Whether you have come for walking, mountain-biking, bird-watching, horse riding, caving or simply wish to go sightseeing on four wheels, the Serrania de Ronda and the surrounding Natural Parks offer some of the finest scenery and outdoor activities to be found anywhere in Spain.
The hotel can organise all types of activity for you and provide an abundance of advice whatever your chosen pursuit. If you here to walk this is definitely the place to stay – the owner is a keen hiker and has a detailed knowledge of the myriad of paths, many of them virtually unknown, which criss-cross the serrania.
The area of the Serrania de Ronda and the two national parks of Sierra de Grazalema and Sierra de las Nieves, offer some dramatic and varied hiking opportunities. Between the craggy ridges of the Sierras de Libar and Grazalema and the more rounded slopes of the Sierra de las Nieves, lie the steep river valleys of the rivers Genal and Guardiaro. With the added attraction of the pueblos blancos (white villages), which offer scenic settings, historic interest and a source of needed refreshment, the area offers a remarkable wealth and variety of experience to both the casual walker and the serious hiker. Many of the routes are right on the doorstep of the hotel, those more distant are within a half-hour drive.
The routes are varied, sometimes with ascents to the highest peaks of the region, offering exceptional views over the surrounding sierras and down to the coast with the rock of Gibraltar and the mountains of North Africa often visible.
Others explore the steep river valleys and visit some of the pueblos blancos. They can be both on and off-path, often following the vaguely-defined routes of ancient veredas (rights of way) that have been used for centuries by shepherds and smugglers alike!
Be warned, however, that walking in Spain is generally not as straightforward as in other European countries. Footpaths are rarely marked on the ground and, where they are, the location of the waymarking is often an aid to getting lost. The maps, while topographically correct, do not accurately reflect the presence (or otherwise!) of footpaths. Many attempts to follow an apparent route therefore ends in frustration, while better routes are completely overlooked. Our expertise is therefore invaluable in helping to find your way around, and we offer a few alternatives to set you on your way…
Route Notes. For the independent walker, in addition to the loan of maps, we keep a file of recommended walks, with route notes to help you find the way.
GPS. We will lend you a GPS as well – with our recommended routes pre-defined on the GPS. Even if you have never used one it is very simple to learn the basics and it is an invaluable aid – particularly when trying to follow a path that is not marked on the map or waymarked on the ground!
Organised Walking. We will organise day trips for you – including the route notes, GPS, packed lunches and transportation to/from the ends of the walk (avoiding always having to do circular routes). There is a small charge for this (usually 20 euros per person).
For a larger group (4 or more persons) we can organise guided hiking trips, either on a daily or a weekly basis. Normally these should be arranged in advance – to sort out the logistics and agree an appropriate level of difficulty for the group – but it is usually possible to arrange a few days accompanied walking when you are here if you wish to mix it up a bit over your stay.
