Day Trips

Cádiz

Cádiz, the capital and principal seaport of the Cádiz province of Andalusia, stands on a peninsula jutting out into a bay, and is almost entirely surrounded by water. Hemmed in by the sea from which it is protected by walls, the city has only one land exit. Unlike most other ports of its size Cadiz seems relaxed, easy going, and not at all threatening, even at night. The town has traditionally been a bastion of liberalism and tolerance which was maintained all through the years of Franco's dictatorship and can be experienced today.

Industrial development is rather limited, but more importantly private and public beaches are the key attraction here. Many are considered the best in Europe and the water is of great quality. The city is primarily a commercial port, exporting wine (principally sherry from Jerez de la Frontera), salt, olives, figs, corks, and salted fish; and importing coal, iron and machinery, timber, cereals, and coffee.

Jerez de la Frontera

In 1587 Sir Francis Drake made a devastating raid on Cadiz, setting fire to the whole of the Spanish fleet, and helping himself to some 300,000 gallons of sherry. This huge supply of wine must have contributed to establishing a taste for the wine in Britain. As a result, a large number of English, Irish and Scottish settled in the area and there have been strong ties between Jerez, Britain and Ireland ever since. The most impressive sight in Jerez is the El Alcazar or Moorish Fortress built in the 11th century. Jerez is an attractive town small enough to visit on foot. Also visits to the "bodegas" may be arranged in advance by calling the various sherry houses (they all speak English).

Ronda

Rising amid a ring of dark angular mountains is the Andalucian town of Ronda. Built on an isolated ridge of the sierra, it is split in half by the gaping river gorge of the River Tajo with a sheer drop of 130m on three sides. A stupendous 18th Century bridge spans the gorge, while tall, whitewashed houses lean from its precipitous edges. Other attractions include the Bullring which was built in 1781 and is one of the earliest in Spain. The bullfights during the Feria de Ronda held in May take place in 18th century costume. The bullring can be visited to wander around the arena and there is also a museum inside.

El Pinar

Just 3 km away (1.8 miles) El Pinar boasts one of the most spectacular cliff faces in the province, the cliffs of Caños de Meca, which reach a height of 100m (328ft) above sea level. The woodland extends right up to the cliff tops. Its pine trees were originally planted at the end of the last century as a reforestation project to stabilize the sand dunes and prevent their shifting inland. The forest consists principally of "umbrella pines" accompanied by sabinas, junipers, a Mediterranean brushwood and sandy soils, and is worthy of note for being one of the most diverse and well-conserved of its kind on the Andalucian coast.

Los Alcornocales

The Alcornocales Nature Park is undoubtedly one of the jewels of Spain's many protected nature reserves. Covering over 170,000 hectares this park is unique in Europe not only for its size but also for the fact that there is not a single town, village or hamlet within its boundaries. The density of the woodland, the 1,000m (3280ft) peaks, the narrow valleys and ridges are what has protected this area from man's development. The Alcornocales Park is Europe's largest continuous woodland area and coincidentally the largest oak forest on our planet.

Sadly bears and wolves are no longer a feature of the park's wildlife. The last of these mammals were killed only forty years ago. Wildlife is now protected by strict measures and red deer, roe deer and wild boar are a common sight. The park is also home to an astounding variety of smaller wildlife such as otters, polecats, foxes, mongoose and the Iberian Lynx which are occasionally seen. On the highest peaks the population of the elusive "Cabra Montes" (mountain goat) is flourishing.

Overhead Griffon vultures soar on thermals. This is only one of the many birds of prey that live in the park. Protected by the remote and rugged terrain, Imperial eagles; booted eagles and Egyptian vultures soar overhead. Smaller birds of prey include peregrine falcons, sparrow hawks and kestrels.

Grazalema

In 1977 UNESCO declared the Grazalema Natural Park a Reserve of the Biosphere in recognition of its astounding natural values. The limestone rock forms spectacular features of immense caves, crags and canyons while a dense Mediterranean forest of cork oak, common oak and wild olive covers and fills the landscape. This spectacular mountain range was the frontier post of innumerable battles between the Moors and the Christians, whose cultural and architectural legacies dominate the small villages and towns of the park. The Natural Park extends over an area of 51,695 hectares. The Sierra del Pinar at 1654m (5425ft) is its highest point with spectacular views over the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz.

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