Guy Hunter-Watts

Sun-bleached hills, silent sierras and whitewashed villages define the GR7/E4 European hiking trail through Andalucía, one of Europe’s most rewarding long-distance treks. Stretching from the windswept Strait of Gibraltar to the mountains of eastern Granada, this remarkable route crosses a vast sweep of southern Spain, linking cork forests, olive groves, fertile valleys and high mountain landscapes. Away from the busy coastal resorts, it reveals a quieter Andalucía shaped by tradition, history and dramatic natural beauty. Suitable for experienced long-distance walkers with good fitness, the Andalucían GR7 offers a challenging but non-technical journey that can be completed in sections or as a continuous crossing. It runs for 738km via the northern variant or 770km via the southern variant, beginning in Tarifa and finishing in Puebla de Don Fadrique, crossing the provinces of Cádiz, Málaga, Córdoba, Jaén and Granada. Walkers can choose between routes through remote sierras, historic towns and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, creating a flexible and deeply rewarding Pyrenean-scale adventure in southern Spain. The northern and southern variants of the GR7 route are described, and presented in 32 stages for the northern variant and 34 stages for the southern option, with distances ranging from 9 to 55km, allowing walkers to complete the trail in 34 to 42 days. Handy route summary tables for the GR7 help walkers plan daily distances, elevation changes and stage logistics for either the northern or southern variant. Detailed 1:50,000 maps and stage descriptions, with GPX files available to download for GPS navigation across mountain paths, rural tracks and ancient mule trails. Includes practical information on GR7 accommodation, refreshments and transport, offering overnight stops in traditional villages and historic towns that showcase local culture and cuisine. Background notes within the guidebook provide insight into the history, wildlife and landscapes along the GR7, helping walkers appreciate the natural diversity and cultural heritage of Andalucía. Suggestions for full and shorter itineraries focusing on highlights such as the Serranía de Ronda, the Sierra Nevada and the remote sierras of eastern Andalucía, offering flexibility for different trip lengths and experience levels. Plan your Andalucian GR7 adventure with confidence, exploring Andalucía’s stunning landscapes and cultural highlights while following a well-signposted and clearly mapped long-distance route.

Just a few hundred metres from Andalucia's famous beaches, the mountains of the Subbetica range rise steeply from the coast to offer some of the finest walking in southern Europe. From the windswept Atlantic shores around Tarifa and Cape Trafalgar to the rugged limestone ridges above Marbella, the dramatic gorges of the Costa Tropical and the volcanic landscapes of the Cabo de Gata near Almeria, this is a coastline that rewards those who look beyond the sunlounger. With routes easily reached from Malaga airport and walkable year-round thanks to Andalucia's mild coastal climate, this second edition Cicerone guidebook by Guy Hunter-Watts and Mike Yeatman covers 40 graded coastal walks from 6 to 20km (4 to 12 miles), suited to regular walkers of all experience levels. Route descriptions are paired with 1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files, with refreshment and access information provided for every walk. 40 graded walks across four coastal areas, covering the Costa de la Luz, Costa del Sol, Costa Tropical and Costa de Almeria, with nearly all routes falling within designated natural parks and reserves and walks graded easy to medium/difficultThe Costa de la Luz from Vejer to Tarifa is covered in full, with routes along the Atlantic cliffs, the marshes of Barbate, Cape Trafalgar and the gorges of the Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, including the celebrated Gibraltar circuit via the Mediterranean StepsWalks in The Sierra de las Nieves and Sierra Bermeja above Marbella and Estepona are described with detailed route notes for the ascent of La Concha and walks through the rare Spanish fir forests of El Pinsapar, within easy reach of the Costa del Sol resortsThe Cabo de Gata, Europe's driest region and a UNESCO biosphere reserve near Almeria, is covered with six fully described walks through volcanic coastal landscapes, remote coves and dramatic sea cliffs found nowhere else on the Spanish mainland1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files are provided for every walk, with suggested walking bases, refreshment stops and access information for each of the seven coastal regions throughout A year-round walking destination, the Andalucian coast combines reliable sunshine, extraordinary natural diversity and easy access from Malaga airport. This guidebook reveals the side of southern Spain that most beach holidaymakers miss out on.