridge. ( 16kms). Next we continue along the tarmac road which now climbs quite steeply until we reach the track of Los Eriales (18.6 kms) and we continue along this good quality track with beautiful views on all sides until we reach the steep climb down the ridge to Daimalos and home (24kms).

Day 4

Day 4 Fabrica de la luz (water mill) Again Steve collects us at 9 am and drops us off in Competa at the start of the track into the National Park. As we did yesterday we climb through superb views for about 3.5 kms, until we reach the viewing point where we rest and admire the breathtaking views. Today we carry straight on along the main track, which now is easy and flat until we reach the hotel Casa Mina, where we break for a leisurely drink in beautiful surroundings. (5.6 kms) After our rest we turn right down a narrower track, which at times is steep and slippery. Our descent takes us past giant eucalyptus trees and old carobs which make a lovely shaded walk when the weather is hot. At about 11 kms we reach the river and the "fabrica de la luz", which is in the process of being restored and made into a picnic area. The water is beatifully clear and great fun to paddle in and makes a fabulous place to rest and enjoy the scenery. We contine along the track which is now flat and follows the river until we meet a tarmac road (14.5 kms), where we turn left and walk for another half a km to a bar the Pavo Real, where we meet Steve who drives us into Competa for lunch at a lovely restaurant. After lunch we have a brief tour round Competa a fascinating small white town and then drive back to Daimalos.

Day 5

Day 5 Competa to Frigiliana Again Steve collects us at 9 am and drives us to Competa, but today he drives us to the viewing point for the start of our walk. We walk again to the hotel Casa Mina, where we can break if desired and enjoy the beautiful surroundings (2 kms). Next we continue straight ahead along the track which is of good quality and offers fabulous views of the mountains and the coast. If we are lucky we might see wild goats (Ibis) and eagles, but we will be certain to see lizards and partridges. The track consist of gentle ups and downs until we reach a beautiful pond and waterfall which make a very attractive spot to sit and rest for a while. (11.5 kms) If we are not too noisy we might see an Ibis, as they come for the water. The track continues winding round the valley until we meet a junction, which also makes an ideal place for a break. (16 kms). Then we make a gradual descent until we meet a ruin. (18 kms). The track deteriorates a little and we meet a few steeper ups and downs until we can see the village of Acebuchal to our left. (21.5 kms). We continue straight on until we meet a tarmac road where Steve will be waiting to take us to a restaurant with incredible views and delicious locally grown food. After lunch there is a brief tour of Frigiliana ,which has won several prizes for being the most beautiful village in Andalucia and then home to Daimalos. View from viewing point Another view Frigiliana The track The coast Site Map

Day 6

A rest day where we take you on a tour such as our trip to Granada Granada was first settled by native tribes in the prehistoric period, and was known as Ilbyr. When the Romans colonised southern Spain, they built their own city here and called it Illibris. The Arabs, invading the peninsula in the 8th century, gave it its current name of Granada. It was the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians in 1492, at the hands of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband Ferdinand of Aragon.

One of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C. This mighty compound of buildings – including the summer palace called Generalife, with its fountains and gardens - stands at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada.The Mulhacen (above left) is named after Muley Abul Hassan, the penultimate Muslim King of Granada in the 15th century, who according to legend was buried on the summit of the mountain.

At the centre of the Alhambra stands the massive Palace of Charles V, an outstanding example of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Other major Christian monuments found in the city are the Cathedral, including the Royal Chapel where Isabel and Ferdinand lie buried, the Monastery of La Cartuja and many churches built by Moorish craftsmen after the Reconquest, in Granada's unique "mudéjar" style

Day 7

We take you to the airport for your return home.