If you are looking for the perfect destination for a walking holiday, you need not look any further from home than Spain. The sheer number of wonderful walking routes through beautiful and inspiring countryside in this quite glorious country cannot be underestimated, and there is something here for everyone, from newcomers to those experienced in more rigorous hiking.
We have taken a look at some of the best hiking spots in Spain, and we’ve split them into three levels of experience for you – novice, intermediate and experienced – so that you can choose the ones that suit you and your group best. Review your fitness levels carefully, and choose a route that will satisfy both your body and soul. Let’s have a look!
Hiking Routes for Novices
Hiking is a wonderful way of getting the most out of a location, and when it comes to the most beautiful walking routes in Spain, you have plenty of choice.
For beginners, there are many options available. For many people, a gentle walk is quite enough – and is also great exercise – and we strongly recommend that you check out the magnificent landscapes of the Aracena Sierra for perfect, easy walking routes. There is something peaceful and very special about this part of the country, and it makes a sensible choice if you or your group are inexperienced.
Also suitable for those with little experience are the pilgrim ways of the Camino de Santiago, or ‘The Way of St James’. This ancient and much-travelled selection of routes, beginning in many places close to the border with France and leading to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, offers you a chance to retrace the steps of pilgrims visiting the remains of the Apostle James the Great, whose remains are claimed to be burried in the cathedral.
For novices, we recommend any leg of the Camino Frances in Spain, as it is much less rough on the feet, yet still provides all that you are looking for in a walk – wonderful scenery, inns and hotels readily available, and plenty of history to enjoy.
Intermediate Level Routes
If you are a little more experienced and want something that is a bit of a challenge – yet won’t tax your group or yourself too much – try the magnificent Camino Portuguese. Taking in the very best of the landscape and locations in the region, this is a truly rural walking route that will make for a quite magnificent experience for those with more experience, and it offers some breath-taking views too.
If near Madrid, the glorious Penalara is the place to take in the sites with an energetic hike. Offering superb views and an experience that will stay with your forever, this round trip walk takes about three and a half hours and is strongly recommended for those who have more experience in tackling unusual or taxing terrain.
For the Experienced Hikers
The routes mentioned are not, of course, exclusive to those with less experience; many of the routes that make up the Camino de Santiago, for example, offer challenging sections that can be enjoyed by those who are looking for something that takes more effort, and there are many more besides.
For a real challenge, you could try the Pico Sobarcal in the Pyrenees close to the French border. This one is not for the feint-hearted, as it climbs more than 2200m. The early stages of the climb are simple and not at all challenging for the experienced, but the higher stages – as you get nearer the peak – should only be attempted by people with the relevant experience and knowledge. The views once you get there, however, are well worth the seven or more hours it takes to get to the top.
If you are looking for a variety in levels and challenges, check out the Vias Verdes. A collection of walks that, in total, measure some 7000km, this is a marked and measured path selection that offers everyone a chance to enjoy the very best of walking in Spain, and that will appeal to people of all different levels of experience.
Spain has a rich history of walking holidays, so whatever level of experience you have, and whatever sort of walk you are looking for, there will be something here for you. The beauty of the countryside, stunning mountains, plus the great food and many wonderful cities, towns and villages make Spain a friendly and welcoming place to walk in and enjoy, so whatever your level experience – and whether you are planning to walk as part of a group or on your own – check out the routes mentioned and get ready for the perfect walking holiday.
Author’s Bio:
Rebecca is a translator by day, and a traveler mostly at night. She is an expert on living with jet lag – and packing in tiny suitcases. You can read more of her exploits at RoughDraft.
