Lecrin Valley Limpers

Dear all This Sundays outing started with us all meeting in Chite, this caused a major traffic snarl up, the like of which has not been seen before in Chite. Once again the walk was a linear one, this time setting off from Albunuelas with a stopping off point in Restabal for the easy walkers. Trying to arrange these outings, using the minimum number of cars, is becoming a logistical nightmare, and I feel sure that one day it will all go belly up for us, when after a long walk we will find the wrong cars in the wrong location, but today it all went fine. We had a small deviation at the start of the walk in Albunuelas when we were unable to find the little alley way that leads out of the village, someone had painted out the GR7 sign. But the problem was easy rectified and we soon found ourselves walking through the fertile valley that separates Albunuelas and Salares, the path is virtually all down hill and is very easy going. A coffee stop was made in Salares before we walked into Res...

Dear all The walk this last week was a return to the Huetor National park at the far side of Granada, and in line with our recently acquired green credentials we managed the outing by using 3 cars. On future outings we are planning to use pack mules only. There are 2 ways to do the walk, the hard way, which is a circular walk, or the easy way which is a linear walk, we chose the easy way which involves driving to the top of the park and walking back through the woods on a very easy and pleasant path. The route is a high level route at around 1800 meters and the views in all directions are outstanding. At the first picnic stop there is a pictorial map showing all the peaks of the Sierra Nevada which can be seen from this point. Our ornithological knowledge was further expanded when we saw numerous different types of birds which we were able to identify as big birds and little birds, couple this with the birds that float on water we saw a couple of weeks ago and you can see ...

Walk in the Monochil gorge on Sunday 6th May. We set off in a convoy of three cars (fully loaded - leaving some cars in Niguelas car park - very ecological.) Having arrived at the Otivar - Padul roundabout we proceeded to be very Spanish by parking on the roundabout itself to await the arrival of Quina. On arrival at the car park above Monochil we met with Colin and Lesley and the group of twelve happy souls together with three dogs wondered off into the gorge. Renewing my acquaintance with the gorge proved to be in the realms of "as good as it gets"! and everyone seemed to enjoy the experience particularly those who had not been before. In the absence of el Presidente I took an executive decision to extend the walk by half an hour as far as the hydroelectric station. We duly returned to Monochil with fantastic views down into the gorge. On the way back Peters' dog encountered a herd of goats and had to be restrained having never seen a goat before. Peters...

Dear all Our weather may finally be on the turn, we have had a few dry days and the sunshine has been quite warm on a number of occasions this past week. So we were all looking forward to the easy walk we had planned for Padul. We all met in Padul and after a delayed start we set off in perfect walking conditions, sunshine, brilliant blue skies and a slightly cool wind. The walk first crosses the bed of the old lagoon passing some very lush campos, whose soil could inspire anyone to grow just about anything. At the far side of the lagoon there is a crystal clear spring and the remains of an old Roman road. We have not managed yet to turn this walk into a true circular walk, and part of the route has to be retraced in order to cut across the lake bed towards the bird sanctuary. It was while crossing this section we decided to go off piste in the hope of finding a new path. Our track eventually disappeared and we left to scramble over a small weir and discreetly make our way across a pl...

Dear All Our scheduled Sunday walk this week was cancelled due poor weather, I appreciate that this will amuse you who are basking in the sunshine back in the UK, but for us poor souls over here, it is starting to interfere with our life style. We should, by now, be topping up our tans and sipping G & Ts by the poolside. Instead we are having to console ourselves by devising even more imaginative tapa whilst standing around the fire. So it was that this Sunday some 20 sad and dejected Limpers went around to John and Sandra's for our weekly social event while the hiking boots stayed locked away. Once again a big thank you to John and Sandra for hosting the party and to everyone for the delicious food. Our walk this coming Sunday is an easy one that we did a few months back, but which quite a number of the group were unable to do. It starts in Padul and crosses the dried bed of the lagoon, then continues by the side of the old Roman road before re crossing the lagoon and calling ...

Dear Limper It was with a sinking feeling in my heart that the group met this week in Nigúelas, for our Sunday walk. We had just finalised our transport arrangements for our onward journey to Padul, when a coach carrying some 50 people arrived, and began disgorging hikers. I know the emails get widely distributed, but this was taking it too far, had they brought tapa? Would Deborah have enough glasses? It now appears that it was a rival group from Armilla, who go for long hard walks, and then go home, because they don’t do tapa! Our walk this week took us up the cruz Altaya above Padul which takes about 1.5 hours of gentle uphill plodding, where we stopped for breakfast. Some in the party were hoping that this would be the extent of our uphill exertions, but in true Limper tradition, there is always another hill to climb. Another 1.5 hours of steady walking, including a search and rescue stop when 2 members wandered off in the wrong direction, they were found chattering away, wit...

