Walking holidays in Spain

Our region of Spain has been described as a walkers paradise and we certainly agree with this. Indeed we wouldn't be here if we did not consider this to be the case. To ensure that visitors to our mountains obtain the best possible experience we are delighted to offer the most varied and complete packages available in the region.

All our walking holidays in Spain are accompanied by an experienced guide from moderate guided walks, which explore the dramatic countryside and its history at a leisurely pace, to challenging hill walking. With over a 100 different walks many of our visitors return time and time again. On many of the weeks you can choose between two differing grade walks each day.

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Choosing a grade on our walking holidays in Spain:-

• Grade 2: Walking mainly on paths. Modest gradients with ascents up to 500 mts in a day. Up to 5 hours walking in a day. Being predominantly limestone some of our paths can be quite rough and stoney.
• Grade 3: Walking, both on and off paths, and occasionally scrambling*. Be prepared for steep ascents and descents. Ascent up to 1000m per day and up to 6 hours walking.
• Grade 3/4: As grade 3 with some longer days and some scrambling*. Steep ascents and descents up to 1500m per day ascent, and up to 7 hours per day walking.

* Scrambling means that hands as well as feet are used for ascent or descent. Walking boots are essential on all grade holidays to Quatretondeta.

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This region of Spain, located in the north west of the province of Alicante, is largely undiscovered by walkers and hikers due to the overwhelming predominance of the coastal tourism on the Costa Blanca and the reputation that it brings with it. Also the mountains of our region do not have a generic name even though the Alicante province is the most mountainous on mainland Spain. They are sometimes incorrectly known as the Costa Blanca Mountains although the locals refer to them as "la muntanya Alicantina" or simply the Alicante mountains.

These classic limestone mountains, although modest in height (up to 1558m), provide a wonderfully varied terrain for hikers/walkers and provide all the challenges of better known mountain ranges. Also located in this area are some classic rock climbing venues which are quickly gaining a reputation amongst the rock climbing fraternity throughout the world.

First time visitors to the region often express surprise at the lack of other walkers. We often walk all week without encountering another walker. So the feeling of wilderness still prevails today although we are never very far from "civilisation".

There is an impressive variety of scenery. Rugged peaks-narrow ravines- gorges-ridges and broad terraced valleys, dotted with small villages untouched by time as well as many remnants of its Moorish, Roman and Iberican past.During the spring wild flowers including many rare species and orchids abound. Bird life is plentiful with Golden eagles and other raptors often seen whilst walking and with luck Griffon vultures on their autumn migration. Late April and through June you will be hearing nightingales wherever you go, and if lucky catch sight of the illusive Golden Oriole.