| Walking in Spain. Walking holidays in Spain |
| WALKING HOLIDAYS IN THE SPANISH COUNTRYSIDE |
| Walks in SpainEnjoy a pleasant stroll in good company or a tough hillside challenge all in the wonderful Spanish sunshine and beautiful Spanish landscape. walks and strolls in Spain. Spanish walks. Northern Spain: 10 Circular Walks Around the Picos De Europa (Black Bee Walking Guides) [Paperback] Peter Ward (Author), Trish Myers (Author), Terence Keogh (Author) Spain's best places to walk. Walking holidays in Spain. Entertainment in Spain. Walks in Spain have a selection of holidays to suit people of all ages and fitness levels. Our holidays range from the all-inclusive to the more independent value holidays, to the combination breaks, however the one thing they all have in common is the care and attention to detail that has gone in to planning, what we are sure you will find to be, a very special holiday.http://www.walksinspain.com/ Walking in Andalucia: The Best Walks in Southern Spain's Natural Parks (Santana Guides) [Paperback] Guy Hunter-Watts (Author) Off the Road: A Modern Day Walk Down the Pilgrim's Route into Spain [Paperback] Jack Hitt (Author) Product Description When Jack Hitt set out to walk the 500 miles from France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, he submitted to the rigorous traditions of Europe's oldest form of packaged tour, a pilgrimage that has been walked by millions in the history of Christendom. Off the Road is an unforgettable exploration of the sites that people believe God once touched: the strange fortress said to contain the real secret Adam learned when he bit into the apple; the sites associated with the murderous monks known as the Knights Templar; and the places housing relics ranging from a vial of the Virgin Mary's milk to a sheet of Saint Bartholomew's skin. Along the way, Jack Hitt finds himself persevering by day and bunking down by night with an unlikely and colorful cast of fellow pilgrims -- a Flemish film crew, a drunken gypsy, a draconian Belgian air force officer, a man who speaks no languages, a one-legged pilgrim, and a Welsh family with a mule. In the day-to-day grind of walking under a hot Spanish sun, Jack Hitt and his cohorts not only find occasional good meals and dry shelter but they also stumble upon some fresh ideas about old-time zealotry and modern belief. Off the Road is an engaging and witty travel memoir of an offbeat journey through history that turns into a provocative rethinking of the past. About the Author Jack Hitt is a contributing writer for Harper's and GQ. He also writes for The New York Times Magazine, Outside, and Mother Jones, and contributes frequently to public radio's This American Life A Day In Doñana: A Guide to Popular Parts of Doñana National Park, Spain [Illustrated] [Spiral-bound] Martin Jacoby (Author The Rough Guide to Andalucia [Paperback] Costa Blanca Walks: Vol 1 West: West v. 1 (Cicerone Guide) [Paperback] Bob Stansfield (Author) Way of St James - Spain: Pyrenees-Santiago-Finisterre: Camino De Santiago - Pyrenees-Santiago-Finesterre: Camino De Santiago No. 1 (Cicerone International Walking) [Paperback] Alison Raju (Author) Product Description An essential guidebook for anyone planning to walk the Way of St James. The 778km Pilgrim Road from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the foothills of the Pyrenees on the French side to Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain and finally to the 'end of the earth' at Finisterre on the Galician coast. A companion volume by the same author, The Way of St James (Le Puy to the Pyrenees), describes the French section of the route through to the Pyrenees. As well as giving directions for walking the route, the book also provides information on places to visit along the way, the history of the pilgrimage and the availability of practical facilities such as shops, bars, restaurants and accommodation. Unlike existing guides (in any language) this one contains: details of the walker's continuation from Santiago to Finisterre (75km) and a comprehensive listing of St James' and other pilgrim references along the way (as an Appendix). It also contains a list of suggestions for further reading, a glossary of geographical and other useful terms, and a series of sketch maps covering the entire route to help the user in planning his or her journey. About the Author Alison Raju is a former teacher of French, German and Spanish to adults and is the author of three other guides published by Cicerone Press: Way of Saint James (Camino de Santiago): Pyrenees - Santiago - Finisterre, V�a de la Plata (Seville to Santiago) and The Pilgrim Road to Nidaros (Way of St. Olav): Oslo - Trondheim.
