Frontier Holidays

Not just sunbeds on beaches

There is so much more than sun, sea, and sangria in Spain!
When you stop to think about, the tourist belt of coastline counts for only a small percentage of the landscape. So it should come as no surprise that there are still many areas of inland and indeed coastal Spain that are either untouched or unspoilt by tourism.

Undoubtably one of the main reasons for visiting Spain is the warmer climate. However there are a myriad of additional riches to be had from this large country. A wealth of flora and fauna often not found in Northern Europe are the attraction for many. A wild landscape full of mountains, plains, deserts, marshes and extensive woodlands provides a stunning backdrop for any activity, whether, walking, cycling, or relaxing with a glass of wine in hand.

Often overlooked are the Spanish themselves. Any visit to a foreign country is undeniably made all the richer by the interaction with the local population. Don't worry if you don't posess more than a few basic words for communication. Spaniards are a friendly people who appreciate those who make an effort to get to know their country. They are also generous, both with their time and posessions. Don't be surprised if a shepherd offers you some of his lunch whilst looking after his livestock.

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Special Walking in Spain

The Brugent Escarp - Independent Backpacking

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Mad English in Sierra de las Nieves

Not many hardy souls make it out in these sorts of conditions, especially when they are supposed to be on holiday. Neil and Claire aren't your average walkers, keen on stretching their legs in out of season conditions whilst holidaying in Andalucia, Spain.

"I'll take you on one of my special walks close to the village of El Burgo" I told them. Little did I realise just how special the day was going to be. After a short drive, we hiked up through the mist till we hit the tree line. Another half an hour of walking brought us to a saddle where the path hopped from one side of the mountain to the other. "We'll be a bit exposed for a short way" I commented. Within a minute our windward side was all but frozen by a bitter horizontal driving rain. Before we could regain the shelter of the trees and the leeward side of Sierra Prieta, both Neil and Claire were forced to stop and don waterproof trousers and swab their lenses.

Climbing through the pines, the mist was thick, but on the odd occasion it cleared briefly, pierced by the surrounding pinnacles, and the views dropped steeply down the valley to our right. All too soon the rain turned to sleet and then to snow. By the time we gained the pass to Yunquera and cleared the forests I knew it was time to call it a day. The summit of Sierra Cabrilla, a further 200m ascent with no path and steep drops would have been a foolhardy undertaking to say the least. A good friend and fellow guide, once told me how some clients complained about not getting to a summit. "Well at least you'll be alive to talk about it when you get home" was his considered reply!

There were no such complaints on this day when I announced taht we would go no further. So I whipped out the camera and this was the result..what a day!