Beech's Euro Tour Part Deux

[Helen Ariel]

Lovely! Good composition - including the manhole surrounded by cobbles. Shame about the Size 11s creeping in!

I'm only a 6!

 

[suavecarve]

I'm only a 6!

Small manhole !

 

[Helen Ariel]

Bloody hell I'm in love with Andalusia. It just keeps getting better and better. I'm not sure Portugal will get a look in for future trips. There's just so much variety... Beaches, mountains and the history and architecture

So yesterday afternoon we headed into the Sierra de Grazalema natural park to a spot that looked possible for an overnight and a nice scenic walk and I must say it was possibly the most visually stunning natural place we've visited so far.

Spring bulbs and almond blossom bursting out on the walk down then a view of the old dam and we headed down steep steps into the bottom of the vertical sided gorge with vultures soaring above us. At the bottom we were rewarded with the most immense cave I've ever seen. 60 meters high and going back into the deepest depths. The photos of the info boards give more info if anyone is interested but it was like entering the underworld. Cold, silent apart from dripping water and the occasional bird fluttering high above in the cave ceiling. Very spooky and so wonderful.

Spot Paul for the scale ^

Where's Wally? ^

 

[KiwiKampers]

Your size 11's give those caves some scale in the photos. Amazing. Even Beech looks impressed.

 

[jongood]

The area up behind Malaga and across is lovely. So many great village Aires. I remember a hilltop one where the vultures seemed to hang in mid air at eye level but can't remember what is was called . I would apologise but you seem to be doing pretty well on the scenery front anyway

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[Helen Ariel]

The area up behind Malaga and across is lovely. So many great village Aires. I remember a hilltop one where the vultures seemed to hang in mid air at eye level but can't remember what is was called . I would apologise but you seem to be doing pretty well on the scenery front anyway

Ha yeah we are spoilt for choice at the moment! Ronda today so more photo bombs to follow.

 

[namwaldog]

We spent a long time travelling around this area below...

The area circled is especially spectacular and we have regretted never 'doing' Caminito del Rey.

Probably of no interest to you but in the noughties the Spanish built a brand new Renfe (national railway) interchange in the middle of nowhere near Bobadillo...

which involved some serious stretches of elevated railway which some say are a blot on the landscape but as a feat of engineering are spectacular.

Antquera is a very nice old town and well worth a visit.

We seriously considered buying a house in the very fertile valley to the NW of Ronda based on the town of Arriate.

 

[Helen Ariel]

We spent a long time travelling around this area below...

View attachment 576935

The area circled is especially spectacular and we have regretted never 'doing' Caminito del Rey.

Probably of no interest to you but in the noughties the Spanish built a brand new Renfe (national railway) interchange in the middle of nowhere near Bobadillo...

View attachment 576937

which involved some serious stretches of elevated railway which some say are a blot on the landscape but as a feat of engineering are spectacular.

Antquera is a very nice old town and well worth a visit.

We seriously considered buying a house in the very fertile valley to the NW of Ronda based on the town of Arriate.

We've visited El Chorro for mountain biking and hiking in the past and will definitely be visiting again this time once we've been to Málaga. I'll take a look at the other places you mention. I also find huge bridges and other feats of engineering fascinating particularly when in contrast to such rugged surroundings.

 

[busby]

Bloody hell I'm in love with Andalusia. It just keeps getting better and better. I'm not sure Portugal will get a look in for future trips. There's just so much variety... Beaches, mountains and the history and architecture

So yesterday afternoon we headed into the Sierra de Grazalema natural park to a spot that looked possible for an overnight and a nice scenic walk and I must say it was possibly the most visually stunning natural place we've visited so far.

Spring bulbs and almond blossom bursting out on the walk down then a view of the old dam and we headed down steep steps into the bottom of the vertical sided gorge with vultures soaring above us. At the bottom we were rewarded with the most immense cave I've ever seen. 60 meters high and going back into the deepest depths. The photos of the info boards give more info if anyone is interested but it was like entering the underworld. Cold, silent apart from dripping water and the occasional bird fluttering high above in the cave ceiling. Very spooky and so wonderful.

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Spot Paul for the scale ^
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Where's Wally? ^View attachment 576726View attachment 576728
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Definitely our favourite part of Spain inland Andalucia..but really dislike Costa del Sol..Great thread Helen. BUSBY.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Ronda is absolutely stunning. It must be the smartest, most architecturally pleasing place we've visited so far. I love the size, the place feels open and sunny unlike Cadiz with the tall buildings and narrow streets and being perched on a huge cliff, surrounded by gorgeous mountains all around, there are endless vistas to gaze at.

On arrival at the aire yesterday we were instantly flagged down by a fellow Brit who was keen to tell us all the local amenities and asked us to join him for a beer. As it wasn't even 1 o'clock and we wanted to explore we made a date for late afternoon drinkies and headed off.

