itinerary for walking holiday

The best way to experience the beauty of Axarquia is by walking. The variety of scenery is remarkable and it is very easy to leave the rest of the world behind and enjoy the bird-song and the peace.

As we are such a small group, two to twelve family members, friends, or club, we can tailor this walking holiday to suit your wishes. Steve drives us to the start and Sheila guides the walk through the magnificent countryside of the National Park of the Sierras Almijara and Tejada. The distance covered and the time taken depend entirely on our guests and if anyone gets tired, we can simply ring Steve, who will come and collect us!

Our walks are all 'easy' to 'moderate' grade, making use of dirt tracks and good quality paths We offer five days of guided walks detailed below but these are simply suggestions, as you will choose how long or far you wish to walk. If you are confident you are fit, then Sheila will take you on more difficult walks, but if you prefer easy walks there are plenty of those also. Guests also choose when or if they would like a day trip (included in the cost of your holiday). You may wish to go to Granada and visit the magnificent palace of the Alhambra, or visit the attractive coastal resort of Nerja, shop in nearby Competa or simply relax.

We also provide airport transfer, at reasonable times

This is an introductory walk so that we can get to know one another and Sheila can judge which walks will be suitable for the rest of the holiday. For the first day of our walking holiday 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.

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)

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).

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 beautifully 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.

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.