Hi All -
I will be in Ronda early April and Spanish Basque Country mid-April. I am looking for walks or hikes of roughly 2-5 hours in both these regions. Can handle easy to strenuous. I really like rural landscapes, though wilder or more mountainous ones work too. Does anyone have suggestions? (I see earlier forum posts mentioned Walking in the Ronda Mountains which I am trying to track down, and I know the Caminito de Rey is an option)
Thank you!
The Basque Country is a hiker´s paradise, it may be better to know where you plan to stay as there are hundreds of different options. Also, it´s very green and humid, so come prepared to opposite weather to that in Ronda.
A quick search for the Ronda area turned up:
https://www.alltrails.com/spain/malaga/ronda
and
https://www.lacazalladeronda.com/la-cazalla-blog/2017/6/18/10-of-the-best-hiking-trails-in-ronda-spain
There are also trails in Grazalema.
This one was fantastic: https://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/routes/the-way-of-st-james-coastal-route/aa30-12379/en/
Also, heading out the opposite direction from San Sebastian is nice--we saw orchids (in May though).
Near Ronda, this one is quite accessible: https://www.andalucia.com/ronda/hendersons-railway.htm
With a car, I would head toward Grazalema.
If you will allow me an aside, Tony B (RIP), author of Walking in the Ronda Mountains, was a giant on the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forum years ago. He taught me so much--mainly to stop and smell the roses. I am heartened to see that people are still hearing of his book--sad it is so rare and hard to find, but maybe it will turn up in a shop in the area. The Cicerone book is an alternative.
You can see hundreds of walks in both areas posted by local walkers on the app Wikiloc. Here's a map of the more than 7000 tracks listed for the Ronda area. Just move the map to see what's available in the Basque Country.
https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/map.do?sw=36.72337615184067%2C-5.186112175657446&ne=36.75900422267672%2C-5.137188683225805&act=1%2C43&page=1
Our walks in the area are detailed in our journal: https://hiking.topicwise.com/doc/page/?o=3d2&page_id=534585&v=Cn&src=page_next
Hoping you have a wonderful trip!
Take a look at El Caminito del Rey which is about an hour from Ronda. It was the highlight of our trip to Andalusia last September.
About 40 minutes by car from Ronda is Garganta Verde, between Grazalema and Zahara. A fantastic place with restricted access, it's free but you need permission. You can see the vultures if you're lucky. Very few people
A bit further away is El Torcal de Antequera, fantastic rock landscapes, various hiking opportunities.
More info here (scroll down)
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2018/12/impressions-walking-in-andalucia-our_27.html?m=1
Thanks, everyone, for the helpful replies and all the internet resources. I really appreciate it.
MikelBasqueGuide asks where I am staying in Basque Country. I am thinking of staying at Hotel San Prudentzio near Zumaia, but this is not set in stone.
Islandwalker, any favorite rural walks/hikes in the Ronda area?
Near Ronda, has anyone done the Cañada del Cuerno - Torrecilla - Cañada de las Ánimas? I will be there early April, in terms of weather.
There´s a beautiful walk from Zumaia to Deba following the Camino del Norte (there are over 18 different "Caminos de Santiago"), on the beautiful, rugged cliffs of the Basque coast, along the amazing 100 million year-old "flysch" of Geoaparkea (Google). Cannot go wrong anywhere in the Basque Country with hikes!
Islandwalker, any favorite rural walks/hikes in the Ronda area?
Loop walks directly from Ronda:
Asa de la Caldera and Los Molinos - 10 km loop https://hiking.topicwise.com/doc/page/?o=3d2&page_id=534587&v=Cb
Tajo del Abanico - 9.2 km out and back (https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/tajo-del-abanico-ronda-25095492), or continue on to Alpandeire, 19 km https://hiking.topicwise.com/doc/page/?o=3d2&page_id=534591&v=Cu&src=page_next
El Colmenar to Cortes de la Frontera via Cañón de las Buitreras, 15 km - take the morning train from Ronda to El Colmenar, walk to Cortes via the beautiful Cañón, and take the afternoon train from Cortes back to Ronda. https://hiking.topicwise.com/doc/page/?o=3d2&page_id=539862&v=6c
If you have a car, another nice mountain walk near Ronda is through Los Riscos between Juzcar and Cartajima, 10 km: https://hiking.topicwise.com/doc/page/?o=3d2&page_id=537048&v=9U
We haven't done the walk you asked about, but here is a wikiloc track: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/torrecilla-por-canada-de-las-animas-y-canada-del-cuerno-invernal-en-sierra-de-las-nieves-15644025
