4/5 May 2013 Weekend in Cazorla

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This week we had the first ever Limper away weekend. We had organised  a trip to Cazorla National park, Spains largest protected area. Originally planned as a walking weekend it soon became apparent that the walkers were not the only ones wanting a weekend away. So with this in mind we booked a hotel in Burunchel, a small village about 8 km north of Cazorla. I organised the walks and the non walkers did their own thing.
The walkers set off at 7 am in the morning, some people were barely awake when we picked them up, for the 2.30 hour drive to La Irulea, the starting point for our first walk.
The walk started from the village and a local hotel provided the perfect meeting point. I know we usually frequent the lower quality establishments when we are out walking, but for once I thought we could push the boat out and mix with a better class of clientele. This 4 star hotel was perfect, plush surroundings with sofas in the bar.  Saturday was billed as the hard walk but I don’t think most folk believed we would be going up a near vertical hillside, instead hoping for a walk amongst the Olive groves. You would have thought they would have learnt by now, “the only way is up”.
The walk follows a well engineered path as it climbs up to a ridge. This was the first of many climbs we would encounter today, all of them in stunning countryside. One section was so steep that Rene said you were in danger of scraping your nose on the ground.
 The second treat of the day was a stop in the afternoon at a Parador. This was sheer luxury for 10 walkers in full kit, mixing with the hoi poloi.
With another climb we headed back towards La Irulea. This had to be one of the best walks ever, and it was a great introduction for us to the Sierra Cazorla National park.
We walked 20 km and climbed 1169 metres.
After we got back to the cars we drove the short distance to our hotel where we met up with everyone else who had made their own way there. One of the challenges they had been set was was to find somewhere for our evening meal. I must say they attacked this important subject with gusto and we were presented with a number of possibilities. The winner by a show of hands was our hotel, this had the advantage that everyone could have a drink, Conchi was dispatched to organise a deal and we ended up paying 10€ each for all our food and drink. A good evening was enjoyed by all.

Sunday saw everyone up bright and early for breakfast and then we were off to our second destination. This walk was suitable for nearly everyone in the group as the first 5 km was alongside a river. At the 5km mark the group split with some returning to their cars and to the hotel for lunch, and the rest continuing along the side of the Rio Borosa. With every turn of the path the scenery just got better until we arrived at a unbelievable waterfall. It must have a 90 metre drop and by the time it reached the ground it had to be 30 metres wide and this is flowing over the path, absolutely incredible. With time running out we had to reluctantly leave further exploration of the valley for another day. We will return.
This was the best walk ever.
We walked 18.4 km and climbed 441 metres.

We went back to the hotel for refreshments before the drive back to our valley, arriving home around 8 pm.

We stayed at the San Julian Hotel in Burunchel. I can highly recommend it.        

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