We walked around the town, over the bridge and down the narrow path that goes almost to the bottom of the bridge where the waterfall splashes into a beautiful, clear pool of water.

After several miles walking around town the beer and friendly chat were calling so we got the chairs out back at the van and all sat out in the last of the evening sun. It's toasty when it's out but as soon as it's gone the temperature plummets.

Dave our new acquaintance, was extremely talkative and had recently retired from a very interesting career as a prison officer in a cat A prison looking after some seriously nasty and infamous inmates including Charlie Bronson, so I invited him to join us for dinner and the evening flew by aided by quite a lot of beer and a bottle of wine he kindly donated. As this is his 1st time motorhoming we passed on some tips for great places to stay.

Today we had another, shorter wander round Ronda , after managing to drive to the bottom of the ravine.

Spot the van in the pic below!

Then we decided to drive on into the Sierra de Grazalema natural park, an absolutely pristine arid environment of red earth, endless boulders strewn across the hills and even snowy peaks once we crested the road climb and came down the other side into the pine forests. We're now parked in a free spot with one other van just outside El Burgo and planning on a bike ride tomorrow.

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[Mikey RV]

Enjoying your trip, keep the pics coming.

 

[Helen Ariel]

So we had an amazing drive from Ronda through the Parque Nacional Sierra de las Nieves to a little town called El Burgo where there was a nice free spot. From there we went for a fantastic MTB ride into the heart of the park, riding for 20 miles and climbing over 2500ft.

Stunning scenery & steady climbs, but we had to be careful as it was still frosty in places.

Big frosty patch in the pic below!

It was such a beautiful place. Absolutely pristine wilderness which is what we love and there was not a breath of wind so it was eerily quiet and still for the whole ride which is unusual in the mountains. Back for showers and then another cracking drive to another free spot above the town of Álora with its Moorish fort dominating the skyline.

Then we left for the short drive to the huge free aire in Malaga for a weekend of city life, plus we needed to use the free services.
Lots of vans of all shapes & sizes, but still lots of spaces to choose from.

It’s right beside a couple of big sports stadiums, and about 1km from the beach so Beech got a walk and a swim before lunch.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Beech is loving the warm weather on the coast after a week in the mountains.

 

[namwaldog]

Lovely photos bringing back great and happy travels and memories for us of the areas you are currently visiting. Surprising how easily we can be transported back there.
A big thank you from us.
Hopefully we'll be back soon too. Pats to Beech.
Take care and stay safe.
Margaret and Barry.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Lovely photos bringing back great and happy travels and memories for us of the areas you are currently visiting. Surprising how easily we can be transported back there.
A big thank you from us.
Hopefully we'll be back soon too. Pats to Beech.
Take care and stay safe.
Margaret and Barry.

I hope you get out soon. We're falling more and more in love with Spain each place we visit at the moment!

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[Lenny HB]

I hope you get out soon. We're falling more and more in love with Spain each place we visit at the moment!

Once you get away from the main touristy bits Spain just gets better & better.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Once you get away from the main touristy bits Spain just gets better & better.

Absolutely and having the motorhome so enables that. I'd say it rivals France for it's motorhome friendliness. All i knew of Spain pre motorhome was The Canaries and Minorca.

 

[Dutch 68]

So we had an amazing drive from Ronda through the Parque Nacional Sierra de las Nieves to a little town called El Burgo where there was a nice free spot. From there we went for a fantastic MTB ride into the heart of the park, riding for 20 miles and climbing over 2500ft.

View attachment 577801

Stunning scenery & steady climbs, but we had to be careful as it was still frosty in places.

View attachment 577802
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Big frosty patch in the pic below!

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View attachment 577809

It was such a beautiful place. Absolutely pristine wilderness which is what we love and there was not a breath of wind so it was eerily quiet and still for the whole ride which is unusual in the mountains. Back for showers and then another cracking drive to another free spot above the town of Álora with its Moorish fort dominating the skyline.

View attachment 577810

Then we left for the short drive to the huge free aire in Malaga for a weekend of city life, plus we needed to use the free services.
Lots of vans of all shapes & sizes, but still lots of spaces to choose from.

View attachment 577812

It’s right beside a couple of big sports stadiums, and about 1km from the beach so Beech got a walk and a swim before lunch.

View attachment 577814

Beautiful photo’s again, have you found your favourite spot yet? Where would you buy if you would settle in south of Spain and why?

 

[Helen Ariel]

Beautiful photo’s again, have you found your favourite spot yet? Where would you buy if you would settle in south of Spain and why?