Dear all Can I just mention, before you read this newsletter, that the behaviour by one member this week at the tapa party was totally reprehensible, more will be said about this later. Our walk this Sunday found us heading for Conchar, in what turned out to be the only decent day we have had for a fortnight. When the sun finally reappeared it caught everyone unawares, and we had to discard the multiple layers of clothing we have become accustomed to wearing. The walk followers the course of the Rio Durcal and is an absolute delight as it meanders in and out of bamboo tunnels and crosses rickety little bridges. We have been unable to do this walk for the last 9 months, because the bridges were swept away in a storm last June. But they have now been restored, and the walk can once again be classed as one of the best short walks in the valley. We had split the walk up into 2 sections with the first part finishing at los Naranjos in Melegis, where refreshment was taken on the terrace...

Dear All Today's walk was a total wash out, due to heavy rain and low cloud, but at least some more snow has appeared, so the ski resort should have something for Easter, and we may have something to drink in the summer. One Limper happy about the cancelled walk was little John, who I had spent all week winding up, ready for the 1st of April. The only bright spot of the day was the tapa at Colin and Lesley's, which attracted 18 Limpers, which was probably more than if we had gone on the walk. This begs the question should we scrap the walks and go straight to tapa? It appears that this week I have been awarded the Billy Bunter prize for gluttony after eating 2 slices of mince pie, But I know Sandra made it especially for me, so I consider myself extremely generous for sharing the rest of it.Thanks to Colin and Lesley for hosting the tapa and to everyone for providing the great food. There are two outings planned this week. The first is to Padul on Friday evenin...

Dear all Well the weather forecast was right after all, So with deep regret we have to announce that the walk this week is cancelled. The good news is that the tapa is still on in Monachil, so if you are coming to this meet at the car park in Niguelas at 1 pm. at least little John got away with it, this time. Regards Stuart

8.30 pm Friday 30th March The weather forecast is not looking good for Sunday, heavy rain. If the weather is dry but cloudy we can do the Monachil walk and then go on to Colin and Lesley's for tapa, so meet at 9 am in Nigúelas. If it is raining and the walks are cancelled, the tapa will still be on, so meet in Nigúelas at 1 pm. Check this site for the latest information.

The walk this week, the 25th March, saw us all meeting in Padul and, even though the clocks had gone forward during the night, everyone was on time. The big feature of this walk is the great car shuttle, which involved leaving 2 cars positioned at the end of the walk, 16 walkers and 3 dogs squeezed into 4 cars which were then driven to the start of the walk., about l 2km down the Carretera de Cabra., The cars had to be retrieved when we had completed the walk.. The walk is on a good quality campo road that twists and turns through farm land, and so far it has escaped the attention of the cement mixing road builders. The road is as near as you will get in these parts to a 12 km long down hill road, having only 3 short up hill sections. At all times you have extensive views over the Sierra Nevada. The weather was good and the strong northerly wind that had been blowing all week had abated. After all the walkers were reunited with their cars we all headed off to Rob and Sandy...

We awoke on Sunday morning to a bright and sunny day, which was a pleasant surprise after the mist and rain we had had on Saturday, its great to have a wet day now and then, but we can't do with it interfering with our Sunday walk. After meeting up in Nigúelas, this weeks group of Limpers set off on the Gold finger walk, that starts off by following the GR7 path from Niguelas towards Acequias before heading up the hillside of Cerro Alto, quite daunting to the untrained eye, but surprisingly easy once you get started. and we did it with only one stop, so the fitness levels must be going up. I can see the high altitude summer walks becoming a race to see who can get to the summit first. This weeks tapa had been arranged at Chez Als', who unfortunately is still on sick leave, and unable to walk in his beloved mountains, but it did give him time to prepare a rather delicious Paella, but I did notice on a couple of occasions Quina offering him helpful suggestions. The p...

Dear All I know I keep saying in our walk reports how wonderful the walks have been, and that the views were great, but our walk this weekend, to the Huétor Parque Natural, must rank amongst best. To get to the park, which is north of Granada, involves a 45 minute drive, and I know that you who still live in the UK will consider this trivial, involving a journey of probably no more than 2 miles. For us hillbillies from the valley it was a major expedition, to a land far away, that not many Lecriners had ever seen before. Surprisingly the start of the walk is only a hundred meters away from the A92 autovia, but you would think you were a million miles from anywhere in the thick pine forest and the views over the park. So with a group of 12 eager walkers we set off to discover this natural paradise. The walk is a circular one and for the first part follows a forest Camino as it meanders along in the valley floor, and it is only when you have gone about 3 km and gained a bit ...

Dear all What a glorious day we had on Sunday, for our walk from Lanjaron to Mondujar. The sun shone all day, and as a change from the last two walks there was no wind. The walk sets off from Lanjaron and for the first hour follows the GR7 track towards Nigúelas, then, just as you start to get fed up of the up hill trek, it branches off on a little track that twists and turns its way across the hillside towards Mondujar. You can tell from the photo that the temperature was quite high by the fact everybody headed for the shade when we had a coffee stop. Water was a problem on this walk, but with judicious sharing of scarce resources everyone survived. The tapa club reconvened at Josettes' house afterwards. Alan, who arrived back in the valley during the week, put in a guest appearance. Having returned from India with a bad foot he was unable to do the walk, and there was me thinking that the A team walks would be starting again. Once again thanks to everyone for a goo...

