Walk 3rd February 2008

Dear all

Sundays walk took us to the Rio Verde, and what a wonderful days walking it turned out to be, after dropping a car off at the finishing point we set off on the path down into the Rio Verde, this is a well maintained path, and whilst steep at the end presents no problem as a way down. Upon arriving in the valley there is a waterfall and pool, which we sat by and enjoyed our mid morning snack. Rob, ever eager to explore, came back after discovering a cave, this cave was full of stalactites and stalagmites, anywhere else they would charge 5€ to go in and look, here it is free, wonderful. We then continued on, climbing up to the small lake that feeds the waterfalls in the area. It was great to watch a Shag fishing in the lake. From here we made our way down to the river and had lunch amongst the rock pools, before setting off back to the car, because we had come down about 330 meters into the valley, we had to regain our our height. This was done by using the Camino Forestal, this is a well graded forest road, giving us an easy way to get back. On our return to Padul we went to the Batea bar for drinks and rationes. An excellent walk awarded a 5 for difficulty on our new grading system. We are going to try and grade all our walks with a difficulty rating. Number 1 will be for an Olwyn type walk, so very easy, 10, a full days walk at high altitude. Most of the walks will probably fall in the 4 to 7 range, which will make them suitable for most of the group.

Ermita Vieja from Dilar
Our walk this week starts from the car park in the Rio Dilar opposite the Merendero bar. We follow a Camino Forestal and a good footpath as it climbs slowly through the thick pine forest before arriving at the Ermita Vieja. From here we pick up another good track and follow it to the foot of Pioacho Alto, before it starts its descent by way of a barranco and back to the car park. If you want to go on the walk meet in the Nigúelas car park at 9am. There is no tapa arranged we will stop at a bar somewhere.

Walk Sunday 27th Januay 2008

Dear all

I hate to start the letter this week by mentioning the weather, particularly when you poor souls back in the UK have been inundated with non stop rain since goodness knows when, but this weekend the weather has been unbelievable, absolutely fabulous, not a cloud in the sky, T shirts and shorts weather. There, that's upset 50% of the group in the first 2 lines.

Our walk this week was to Restabal castle. The walk started in Restabal and followed the path up to the abandoned village, and then continued as far as the camp site, where after persuading the owner to unlock the gates we stopped for a very enjoyable coffee on the terrace in the sunshine, and a tour of the site, while his cabins look comfortable enough, the ground looks a little rough for camping. Fortified with coffee and biscuits we resumed our walk to the castle at Restabal. I can't imagine that the castle was ever attacked, because nobody would ever find it, as the only evidence that it is there are the underground chambers, obviously an early attempt to make a stealth castle. We continued our walk back to Restabal stopping at bar Sifon, before returning to Chite for tapa.

Our walk this coming Sunday is the Rio Verde walk, this is a fabulous walk, best done in winter because you walk down into the gorge to start with, to view the petrified rocks and waterfalls. The problem with going down into the gorge, is that you have to climb back out of it later, whilst the path is good you do have to climb some 280 meters out of the valley. Total walking distance about 10km and about 4 hours walking. There is no tapa arranged this week so we stop off for a drink at one of the bars.

If you want to go on the walk meet in Nigúelas at 9am or at the new petrol station at the Argos roundabout 9.15 Sunday 27th, for the start of the walk about 20km down the Otiva road.

A bit of good news is that we saw Bob (windy) in the week and he looked full of health, it was good to see him and we hope he continues with his recovery. I don't know if anybody still remembers her but Annie Lamb, who used walk with us last year, has recently got very stroppy when corresponding with me, and is threatening me with serious repercussions for carrying on about the glorious weather, I look forward to her return in the spring so that we can sort her out.

Have a good week.

Stuart

The photo shows the wonderful weather we had in the valley this weekend.

Further photos of this and other walks can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/holidaysingranada/LecrinValleyLimpers

Walk 20 January 2008

The walk on Sunday was the impressively named "Goldfinger walk" I know that Ian Fleming once wrote a book with a similar name and perhaps made a few bob out of it, but the original authors of this walk are Dutch Bob and Alan, who many years ago set off to mark the route with a can of Gold paint, and came back with gold digits. Because neither of the original crew were on the walk this week we were able to adapt the walk to suit our needs better. We set off from the car park in Nigúelas and made our way via the Rio Torrente to Acequias. From there it was a steady climb, joining the GR7 along the way, to the summit of Cerro Alto. After stopping for breakfast we made our way back into the barranco near the Hydro station, by way of excitement we then followed the Acequia into Niguelas along the newly built footpath. This is a delightful way into the village, the excitement part comes in negotiating the large rock at the start, Alison had said she only suffered vertigo a bit, this must have been the bit she was talking about. For tapa we went to Migúels bar in Nigúelas to sample his excellent fare.

For our walk this coming Sunday the 20th we are going to Restabal, for the circular walk to the abandoned village, the camp site coffee shop (subject to opening hours) and onwards to the castle at Restabal. The walk is about 11 km and takes about 4 hours, there is a total height gain of about 400 meters but this is spread over about 4 km on a campo road, so it is not difficult. On our return to Restabal we will stop at Bar Santi for drinks before returning to our house in Chite for tapa. If you want to go on the walk meet at the church in Restabal at 9am.

The weather this last week has been a bit unsettled, with rain and thick fog some days, sunshine others, Sunday was brilliant. Today, Monday, there is heavy rain. The forecast for next Sunday is 18 degrees, if it looks like it might turn out that way I will have to unpack the shorts and suntan cream.

Have a good week and we hope to see you on Sunday

Stuart

The photo show Plym, Alison and Margaret

Walk 13 December 2008

Dear all

I hope you all had a good Christmas and New year and are once again looking forward to this years walks around Granada. Inevitably it will mean a repeat of the old favorites, but we will introduce new ones as well. We will try and stick to the tried and tested format with a wide range of walks appealing to different abilities, and the usual after walk tapa club when it can be arranged, If anybody wants the important job of organising the tapa venues please let me know.

To ease everyone gently back into walking after the Christmas excess it was decided an easy walk was called for, and what better stroll could you wish for than the Carretera de Cabra. This walk is virtually all down hill, and gives you uninterrupted views over the Sierra Nevada mountains, and after this weeks heavy snow falls, it looked wonderful. Mind you it did not look too great when we set off, the weather forecast all week was saying sunshine and 16 degrees, and one of us must have believed it, because one of us turned up in shorts. There was a howling gale and the mist was drifting around at shoulder height so it was with reluctance that we left the warmth of the cars for the 11 km walk to Padul. We only needed a drop of rain and we could have been in England. but as the walk progressed the mist slowly rolled back from the Sierra Nevadas, revealing them in all their glory. Whilst the sun did shine on the walk the expected 16 degrees did not appear until 7pm, I know, it is dark and too late then, but the forecasters were right. Its just us that were wrong, to think it would be warm during the day. After the walk we stopped for a drink in Padul.

Our walk on Sunday the 13 January is the Gold finger walk from Nigúelas, This is a circular walk from Niguelas to Acequias and then up the GR7 to Cerro Alto and back to Nigúelas, a round trip of about 10km with 450 meters of climbing, the paths are good and the up hills are well graded, estimated walking time about 4 hours,

Graded not difficult.

If you want to go on the walk meet in the Car Park in Nigúelas at 9am, there is no tapa arranged unless someone comes up with an offer.

The photo shows Quina, Josette, Plym, Gillian, Charley, Veronica, Peppa