Walking in the Sierra de Aracena Nature Park

Superb moderate daywalks between the wonderful woodland sierras & rural villages north of Seville and a day and night in magical Seville.

Fact File:

Trip outline:
The Sierra de Aracena Natural Park, is a 186,000 hectare nature reserve of wooded hills that border Portugal and Spain's longest mountain range the Sierra Morena. The Sierra de Aracena is one of Andalucías as yet undiscovered gems where an excellent network of footpaths weave their way through chestnut & cork oak woods from one tiny castle crested village to the next. A long Spring fills the valleys with wild flowers blooming until May and the companion shade of the woodland keeps walkers cool even on the warmest days. We spend our last day in romantic Seville visiting the sights & relaxing in the shade of scented orange trees.

The walking:
Our walks follow narrow drovers trails & footpaths through varied woodland from fruit orchards, holm oak & chestnut woods to pastures dotted with olive trees. A typical day includes walking for about 5 hours and on the odd day entails an ascent of up to 300m. Sleek black pigs graze amongst the oak trees where in autumn they gorge on the acorns that give the local hams their distinctive flavour. A keen eye will spot roe deer, wild pigs, polecats, otters & mongoose while overhead we may see griffon & black vultures, golden, booted & snake eagles, peregrine falcons, kestrels, harriers & of course storks. Our last walking day will be spent in Seville where we will walk through the maze of the Barrio Santa Cruz, visit the exotic Maria Luisa Park & amble under the palms along the shores of the Guadalquivir river.

Itinerary options:
This itinerary can be either centre based (from Aracena, Almonaster la Real, Cortegana, Alájar or Galaroza) or point to point on the following itinerary: 2 nights Aracena, 1 or 2 nights Alájar, 2 nights Almonaster, 1 or 2 nights Seville.

Example hotel option:
The 3* Hotel Finca Valbono, 1 km. from the whitwashed market town of Aracena dominated by the hilltop arab castle & its 15th.C. gothic church. This comfortable country hotel is set in 20 hectares of its own woodland & gardens. A large vine covered terrace is complemented by a comfortable living room & bar for after walk drinks & relaxing. 5 minutes walk away the maze of narrow cobbled streets and small treelined 'plazas' of Aracena all point towards the fantastic limestone grottos of the 'Cave of Marvels' that run laberinthyne under the town. Plenty of cafés & bars are to be enjoyed here. This trip has the option of spending the last night in a centrally located Seville hotel, close to the cathedral & monuments.

Example Itinerary:

Sunday Arrival Seville Airport. Transfer 90mins. to Aracena. Check in to hotel. Optional tapas or snacks at a local restaurant (not included). Option of an afternoon walk visiting Aracena & locality. Relax. Dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Monday From here we make a circular walk from Aracena to Corteconcepción with a Visit Aracena, walk up to the remains of the castle & visit the church followed by a coffee in the main square. picnic on the way. Visit a typical ‘iberian pig’ farm. Return to Aracena. Free time in the afternoon. Dinner.

Tuesday Short (15min.) transfer to Linares de la Sierra. We make a circular walk from here to Alájar. Visit the cobble stoned village, ancient bridge & ‘lost’ hamlet of Los Madroñeros. Picnic on the way. Return transfer to Aracena. Dinner.

Wednesday Today we leave Aracena & foot & walk once again to Linares on a different trail to yesterdays along ancient bridlepaths & through a very varied selection of ladscapes, forest, cultivated terraces & the classic ‘dehesa’ (mixed grazing/forest) of the area. Picnic on the way. Afternoon free with optional visit to ‘Cave of Marvels’. Dinner.

Thursday Transfer to Castaño del Robledo & walk to Santa Ana & Alájar. This is a moderate walk through very varied landscape with the attraction of visiting two wonderfully typical old villages. Option of visiting the Arias Montana viewpoint for those with plenty of energy. (This walk may be done in reverse depending on group fitness).

Friday Short transfer to Almonaster. Visit the town, monuments & mosque. Coffee in the town square & then a circular walk leading through pretty hamlets up to the ‘Cerro San Cristobal’ and a return via ancient mills to Almonaster. Return transfer to Aracena. Dinner.

Saturday Breakfast followed by a 09.30 transfer to central Seville. We start our days itinerary with an orientation tour of the monuments of the city & will enjoy lunch in one of Sevilles old taverns. After lunch there is continued sightseeing with the option of returning to the hotel or free time for shopping. Dinner in Seville with the option of a Flamenco dancing show.

Sunday Breakfast followed by transfer to airport. Farewells & end of tour.