Autumn Walking Holidays in the high Alpujarra

Based at the atmospheric Casa de Luz, restored from the original bodega (winery) in the small market town of Pitres, this is a week designed for folk who enjoy being out and about in the Alpujarra without the challenge of too many steep mountainsides to negotiate on foot…As well as picnic excursions with short walks, and a visit to Granada, the programme for the week includes contributions from Bootlace’s resident storyteller (and softie) Geoff Mead who will join us to share his love of stories and storytelling:

Pool at Casa de la Luz, Pitres

Autumn in the Heights
3-10/10/09 (BL150) - price €594
A week of higher level walking based in the Sierra Nevada National Park. This holiday is based at a recently renovated cortijo (farmhouse) high in the Sierra Nevada Park (at 1600m) and 9 km from Cañar village, along an unmetalled forestry track. The village has been called the “Balcony of the Alpujarra” due to its dramatic setting on a ridge overlooking the Orgiva and river Guadalfeo valleys and the distant sea. Typical of a living Alpujarra hill village it sees little tourism, unlike the villages of the Poqueira Gorge. While the weather is warm below in the valleys of the Alpujarra the itinerary this week will take us to the higher ridges of the Sierra Nevada.

Walking from Casa Rif, Cañar
17-24/10/09 and 24-31/10/09 (BL151/152) - price €540
Casa Rif provides tastefully furnished, light and airy accommodation on the edge of Cañar village. The south-facing balconies take advantage of the breath-taking view over the Orgiva valley and towards the sea, with glimpses, on clear days, of the Moroccan Rif mountains which give the house its name. Altogether, it’s a relaxing and comfortable base, providing good access to the less travelled mountain walks above, including Oselling Retreat Centre with its powerful prayer wheel and the famous GR7 path, that passes through the village virtually passing by the front door

View over Orgiva valley from Casa Rif