Sierra Nevada winter walking holiday in Spain
It does not include: flights, airport transfers, one dinner, some refreshments
Description of Sierra Nevada winter walking holiday in Spain
This Sierra Nevada winter walking holiday in Spain immerses you in some of Andalucia’s most soul-stirring natural landscapes.
As part of a sociable small group you’ll explore picturesque little villages, almond orchards in full flower and the scenery for which Sierra Nevada hiking is so renowned: mountains, meadows, woodland, deep gorges and, for one day, the glorious coastal scenery of the ‘Costa Tropical’.
Depending on snowfall, you’ll also spend one memorable day snowshoeing in the mountains – all equipment and instruction is provided and first-timers need have no concerns, it’s no more physically demanding than hiking, and you’ll have the hang of it in 10 minutes.
Your host for the week is Chris Stewart, author of the bestselling ‘Driving Over Lemons’, who has lived in Alpujarra for over 30 years, and knows the region, and its people, amazingly well. Your group will also be joined by a succession of informative local guides, while the owner of your accommodation is also a keen walker. Between them, you’ll enjoy a wealth of information about life in the Sierra Nevada, its culture, wildlife and history, and you can expect friendly conversations with people in the area wherever you go.
This is not an especially demanding walking holiday – if you’re in reasonable fitness, and walk at home regularly, then you should be fine. A set of walking poles can always come in handy however, and you’ll want warm, layered clothing too for the Sierra Nevada in winter.
But while you certainly won’t be exhausting yourselves, walking at a relaxed pace throughout, you will definitely build up an appetite every day...
Mealtimes are bound to be a highlight of this Sierra Nevada hiking holiday: hearty breakfasts start the mornings off perfectly, with ham and cheese from the surrounding area, eggs from the nearby farm, honey from the local beekeeper. You’ll enjoy picnic lunches on the trail, your guides taking care to ensure no packaging is accidentally discarded in these unspoilt landscapes. And in the evenings, gourmet meals are prepared by your accommodation’s inhouse chef, a perfect opportunity to get to know your fellow walkers and hosts better, and learn more about the Sierra Nevada.
Every afternoon, after walking in the brisk winter air, hopefully under a bright sun, you’ll return to the charms of a 400-year old farmhouse, rescued from ruin by the owner, Anne, and now magnificently restored to one of the area’s finest guest houses. Underfloor heating in every room, a wood-burning stove and terraces with outstanding views, make this an extremely appealing place to stay in winter. It’s also a major employer in the village, so you can be sure that your stay is having a direct financial benefit to the local community.
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It does not include: flights, airport transfers, one dinner, some refreshments
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Reviews
3 Reviews of Sierra Nevada winter walking holiday in Spain
Reviewed on 05 Mar 2022 by Yvonne Hosker
Excellent as the standard of food and accommodation was a treat for me Read full reviewReviewed on 19 Feb 2022 by Ruth Anderson
Hiking was the most memorable part of the holiday Read full reviewReviewed on 24 Feb 2019 by Jennifer Taylor
The accommodation is a lovely place amidst magnificent scenery but the welcome from Anne and her team and attention to their guests' comfort was outstanding. Read full reviewResponsible Travel
Planet
Our casa is a 400-year-old historic building which has been converted to a guest house in the village of Ferreirola in the Alpujarra of Andalucia. In developing our business in the Alpujarra our first priority was to provide low-impact, sustainable and environmentally conscious tourism.Low impact tourism
Our activities are low impact: we accommodate groups of no more than 14 people. We organise walking holidays which do not negatively impact on the local environment. We always use designated footpaths for example, do not pick wildflowers, do not leave litter and do not cause any damage.
We also run a creative writing programme which does not impact negatively on the local environment.
Environmentally conscious tourism:
Water is a precious commodity in this area, which is prone to drought from time to time. We minimise water use with dual flush loos, showers rather than baths, and we have a drip system for our garden watering.
Energy saving: we use low-energy light bulbs throughout the house and our outside lights are on timers.
NO to plastic! We recycle our plastic waste. We regularly encourage our local shops and market traders not to use plastic bags, but to encourage shoppers to bring their own. We encourage our guests to fill their water bottles from a lnatural spring nearby rather than buying plastic bottles of water.
Recycling: As well as recycling our plastic, we also recycle our paper, cardboard and glass items.
Shopping: We buy produce and supplies locally and when possible, we buy organic food and non-polluting cleaning products.
People
Our activities are beneficial to both the local community and the environment.The local community: members of the local community participate in and benefit from our business. We are the major employer in our village (population 28), employing three local people at the house. We provide economic benefits to local businesses including bars, restaurants, shops, the local laundry and the local bus company, as well as employing the services of local people from the building industry including plumbers, electricians, carpenters and builders.
Our premises: we restored a historic building that had fallen into ruin with great care and sensitivity, rather than bulldozing the site and erecting new buildings. The part of the Alpujarra where we are located is a conservation area so we maintained the traditional building style and used traditional materials such as chestnut beams and launa for the roof.
Protecting the local environment: We are fortunate to be located in a "Parque Natural" conservation area. However, it is also an area which has suffered and continues to experience minimal economic development. Through our business we are demonstrating that sustainable tourism brings significant economic benefit to the area, and we argue that for tourism to flourish here, the unique rural environment that is the Alpujarra's greatest asset must be preserved and protected.
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