Bubion, Las Alpujarras, Southern Spain

 

 

 

 

This is a half-day circular walk potentially easier than some that we do, with great views, ancient  woods, and it follows some of the GR7. We had driven to Bubion from where we had been staying in Malaga and checked into Hostel Rural Las Terrazas de la Alpujarra in the small village for 4 nights. Las Alpujarras is an area situated in the Sierra Nevada in Andalucía between Granada and the Mediterranean sea. It is very popular with walkers, has beautiful scenery, good value accommodation and food. It can be reached by car, or by public bus from Nerja or Granada.

We were up later than usual, so had time to eat a delicious breakfast of coffee, and toast, with fresh nuts and tomatoes from the garden. The walk begins on the main road in Bubion, opposite house number 19 Calle Carretera, free parking is available in the village. Leaving at 10.15 am we followed the cobbled path between the houses, progressing uphill for 20 mins until a very quiet concrete road was reached.  It was beautiful listening to birdsong and the sound of flowing water, whilst treading on fallen acorns and nuts underfoot. We crossed the road, walked uphill for 5 minutes, then crossed another quiet road, continuing uphill, with far-reaching views to the sea. At 11.10am  we turned right and walked along a tarmac road until reaching Mirador Tajos del Angel at 11.25am. Here there is an information board of the whole area.

At this point we went the wrong way following the road to the Area Recreativa. After a good 15 minutes we realised and turned round. Back at the mirador, facing the way we had come, we turned right towards Hoya del Portillo, then 75m further on took a path on right by red and white markers. We followed the gently rising Barranco del Cerezo through exquisite pine forest, following the red and white GR posts. We walked over a wooden bridge, then leaving the red and white signs, took a right turn down a forestry track, passing a reservoir on right. The path from here becomes indistinct, we walked straight on turned right passing 2 marker posts, then turned left heading downhill eventually reaching cairns and a marker. Be careful here, as the path consists of loose stones, we reached a road by a bridge at 12.35pm. This is a popular beauty spot-Junta de Los Rios, with a plunging gorge. We turned right along the road, and after 450m we cut left by a marker post and a sign for Pitres. At 1.15pm we ate our lunch sitting by some very pretty water channels, then continued downhill through beautiful ancient woodland besides a fast flowing stream.

Arriving in the very pretty whitewashed village of Capilerilla (not to be confused with Capileira, a few miles away), we had a quick walk around the village, but there is not much there. Walking under 3 roof arches- tinaos-we followed the GR7 sign to Bubion (3.4km). We followed the path up a steep slope, turning left along a road. At 2.50pm we reached a fantastic view point, taking many photos. Leaving here at 3.30pm, we turned left down a steep slope, and we arrived back in Bubion at 4pm.

We did enjoy this walk, but we got lost too often, the path is not clear in places. Capilerilla was lovely when we eventually arrived, but not that interesting to make it a destination for a day out. I am sure there are other better walks in the area. But this walk, as most walks we do, did have fantastic views.

We ate dinner later at Restaurant Teide in Bubion which we have visited before. The restaurant opens at 7pm, try and get a window seat, then watch the sunset over the Mediterranean to Africa beyond. It is truly beautiful. The food is always delicious, with large portions, and a friendly waiter. We would definitely recommend this restaurant, it had been closed the 2 previous nights we were there.

Distance   8.3 miles (13.5km)

Duration of Walk 6.8 Hours 

Average Pace  50 Min/Mile

Steps  34872

Elevation Gained  2484 feet  (757m)

 

Information/Advice

As usual wear boots, take a phone, sun hats, sun tan lotion, and plenty of food and water as after leaving the start nothing is available.

At times this walk was rather hard to find, but it was pretty. When we reached Capilerilla we were disappointed that there are no facilities. I was expecting a cafe in the small village.

Check the weather forecast before setting off, as it would be a shame to walk and have no view.

We would recommend staying at the Hostel Las Terrazas in Bubion, having stayed here previously. The hotel has a lovely Spanish feel, the owners are very friendly Spanish speakers, a nice breakfast is served,(which can be paid for separately)  lots of walking routes have been printed out and the owners will copy these for you, as well as being good value for money. Bubion is a beautiful village, typical of the area, with a couple of restaurants and very small Coviran shop.

This area of Southern Spain is accessible from England either by driving through France and Spain, or flying to Malaga  then hiring a car or catching the reliable, cheap public transport or the route that we took driving from our home in Manchester then catching the 24 hour relaxing ferry from Plymouth to Santander, then touring through Spain.

Resources Used

Walking in Andalucía by Guy Hunter-Watts, Walk 28, Cicerone press

 

Websites used

https://www.mapmywalk.com/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather

https://www.expedia.co.uk/Bubion-Hotels-Hostal-Las-Terrazas-De-La-Alpujarra.h35602370.Hotel-Information where we stayed

https://www.restauranteteide.com/?utm_source=tripadvisor&utm_medium=referra  l restaurant where we ate

https://www.alsa.com/en/web/bus/home bus

http://www.andalucia.com/