Walking Holidays in Spain

By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe
Who have walked and gardened in Spain for 25 years.

Walking In Spain

One of the main reasons to buy a property in Spain for holidays or permanent residency is the extent and quality of the walking possibilities almost wherever one lives either from the gate or after a short car, bus or train journey.

If you study a map of Spain you will realise that Spain is ringed by mountain ranges with islands of mountainous areas within the central plain and indeed it is on average the second highest country in Europe only beaten by Switzerland. So think beyond the tourist packed beach areas when looking at property possibilities..

With the Mediterranean climate it is possible to walk during most days of the year without getting wet and the range of routes are endless. In the past decade many local, regional and coast to coast walks have been way marked and the availability of maps and books increases annually.

Most way marking is on the following basis.

• Short local walks - green and white flashes
• Longer local walks – yellow and white flashes.
• Longer regional /trans regional walks – Red and white flashes.

Spain has a national association of walking and mountaineering clubs which provide inexpensive accident insurance for serious walkers. Affiliated clubs are generally Spanish but a good way of meeting Spaniards and learning the language. These days you will also find expatriate walking clubs in most popular residential areas and for all ages. We have lead walks including ten year old grandchildren to a centenarian regular walker.

To wet your appetite we describe some of our favourite areas for walking starting from the southern tip of Spain and moving north to the Pyrenees that separate Spain from France.

Andalusia

• Beach and dune walking is possible from Tarifa westwards along the Atlantic coastline and the area experiences particularly early springs. As one walks one can see the mountains of North Africa and a gem to walk to and around is the excavated Roman town of Balonia.

• This site is also the end of a new 21 day coast to coast walk that starts at the small Mediterranean beach resort of Maro north of Malaga. We have just walked the first seven days over Christmas and plan to go back and complete the rest later in the year.

• To the north west of Granada lie the chain of small white villages of the Alpujarras foothills of the Sierra Navada. Each has a number of local easy and moderate walks and access to the more strenuous high Sierra Nevada walks once the winter snows have gone. Many of the villages are also linked by two interesting and not difficult long distance paths the GR7 and GR142.

• On the Almeria coast is the Cabo de Gata National Park with easy to moderate walking along coastal trails between small sandy coves and through a desert landscape. Walks are also possible an hour inland in mountains that were once mined for gold.

Central Spain

• The Jerte Valley which is the cherry capital of Spain offers exceptional walking in and from the valley especially in the spring and into the Gredos mountain range in the summer and autumn.

• Cuenca offers good walking from the town itself and from most of the small villages to the north.

• Mountain ranges run across the North of Madrid and provide good weekend walking for city folk as well as small villages to live in and commute.

Alicante

The Alicante Costa Blanca peaks and valleys inland from Benidorm offer many moderate and tough walks around and up to some of the highest and toughest peaks of the Spanish Coastal mountain ranges. The most famous walks are probably the Bernia Circuit, the Fleix 5000 steps Moorish trail, and the more strenuous climbs to the summits of Puig Campana, Aitana and Ponoc.

The hidden valleys of the Valencian Safor

Inland from Gandia there is excellent unspoilt and uncrowded easy to moderate walking from and between the historic villages of the Safor and just beyond. There are also several strenuous walks including the possibility of completing the hundred kilometre 5 Monasteries trek. For the less adventurous there are many kilometres of walking on wide beaches. Inland La Drova 400 metres up in the mountains is a good area to live and walk.

Northern Spain

• The Picos de Europa is a gem for generally tough walking for a day at a time or for one or two week treks. If you fancy Scottish weather in Spain you will find expatriates already living in the small mountain communities.

The traditional month long walk to Santiago de Compostelo starts from the Pyrenean village of Roncesvalles. A great route if you like walking a busy route.

• If you prefer a quieter wilderness walk the GR11 with a GR 15 middle alternative to avoid snow is a good alternative in stages or as a seven week trek. We did the latter to celebrate Dick’s retirement.

• If you reside on the Costa Brava you will find interesting coastal walks and the Pyrenean foothills are easy to drive to.

Thinking of where to live

So when you are thinking of whether to invest in a Spanish property do add the walking dimension to your decision analysis. After gardening walking is probably the most popular retirement activity here in Spain even ahead of golf. Two reasons are the health benefits and secondly it’s the best way of seeing and understanding rural Spain.

Perhaps we’ll meet you on a mountain path.

© Clodagh and Dick Handscombe www.gardeninginspain.com 2011.