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Andalucian Cottages, Montejaque

whitewashed mountain villages • rugged limestone scenery sheltering rich wildlife

The incredibly beautiful white town of Ronda

The properties:

• 1-3 bedrooms (sleep up to 6) • bathroom • open-plan dining & living room • basic kitchen with at least a 2-ring hob and fridge (some properties have wider facilities) • 2 shared pools (usually open from mid-March to mid-October) • barbecue available on request

Activities/facilities available:

• walking (notes provided) • mountain bike hire (from house) • city bike hire from nearby Ronda • horse rding lcoally • pot holing • climbing • guided bird-watching tours • nearest shops & restaurant in village

> Prices & travel

The idyllic location of the Andalucian Cottages

Rewarding walking in dramatic mountain scenery, delightful pueblos blancos (white towns and villages), a wealth of birds and flowers - this fascinating corner of south-west Andalucia has something for everyone. This area is very popular with walkers, who come to enjoy the first-rate walking in the region and we provide a wide variety of route notes so that you can do the same.

Walking in the spectacular Grazalema National Park

The small pueblo blanco of Montejaque (pronounced ‘montay-hackay’) sits on the side of a mountain in the Sierra de Libar range and is a typical white town of the area, with whitewashed houses and weathered terracotta roofs. These villages are truly spectacular, set against a dramatic backdrop of green forests and rocky mountains, and the walking here is simply wonderful. We provide route notes for four walks of moderate difficulty (grade 2 or 2-3):

Around Montejaque (11km, 4h): this is a good introduction to the countryside surrounding Montejaque, which is characterised by isolated farmsteads, pastureland grazed by sheep and goats, olive groves and limestone ridges framing the views.
To Ronda (13km, 5h): Ronda is perhaps the most famous of the pueblos blancos, and approaching it on foot means that you can appreciate to the full its spectacular location on the edges of a deep ravine. The route winds up to the crest of a ridge, from where you descend into the next valley and climb to a second ridge, where you are greeted with your first views of Ronda. Following the ridge, you continue to enjoy good vistas of the town, then descend through a wood of holm oaks and walk along a wooded gully to enter Ronda through the lower town walls. Take time to explore (Ronda boasts an atmospheric Old Quarter, one of Spain's oldest bullrings and several viewpoints into the gorge) before returning to Montejaque by train or taxi (pay locally).
Ronda's Ravine (grade 2, 2h): starting in the heart of the Old Quarter, you descend along a paved path down the side of the 130-metre-deep gorge, gaining a close-up view of the rock's strata and the many fossils it contains. This is a walk with plenty of ornithological interest too - you may spot kestrels, choughs and other birds as you walk across the valley floor before winding uphill back into Ronda.
The Secret Valley (grade 2-3, 14km, 5h): this circular walk from nearby Grazalema follows a beautiful route over the ridge of the Sierra del Endrinal (‘Blackthorn Mountains’) to an old ruined farmhouse standing in a secret valley amid poplars and tiny streams, and encircled by a high wall of sheer rock.

Pleasant walking leading to pretty villages

For sightseeing or a little culture, you could drive a few kilometres south to the Pileta Caves with their prehistoric art, go further afield to explore other white towns like Arcos de la Frontera, head for the coast or make the worthwhile trip to explore the magnificent Alhambra Palace in the ancient city of Granada.

Shady villages squares for a refeshing and relaxing hour or two

Montejaque, your base, is a sleepy village of narrow, twisting streets and whitewashed houses set against a backdrop of rugged limestone peaks. It feels pleasantly authentic, with a handful of tapas bars and restaurants, and the properties we feature here are dotted all over the village, the modern ones clustered together round one of three swimming pools, the older houses tucked away in the winding streets.

A simple yet stylish bedroom

Your friendly host, Cristóbal, has worked hard to see that all are decorated and furnished to the same simple, but very comfortable, standard, carefully converting the older houses so that they retain all their original character. The bright, traditional-style accommodation features terracotta floors and wooden beams, and all properties, including the charming village houses, have full use of the shared pools. This is an ideal location for an active family and when you stay here you will feel part of a real Spanish village.

Prices & travel 2009:

Property & hire car includes: 7 days' category A car hire (eg VW Polo)
Recommended airport: Malaga
Driving time from airport: 1h40
Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you
Start: any day

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