Dear All What a delightful little walk, most of us had this last Sunday. The walk was to the Hermita, above Pinos del Valle and is a must for any true Limper because of the outstanding views of our Valley that the little hill affords. So on a very bright and sunny, slightly breezy morning our group of 17 set off on our little excursion. The normal route sets off from Pinos and zig zags straight up to the Hermita, but our route was the longer but far more interesting one that leaves Pinos on the Guajar Faraguit road for about 1km before turning right, up what was once a pleasant gravel road out into the campos, but somebody is doing their best to try and spoil it, by laying concrete and making it another soulless road. You sometimes wonder if the guy who invented cement realised how much destruction and devastation his product would cause to such a beautiful landscape. After about 2 km you come to the real objective of coming this way, a wonderful little path that leads ...

Dear Limper We had an excellent turnout today for a walk, that had been advertised as having spectacular views, and particularly views of Africa. So it was with a sinking feeling in my heart that I and 14 other brave and intrepid walkers set off for the summit of Pico Lopera. Our only hope that the views would materialise, was that the gale force wind would blow away the fog, that was swirling around us. One advantage of the fog was, because you could not see the objective of the walk we did not receive the usual cries of "Oh my God, we are not going all the way up there, are we?". Surprisingly for the altitude you climb and the height you attain, the walk is very easy. While the cloud base did slowly became higher, it was not fast enough to ensure the dramatic vistas we had hoped for, and we arrived at the summit watch tower still surrounded by fog. A quick picnic stop was taken, as we huddled around the watch tower like Penguins in an Antarctic winter. We h...

Dear all I thought Margarets' offer to host the tapa would swell the numbers turning up for the walk, and this turned out to be the case, with 16 of the crew setting forth from Murchas on a blustery morning. The hard part was knowing what to wear, you needed a jacket on because of the wind, but the sun was quite strong so you were soon sweating. The walk sets off from Murchas and heads out of the village up to the canal which you then follow on a broad track for about 2 km. Surprisingly for the little altitude that you have to climb the views are magnificent. At the point where the canal disappears into a tunnel, the wide track finishes and you have to follow a little track up the hillside for 50 meters. It is at this point that the sick and the lame turned back to follow the track back to Murchas. The rest continued along the track and headed up a gentle hill for the next hour with panoramic views in all directions. At the top, when El Caballo, with it's snowy top...

Dear All The weather in the valley this past week has been decidedly mixed. A typically English summer week, wet, cold, and the odd burst of sunshine. So it was with fingers crossed that a last minute decision was made to go ahead with the planned excursion up the Rio Dilar. We set off with a total of 5 cars in a convoy but as the inevitable happens with so many cars we lost one along the way. They eventually reappeared saying that they liked Dilar so much they thought it would be nice to go around it twice. In true Limper tradition 12 started the walk, but we had 2 with gammy knees in the group, so after about 1 hour of walking, and a number of river crossings, 6 members decided to turn back. I think the real reason was, they were afraid they would miss the 3pm start of the tapa party. The remaining 6 in the group continued on for a further hour, but with the clouds getting lower, or the path getting higher, and a definite chance that they would miss the 3pm start of the...

Dear all After a week of bitter cold temperatures, snow and heavy rain, it was with some trepidation that we set off on our Sunday walk under heavy grey skies accompanied by a strong head wind, which eventually worked in our favour by blowing the clouds away, leaving us all sweating under the multi layers of clothing that we were all wearing. The walk eventually started from the centre of Padul, after a misunderstanding as to where we were supposed to meet, and set off across the unbelievable flat farm land that was once the bed of a lagoon. As soon as you arrive at the other side, the banking surrounding the lagoon rises steeply and it was amongst this jumble of rocks that the remains of a Roman road could be found. This is not a sample of the long, straight, well constructed Roman roads that you can still find in Britain. This is a track that you would have trouble getting a challenger tank down, never mind a horse and cart, The good people of Padul must have made a for...

Dear all What wonderful weather we had on Sunday, for our walk from Marchena. I know the area around Marchena does not appear too interesting and this may well have put a number of people off going on the walk, but from the start of the walk it only takes about 5 minutes before you are walking in a pine forest, on an old mule track meandering around the hill side as it slowly climbs towards the Camino forestal running below the Sierra del Manar. With no great distance to travel and a meal booked at the Mezquita restaurant we were able to travel slowly, stopping frequently to admire the unfolding views around us. Including the frequent stops the walk took about 3 hours. Our walk this coming Sunday the 28th, is a tapa included walk, and is classed as easy and suitable for Olwyn. The walk sets off from Padul and crosses the valley floor of what once was the bed of the lagoon. Hopefully we may see signs of the old Roman road which skirted along the edge of the lagoon. There...