Trekking the GR7 in Andalucia

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Guidebook to the Andalucian section of the GR7 long-distance hiking trail in Spain, from Tarifa to Puebla de Don Fadrique. Includes a northern route via Cordoba Province and southern route via Granada Province. The whole 1225km trail takes 34-42 days to complete but can be split into shorter sections. 

Cicerone says: 

The GR7 is one of Europe’s longest GR long-distance routes, stretching from Tarifa, the southernmost town of continental Europe, through Spain, Andorra and France to Alsace. This guide presents the Andalucian section of the route, which offers well over 700km of fantastic walking through the diverse landscapes of one of Spain’s most evocative regions. The route splits at the small village of Villanueva de Cauche, and the guide describes both the northern and southern variants. Although walking is on good footpaths, country tracks and, occasionally, minor roads, some of the stages are long and can involve considerable ascent, meaning that a good level of fitness is required. The full Andalucian GR7 takes well over a month to walk; however, the guide also includes suggestions for highlight sections that can be walked in a week or fortnight.

In addition to clear route description, mapping and elevation profiles, the guide provides background information on local history, plants and wildlife, and advice for planning your trip, such as when to go, what to take and where to stay.

The route showcases Andalucia’s rich history and culture and varied landscapes, which include pine forests, semi-arid desert, snow-capped peaks, fertile plains, lush valleys, olive groves, cultivated terraces and hills of cork woodland. Historic towns and traditional whitewashed villages offer overnight accommodation and a chance to sample local cuisine.

Our Verdict

For nearly 50 years Cicerone have been producing guidebooks on recognised treks, regions, areas and general tips for hikers.

We have used them countless times and they’ve always provided excellent insight and knowledge that you only get through experience, giving you the edge to make your trip a success and more enjoyable too.

If you’re a gram counter you can easily remove sections of the book to take with you making your own ultra-lightweight guidebook with only the essential sections that you require.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Seasons: As a general rule the best time to walk in Andalucía is from March through to mid June and from September to late October. In July and August temperatures regularly reach the high thirties and make walking far more of a challenge. Wildflowers are at their best in late April/early May.
• Centres: (Common route) Tarifa, Los Barrios, Ronda, El Chorro, Antequera; (Northern variant) Rute, Priego de Córdoba, Alcalá La Real, Jódar, Quesada, Cazorla, Santiago de la Espada, Puebla de Don Fadrique; (Southern variant) Alhama de Granada, Lanjarón, Charches, Zújar, Cúllar, Orce, Huéscar, Puebla de Don Fadrique
• Difficulty: A fairly challenging route requiring good fitness as there are some long stages, some involving 1000m of ascent. However, there is no technical difficulty and walking is on footpaths, country tracks and, occasionally, minor roads.
• Must See: Striking mountains and gorges, attractive villages, forests, olive groves, cultivated terraces, semi-desert landscapes; (Common route) pretty Tarifa, Alcornocales Natural Park, hilltop ‘white villages’, Grazalema Natural Park, Moorish Ronda, the spectacular gorge at El Chorro; (Northern variant) Subbetica Natural Park, Sierra de Mágina Natural Park, Sierra de Cazorla Natural Park; (Southern variant) Sierra de Almijara, Álhama Natural Park, Lecrín Valley, Sierra Nevada – home to mainland Spain’s highest peaks and some magnificent scenery, Sierra de Baza Natural Park

Specifications

• Weight: 366g
• Edition: Third
• Number of pages: 320
• Size: 17.2 x 11.6 x 1.8cm
• Published: 2 Nov 2021
• Author: Guy Hunter-Watts

Contents

Introduction
The GR7/E4
Andalucía
The GR7 in Andalucía
Shorter itineraries
Historical context
Plants and wildlife
When to go
Getting there
Getting back
Luggage transfer
Accommodation
Food and drink
Water
Equipment
Money
Language
Waymarking
Maps and GPS
Staying safe
Using this guide
The common route
Cádiz province
Stage 1 Tarifa to Los Barrios
Stage 2 Los Barrios to Castillo de Castellar
Stage 3 Castillo de Castellar to Jimena de la Frontera
Stage 4 Jimena de la Frontera to Ubrique
Stage 5 Ubrique to Montejaque via Villaluenga del Rosario
Málaga province
Stage 6 Montejaque to Arriate via Ronda
Stage 7 Arriate to Ardales
Stage 8 Ardales to El Chorro
Stage 9 El Chorro to Valle de Abdalajís
Stage 10 Valle de Abdalajís to Antequera
Stage 11 Antequera to Villanueva de Cauche
The northern variant
Stage 12A Villanueva de Cauche to Villanueva del Trabuco
Stage 13A Villanueva del Trabuco to Villanueva de Tapia
Stage 14A Villanueva de Tapia to Villanueva de Algaidas
Stage 15A Villanueva de Algaidas to Cuevas de San Marcos
Córdoba province
Stage 16A Cuevas de San Marco to Rute
Stage 17A Rute to Priego de Córdoba
Stage 18A Priego de Córdoba to Almedinilla
Stage 19A Almedinilla to Alcalá la Real
Jaén province
Stage 20A Alcalá la Real to Frailes
Stage 21A Frailes to Carchelejo
Stage 22A Carchelejo to Cambil
Stage 23A Cambil to Torres
Stage 24A Torres to Bedmar
Stage 25A Bedmar to Jódar
Stage 26A Jódar to Quesada
Stage 27A Quesada to Cazorla
Stage 28A Cazorla to Vadillo Castril
Stage 29A Vadillo Castril to Coto Ríos
Stage 30A Coto Ríos to Pontones
Stage 31A Pontones to Santiago de la Espada
Stage 32A Santiago de la Espada to Puebla de Don Fadrique
The southern variant
Stage 12B Villanueva de Cauche to Riogordo
Stage 13B Riogordo to Ventas de Zafarraya
Granada province
Stage 14B Ventas de Zafarraya to Alhama de Granada
Stage 15B Alhama de Granada to Arenas del Rey
Stage 16B Arenas del Rey to Jayena
Stage 17B Jayena to Albuñuelas
Stage 18B Albuñuelas to Nigüelas
Stage 19B Nigüelas to Lanjarón
Stage 20B Lanjarón to Soportújar
Stage 21B Soportújar to Pitres
Stage 22B Pitres to Trevélez
Stage 23B Trevélez to Cádiar
Stage 24B Cádiar to Yegen
Stage 25B Yegen to Laroles
Stage 26B Laroles to Puerto de la Ragua via Bayárcal
Stage 27B Puerto de la Ragua to La Calahorra
Stage 28B La Calahorra to Narváez via Charches
Stage 29B Narváez to Zújar
Stage 30B Zújar to Benamaurel
Stage 31B Benamaurel to Cúllar
Stage 32B Cúllar to Orce
Stage 33B Orce to Huéscar
Stage 34B Huéscar to Puebla de Don Fadrique

Appendix A Facilities table
Appendix B Spanish–English glossary
Appendix C Further information
Appendix D Further reading