The national parks on either side of Ronda are the most beautiful areas we've come across so far but plenty more exploring to do yet. Andalusia is about all we could narrow it down to at the moment. Málaga has been brilliant today. The best market and street food we've been to so far.

 

[Lenny HB]

Malaga often gets bypassed as loads of holiday packages fly in but they never stop to visit the city. With the new port the cruise ships now stop there.
We thought it was a lovely city.

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[2657]

Fully agree with Lenny HB , Malaga is our 2nd favourite city in Spain after Seville.
We have not been for a few years but when we used to fly in and hire a car for a week's touring in Andalusia we always spent at least one night in Malaga.
Our tour consisted of Malaga, Ronda, Seville, sometimes Cordoba and the areas around those places, 20 years ago now though!
Visited Andalusia many times when we toured with the 5'er but never found anywhere near to Malaga, hope to do a short tour later in Spring this year.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Fully agree with Lenny HB , Malaga is our 2nd favourite city in Spain after Seville.
We have not been for a few years but when we used to fly in and hire a car for a week's touring in Andalusia we always spent at least one night in Malaga.
Our tour consisted of Malaga, Ronda, Seville, sometimes Cordoba and the areas around those places, 20 years ago now though!
Visited Andalusia many times when we toured with the 5'er but never found anywhere near to Malaga, hope to do a short tour later in Spring this year.

We're going to spend quite a bit of time around Málaga i think. The market was absolutely buzzing today. I didn't know where to look! Ended up eating seafood standing at the counter I've no idea what it even was. Plus a couple of Vermouths!

 

[2657]

We're going to spend quite a bit of time around Málaga i think. The market was absolutely buzzing today. I didn't know where to look! Ended up eating seafood standing at the counter I've no idea what it even was. Plus a couple of Vermouths!

We loved the bars in Malaga, it was quite often Friday when we stayed in a Hostel towards the dock area.
Early evening was for families in the pastelerias and ice cream shops then the tapas bars opened about 8.30 and we had to fight our way to the bar in many of them, the fried fish is excellent
We finished around 11.00 and while walking back to the hostel we we would be confronted by hordes if young people going in the opposite direction towards the centre. Loved it, bit old and kn*****d now for the evening thing but we still love wandering around the bars at lunchtime when we are in Spanish cities.

 

[Helen Ariel]

We loved the bars in Malaga, it was quite often Friday when we stayed in a Hostel towards the dock area.
Early evening was for families in the pastelerias and ice cream shops then the tapas bars opened about 8.30 and we had to fight our way to the bar in many of them, the fried fish is excellent
We finished around 11.00 and while walking back to the hostel we we would be confronted by hordes if young people going in the opposite direction towards the centre. Loved it, bit old and kn*****d now for the evening thing but we still love wandering around the bars at lunchtime when we are in Spanish cities.

Yeah can't handle waiting till 8.30 for my dinner and we'd still be the only ones in and no atmosphere. Lunches all the way particularly in winter when it's chilly as soon as it goes dark. Maybe different if we were here in summer and too hot to do anything in the daytime.

 

[Lynne Roy]

Malaga often gets bypassed as loads of holiday packages fly in but they never stop to visit the city. With the new port the cruise ships now stop there.
We thought it was a lovely city.

Where did you stay Lenny

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[busby]

Malaga often gets bypassed as loads of holiday packages fly in but they never stop to visit the city. With the new port the cruise ships now stop there.
We thought it was a lovely city.

Same here.Stayed on the Camperstop on the beach north of Malaga and walked in.Great city,,nice and compact.Not keen on the coast south of there until Estapona..BUSBY.

 

[bellabee]

Did Beech go into Malaga with you, Helen Ariel ?
Malaga is on our 'to-do-list', but we don't want to leave our young dog alone in the van for longer than a couple of hours.
How did you travel from the aire into the city? Is it cyclable?

 

[Helen Ariel]

Did Beech go into Malaga with you, Helen Ariel ?
Malaga is on our 'to-do-list', but we don't want to leave our young dog alone in the van for longer than a couple of hours.
How did you travel from the aire into the city? Is it cyclable?

She's been a bit slow recently. Think we over did it for her with the wilderness hikes this last week so she had a gentle beach walk this morning then left her to sleep. She is happy being left for up to 6 hours occasionally these days. The aire is right by the metro station which is a 10 minute ride into the centre. It was 3 euros return or you could cycle or it's an hours walk.

 

[Lenny HB]

Where did you stay Lenny

Rincon de la Victoria, we got the bus in.

 

[busby]

Did Beech go into Malaga with you, Helen Ariel ?
Malaga is on our 'to-do-list', but we don't want to leave our young dog alone in the van for longer than a couple of hours.
How did you travel from the aire into the city? Is it cyclable?

It's walkable and cyclable from the Camperstop on the beach,,BUSBY.

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