A number of tour operators can organise routes, provide maps, a good meal and a comfy place to rest your head each night (Inntravel and Alternative Majorca among them). Days are spent negotiating hilly and rocky valleys dotted with aged, twisted olive trees, groves of almond trees and the odd stone-walled house. The hillsides are dotted with yellow broom and the scent of rosemary rises underfoot. Silence reigns, apart from the occasional goat bell tinkle and snatch of birdsong. The mountains overlook Mallorca's eastern coast, so stunning views of the azure sea from steep-sided terraces are par for the course. Walking is hard work, but farmhouses and bars along the way can replenish your energy with cool, juicy oranges, slices of coca de verdura (a crisp bread topped with seasonal vegetables) or a hearty plate of tumbet - a ratatouille made with potatoes, unique to Mallorcan peasant cuisine. Taxi between different trails (buses run between April and October) or go for the long haul - either way, make sure your route takes in Chopin's beloved Valldemossa, the village of Deia where Robert Graves lived and is now buried, and the Monastery of Lluc, over 700 years old and the site of numerous appearances by the Virgin Mary. Basing yourself in Soller (which built its fortunes on the citrus groves all around) is a good idea. The best time to walk is between October and May when the heat is not too intense. The almond blossom comes in January while the citrus blossoms arrive in February and March, bathing the hillsides with delicious smells. Walking in October in Axarquia - Southern Spain The weather is cooling down, but temperatures in the upper twenties and blue skies make this a very attractive time of year. It does generally rain in October but the ground and reservoirs need it after the heat of the summer. However we rarely get that awful English drizzle. Instead the heavens open and there is an absolute deluge for a few hours, but then the sun comes out again and every where is transformed. On mornings when we are not busy I try to walk a 7km circuit, down to Arenas, up a steep climb to the ridge with its stunning views of La Maroma and the sea and then down the ridge to the village of Daimalos, where we are lucky enough to live. Temperatures in the upper twenties I find a little too hot for walking, but an 8 am start means I can walk before it gets too hot and start my walk watching the sun rise above the mountains and glisten off the sea. This morning it was quite cool as I set off in my sleeveless vest and shorts, but I soon warmed up as I walk at a good speed since I am doing this to keep fit, as well as enjoy the scenery. It was quite hazy and La Maroma which rises to 2065ms was swathed in white clouds and I couldn’t see the sea at all. However the mountain was quite impressive with lovely gleaming patches where the sun broke through the mists. Half way along the ridge there is a farm house which is quite close to the track and I missed my usual greeting with the lady who lives there. The weather must be getting cooler, as she has stopped watering the track to limit the amount of dust getting into her house. Autumn here is very different to the “season of mellow fruitfulness” in England, although I found some shiny conkers which reminded me of my childhood. I don’t know if Spanish children play conkers. The almond trees have shed most of their leaves and those in the sun look wintry and could be dead they are so barren. However those sheltered from the sun still have a few yellow leaves and appear more autumnal. The olive trees seem even more dull grey green than usual, but from close up the colour is improved by the light fresh green of the fruits. The dwarf vines which grow in Axarquia have very recently been harvested and grapes can still be seen stacked up in crates by the farms or laid out to dry on the secaderos (drying beds) as they turn into raisins. I doubt I will ever forget our first autumn in Daimalos, when I was woken by a heavily laden mule clomping right alongside our house on his way to the secaderos. The dwarf vines are only just beginning to turn brown and provide welcome patches of green dotted among the olive and almond trees. The rain we usually get in October was early this year and we had some torrential downpours in the end of September and these have created massive ruts in the tracks and make walking a little more difficult. It is amazing how fast a relatively small amount of water can begin revitalising the countryside. Today I came across masses of the lovely crawling bindweed with its huge purple/blue flowers which flourish in Axarquia. There are pretty yellow, white and pink large plants, which grow everywhere and are simply weeds to the Spanish, are also appearing in large quantities and I was surprised to find some lavender. Yellow ragwort is growing in huge clumps and so the land which in August looked dry and barren has already quite a lot of colour. We have even more colour in our garden provided by purple, red and yellow bougainvilleas and gaudy, red yellow and white hibiscus. All wonderful plants as they need very little attention As I stood at the top of the ridge before my descent to Daimalos, I looked around at the mountains of the Sierra Tejada and Almijara and thought how lucky I am. Just a few years ago I used to dread this time of the year when, not only did I leave for work when it was dark, but it was still dark when I returned and I also remember lots of grey grizzle. written by Sheila Gard http://www.sheilaspanishwalk.com |
On Foot in Spain. A Walk From the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean ... Illustrated by Original Sketches. [Paperback] Robin Walker (Author)
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