Walks in Grazalema and Montajaque

Our book of walks covers the area around the pretty White Villages of Grazalema and Montejaque, near Ronda, in the mountainous interior of Andalucia in southern Spain.

GRAZALEMA, at the eastern edge of Cadiz province, is a larger, livelier town than rural Montejaque and higher in altitude (830m). It is dramatically sited, hanging in a bowl of high mountains and occasionally obscured by mist. The town has many fine examples of iron-balconied old houses, and an interesting history with customs such as the bull-running still an annual event. Its small wool factories produce blankets, ponchos, shawls and scarves for export, while the lower countryside around is noted for cattle breeding and cork oak farms.

The area near the village was occupied from Roman times. From the 8th century until the Christian invasion in 1485, the area was settled by Muslims of North African Berber origin – reflected in many of the Arabic place names.

The ten Grazalema walks include both the mountains to the north and west and the gentler Rio Gaduares valley area to the east. Routes include the paths below the peaks Reloj, Simancon and Peñon Grande; the hillside traverse to Benaocaz; the very pretty, shorter walk to nearby Sierra Morena; the dramatic path into the pinsapo fir reserve on Mt Torreón.

Some of the mountain routes are on quite stony paths, with a considerable ascent and descent. There are usually plenty of other walkers on most of the routes, and plenty of available shade from trees. Because of the altitude, the weather can be quickly changeable in winter.

MONTEJAQUE (pronounced “Montay hackay”) is at the western edge of Málaga province. This beautiful, compact white village, is set in spectacular limestone countryside, at 689m above sea-level, and between the valleys of the Gaduares and the Guadiaro rivers. To the east, the Algarrobo ridge separates it from the Ronda plain, while to the west are the higher peaks of El Hacho (1075m), Sierra de Montalate (1100m) and Sierra de Juan Diego (1298m).

The six Montejaque routes include the open limestone pavement areas of the Sierra de Juan Diego to the southeast; the narrow Algarroba-Mures ridge to the west, with views towards Ronda; a circuit of Mt El Hacho; and the Tavizna ravine and spectacularly unsuccessful Hundidero dam. Montajaque is 180m lower than Grazalema, without the high mountain peaks around, so the winter weather is often gentler, and the spring flowers colourful.

The walks are mostly on limestone paths or on dirt tracks, usually with shorter ascents and descents - in general, you will meet fewer walkers here than around Grazalema. There are not many trees, so less available shade on the walks.

The villages are close enough to each other to make a twin-centre fortnight of walking a practical possibility.

Large scale MAPS of both villages, and smaller scale ones of the areas immediately around them, are included within the text.

The 36-page book is A5 size, with a card cover. The book is supplied in a tough A5 plastic sleeve.

Book first published 2006.

ISBN 978-1-900802-04-2

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Lance Chilton and Marengo 2012

Marengo, 17 Bernard Crescent, Hunstanton PE36 6ER, England