Local Activities
What to do in the local area…
There is so much on offer all year round so I’ve listed a few bits below.
Spain has an unbelievable amount of holiday days so there is always something going on somewhere! But if you want activities you can do any day of the year take a look below.
If you want a walk from the house, it’s a 5 mile loop around the mountain with beautiful views the whole way. It’s all on road (but a very quiet road). I recommend turning right out the house, do the steep bit first! About 2 miles after you come down the hill through the olive trees, a road runs along the bottom, turn right here and just keep walking for another 2.5 miles where you will come to an old school on the right, turn right up here and you are back on the road for the house. There is also a bar just 2 mins further than the last turning if you want a vino before you head back.
There are lots more ‘hikes’ where you would probably need some decent footwear. Some of these can be found on Kamoot and All Trails, I’ve popped a couple below to get you started.
My favourite hike is in Sierra de Rute (20 mins drive to the start in Rute) It is on Kamoot, it says medium difficulty (I would say it’s the harder side of medium and you definitely need decent footwear.) It’s a steep climb up to the top of the mountain! You can get to 1100m and the views are pretty spectacular or you can do the extra bit to the very top which is around 1250m and well worth it if you don’t mind the climb! Keep an eye out for the Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance which usually have some snow on the top from November to April! And you will probably see some Eagles or vultures flying around too which is amazing to see!
Iznajar lake (reservoir) is a 10 min drive away (back on the main road and turn left) and it’s gorgeous all year round for walks and maybe a paddle but during the summer months there are plenty of water sports on the lake including kayaking, paddle boarding and pedalos.
In the summer (usually beginning of May to end of October but this is weather dependant) Andalucian Laketours offer fantastic boat trips on the lake. Jim the Captain is incredibly knowledgeable about the area and they are really interesting trips! You can also do private hire trips with him for lake tours or maybe cocktails at sunset if that’s more your thing! He’s on Facebook as Andalucian Laketours or on WhatsApp: Jim – +34643388404
There is a fantastic horse riding business just down the road in Salinas which is great for experienced riders and newbies.
Cortijo Las Minas Equestrian Centre
info@centroecuestrelasminas.com
Whatsapp – +34682727899
Further afield….
There are lots of amazing little Spanish towns dotted around. Just have a look on google maps and go exploring!
But some of the bigger places you should check out…
Malaga! An incredible city! A huge old town, castles, views everywhere, a marina, beaches, amazing bars and restaurants and great shopping! It’s 1hr drive from the house to the centre.
You have also got lots of coastline on both sides of Malaga with amazing beaches including places with waterspouts, one of the closest beaches has kitesurfing all year round.
Granada and The Alhambra Palace are just under an hour away. If you like buildings and architecture the Alhambra Palace is not to be missed.
The Sierra Nevada – 1hr away. By Granada. Great for hiking a lot of the year and we have the most southern ski resort in Europe in the winter between Dec and April. The resort and slopes are about 1hr 20 mins drive. Always check the skiing situation and how accessible it is before you go.
Cordoba – A beautiful, very Spanish city with incredible buildings including the Mezquita Cathedral of Cordoba. 1hr 10 mins drive north.
Seville – This is a 2hr drive but if you haven’t ever been to Seville it is so worth it. Beautiful buildings, great food, lots of history. I recommend a bike tour of the city especially if you’re only there for a day.
I will keep adding to this list but if you find anywhere else that you think should be added please let me know!