Where we are

WALKSPAIN is located in Spain’s most southerly and sunny region, Andalucia. We live in the stunning Ronda Mountains, or La Serrania de Ronda, on the edge of the province of Malaga. Our village is called Yunquera and is located in the centre of the Sierra De Las Nieves Natural Park and United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Biosphere.

Village

The village of Yunquera is a typical white village nestled in the centre of the Sierra de Las Nieves park. There are 3200 people living in the area, many in the countryside. This is a working agricultural village and tourism is still at a low level leaving the village unspoilt. There is only one hotel and that’s yours! In addition to the hotel, there are craft shops and useful banks and grocers. Yunquera has an incredible number of bars. It is rumoured to be 42 but we have never found them all, so come and help us look!

Andalucia

Andalucia is rich in environmentally sensitive countryside and approximately 19% of the entire area has protected status of one sort or another. This is even more impressive when you consider that Andalucia is huge, some 17% of Spain’s total land area. Please don’t think about the Spanish Costas when thinking about our area! They are close enough for us to use their airports - about 1 hour – but so far away in mentality and style that we could be in a different country.

Unesco Biosphere

In 1995 The Sierra De Las Nieves Natural Park was given World Status by UNESCO because of the presence of a unique tree, the Pinsapo (Abies Pinsapo) or Spanish Fir. The Pinsapo is a lucky survivor from the last Ice Age but now there are only small quantities – groups of up to 300 trees – left in Southern Spain. The Yunquera valley is the exception to this where there is a considerable forest. It was here in 1837 that a Swiss botanist called Edmund Boisser first realised that he had discovered an unrecorded species. Visits to the Pinsapo forest are restricted during times of high fire risk.

Sierra De Las Nieves

The Sierra De Las Nieves is a unique habitat. The area is influenced by the varied weather systems of the European and African continental landmasses as well as the Mediterrean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Due to the height of the mountain range, up to 1909m /6263ft, it is snow capped in the depths of winter. However, the current global trend towards warmer climates has made its mark in this area with the period of snow cover falling from months down to weeks and recently to just a few days in an average year. The cold winter weather, in contrast to the hot summer temperatures makes for a walking environment with diverse and often rare plant species. Wildlife frequently seen includes wild boar, roe deer, and the Spanish Ibex. Bird spotters will enjoy bee eaters, hoopoes, griffin vultures, and eagles including Short-toed, Bonelli´s and Booted. The spectacular tracks that we use were originally built to transport ice in the days before refrigeration. David, your guide, will tell you about the many fascinating ways this land has been used by its human inhabitants throughout history. A walk with us is therefore not just a walk in nature but also a walk back in time.

History

Spain is arguably Europe’s most historically interesting country. You will witness the legacy of at least 4 major invasions (Carthaginians/Romans/Goths and Arabs) and a subsequent Spanish re-conquest. Religion in Spain has moved through paganism, early Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, and its current Roman Catholic national religion. There has always been a significant Jewish community in Spain and their influence is also seen. During the Golden Age of Spain, its empire stretched to the ends of the known world. All these influences loom large in the WALKSPAIN area, with the jewels in the crown being the Celtic dolmens in Antequera and our splendid local arab town of Ronda (see OTHER ACTIVITIES). Yunquera itself was founded by the Romans, calling it Juncaira, or place of the reeds (Juncas in Latin). The Arabs later changed the spelling of the name to Yunquera. There will be many opportunities to explore the physical reminders of the various civilisations who have lived in the area over the years. David will bring the history of Spain alive with many stories illustrated by your surroundings during the walks and continuing in the terrace bars as you take a drink and a well earned rest.