A walk along the GR7 long distance path in the Alpujarras

Villages on the GR7 long distance path through the Alpujarras are conveniently placed about 2 hours apart. These provide welcome rest halts or overnight stops as one passes through the area. Our personal favourite is back from Capileira via Bubion, Pampaneira, Soportujar and Cañar to Lanjaron. Takes a leisurely 6-7 hours, passes through spectacular scenery and white villages and is mostly downhill!

Always interesting, appealing, varied and relaxing! The Alpujarras offer something for everyone. The contrasting views, the rich heritage as well as the open friendliness of the people makes this an ideal location for a walking holiday. Many of the villages have public drinking fountains where you can enjoy an ice-cold glass of mineral water or fill a bottle for later.

entering-canar-gr7

The GR7 is one of the top long distance paths running through Europe. Combine the beauty, sunshine, villages and ideal walking of the Alpujarras and the result is a enticing mixture. You will walk at between about 700 metres and 1400 metres most days.

The Alpujarra boast stunning scenery, hot sunny weather and is a wonderful area for walking. During the spring and autumn months the surroundings are particularly beautiful; in spring the land is carpeted with a vast array of wild flowers and blossom adorns the fruit trees which are dotted around the slopes. In autumn leaves turn. The area is characterised by steep valleys scoured by rivers and streams hurtling down the mountainside from the snow covered slopes above, many of which rise to over 3000 metres. Traditional farming has left a legacy of terraced valley sides, dotted with small buildings or cortijos, which were the summer residence of village farmers.

Canar from the GR7 above Lanjaron

The Alpujarra was one of the last outposts of the Moors when they ruled Spain many years ago. They left a legacy of attractive villages, built in a style unique to this part of Spain, together with many miles of acequias, a complicated system of irrigation which remains to this day. These are fed from numerous springs which are a product of the snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevadas, producing crystal clear waters enriched with minerals. Many of the villages have public drinking fountains where you can enjoy an ice cold glass of mineral water or fill a bottle for later.

Below is a short video of a recent trip along the GR7 in the Alpujarras, starting at Capileira and ending in Lanjaron.