Lecrin Valley Guided Walking Holidays and Tours
The Lecrin valley is a cluster of beautiful towns and villages south of Granada. It is bordered to the east by the mighty Sierra Nevada and to the south by the Sierra de Almijara. The area has a surprisingly great variety of walking and hiking, known only to small bands of local enthusiasts.
Our series of day walks aim to cover the best the valley has to offer
by both linear and circular routes. Day trips or week long walking holidays
can be arranged. Accommodation is in the valley itself in one of the excellent
holiday properties available through Spanish
Holiday Cottages.
Forests and mountainsides above Albuñuelas
The long and at times complicated terrain south and west of the village
of Albuñuelas is accessed via dirt and forest tracks. The area is very
varied with lush forests competing with arid semi desert like dry valleys
(ramblas). Here, there are few recognised paths and the terrain at times
feels like you are in a natural maze.There are some peaks to be ascended though, the majority between 1200 and 1400m, with some spectacular vistas out towards Otivar, Almuñecar and the sea. To the north east the Sierra Nevada are always a welcome backdrop. Great for those who prefer quiet, unspoilt walking in interesting and spectacular surroundings. The area is rich in bird life and makes for a good birdwatching destination.
The GR7 between Albuñuelas and Lanjaron
We have been devotees of the GR7 path through the Alpujarras for many years, and the path through the Lecrin valley has been somewhat unfairly neglected. Yet the walking is as good and possibly even quieter and more rural that it's better known neighbour to the east.
We cover the section of the path through the following villages:
Jayena - Albuñuelas - Saleres - Restábal - Melegís - Murchas - Lecrín - Nigüelas - Lanjarón
Silleta del Padul and Alayos de Dilar area
The town of Padul is at the northern end of the Lecrin. From here we
can access, via dirt tracks, the lovely ridge wandering on the Silleta
del Paul (1519m) and the Silleta del Manar, with their dramatic views
east to the main mass of the Sierra Nevada. The interesting and arid
peaks of the Alayos de Dilar ridge can also be reached from here.
The terrain is rough and rocky, but there are some good tracks up the
actual peaks themselves, including reigning peak of the Corazon de la
Sandia (1877m). Los Gallos (1907m) is a fine multi-summited peak just
off the Alayos ridge and worth the pathless additional effort involved
in reaching its summit.
Above Durcal and Nigüelas
The
lower slopes of the Sierra Nevada bound the Lecrin valley to the east.
NE of the town of Durcal lies access to the Collado de los Volaores
and hence onwards to the rocky peak of Las Buitreras (1645m).
The main gorge above Nigüelas is an interesting excursion, as is the high track from the Cortijo de Echevarria to the Cerro de Caballo (3009m) via the ridge of Loma de los Tres Mojones. The acequia de los Hechos gives an easier day, traversing high above the surrounding valleys.
You may also be interested in?
Trekking Sierra Nevada - 5 day trekking. A traverse of the main ridgeline covering all the major peaks
Walking Sierra Nevada - walk the high peaks from valley bases
Walking Alpujarra - linking villages on the GR7 long distance paths
