This guidebook explores six of Andalucía's most beautiful Natural Parks - the Sierra Nevada regions of Aracena, Grazalema, Los Alcornocales and Gaucín, La Axarquía, the Alpujarras and Cazorla - along the great belt of the Cordillera Bética mountains. The 36 half- and full-day walks are mostly circular, ranging in length from 4 to 21km: some involve steep ascents and descents but all are within the capabilities of a reasonably fit walker. The routes are based around the villages of Aracena, Grazalema, Jimena de la Frontera, Cazorla, Bubión and Cómpeta, all of which lie within protected nature reserves. Year-round walking is possible, but the area is best enjoyed March-June and September-October. Includes detailed route descriptions, clear mapping, plenty of background information about travel, food and drink, language and communications and the author's recommendations for the best places to stay in or around southern Spain's most beautiful mountain villages, many of which date back to the Moorish period. Rising to almost 3500m, the Cordillera Bética offers some of the finest year-round walking in Europe, and wrapped within this mighty range are some of Spain's most beautiful villages and trails.

Table of Contents:
Contents Map Legend? Overview Map Introduction Aracena Regional Introduction 1. Aracena eastern circuit via Corteconcepción 2. Aracena western circuit via Linares 3. Alájar eastern circuit via Linares 4. Alájar western circuit via Castaño del Robledo 5. Almonaster circuit 6. Galoroza circuit via Castaño del Robledo Grazalema Regional Introduction 1. Benaoján Estación to Jimera de Libar 2. Montejaque circuit 3. Grazalema circuit via El Reloj & Simancón 4. Grazalema to Benaocáz 5. Grazalema northern circuit 6. Zahara de La Sierra circuit Los Alcornocales Regional Introduction 1. Jimena western circuit 2. Jimena northern circuit 3. La Sauceda to Pico del Aljibe 4. Casares circuit 5. Gaucín western circuit 6. Benarrabá circuit La Axarquía Regional Introduction 1. Maro to Frigiliana via El Camino del Imán 2. Frigiliana to El Fuerte 3. Cómpeta eastern circuit 4. Cómpeta northern circuit 5. Canillas de Albaida circuit 6. Sayalonga circuit via Corumbela Las Alpujarras Regional Introduction 1. Pampaneira circuit via Capileira & Bubión 2. Capileira circuit via the Poqueira Gorge 3. La Cebadilla High Acequias circuit 4. Bubión circuit via Junta de los Rios & Capilerilla 5. Ferreirola circuit via La Tahá 6. Ferreirola circuit via Busqusitar Cazorla Regional Introduction 1. Cazorla circuit via San Sebastian 2. Cazorla circuit via El Chorro 3. Cazorla circuit via El Gilillo 4. La Iruela circuit via Fuente del Oso 5. The Río Borosa gorge walk 6. Puente de Las Herrerias circuit via Poyos de la Mesa Appendices Appendix 1 Glossary Appendix 2 Summary of routes