ABOUT THE AREA

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ARRIVAL FROM THE UK

Granada Airport is less than 40 minutes drive and is currently served by flights from: Gatwick (Monarch), Stanstead and Liverpool (Ryanair).

The airports at Malaga and Almeria are less than two hours drive and are served by flights from a wider range of UK airports

GETTING AROUND ANDALUCIA

The Lecrin Valley is ideally placed for exploring Andalucia. The villages are all within easy reach of the main road between Granada and the Costa Tropical. The Alpujarras may be reache

Exploring further afield is easy by car with a good network of motorways and trunk roads linking the Lecrin valley with all the major Andalucian cities and places of interest.

Public transport is good with bus links to Granada and the coast. There are bus and train links from Granada to all parts of Andalucia plus major towns and cities around Spain. Granada airport has flights to Madrid and Barcelona as well as several other European cities and further services are planned.

THE LECRIN VALLEY

Situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the Lecrin Valley has spectacular scenery and its own microclimate and geology. It is still largely an agricultural area with the main crops being almonds, oranges and olives as well as local wine (mosto) and delicious seasonal vegetables. The villages are small and relatively unspoilt. Traditions are still strong with each village having its own cuisine and fiestas.

This is an excellent area for walking and mountain biking with routes for all levels of ability. The GR7 passes through.

GRANADA

This beautiful Andalucian city opens its arms to welcome visitors with a warmth that is hard to match. It is a city which is more like a large village. Small enough to walk around, one can quickly move from boulevards of shops and elegant buildings to areas with tiny streets full of local colour.

Any guide book will give a good account of the many attractions of Granada. It is a city buzzing with things to do but one of the best ways to absorb the atmosphere of the place is to do as the Granadinos do - find a good bar with outside seating and spend a while drinking local wine, eating the generously-offered tapas and watching the world go by!

THE COSTA TROPICAL

The coastline of Granada province provides a variety of family resorts each with its own flavour.

Almuñecar is the largest, most cosmopolitan resort with year-round attractions. It hosts an internationally-renowned summer Jazz Festival.

Salobreña with its hill-top castle and old town is an elegant small resort with plenty of restaurants on the beach and along the promenade.

La Herradura with its wide sweep of sand backed by mountains is smaller still and quite exclusive.

Marina del Este has an extensive watersports centre as well as a good range of shops and restaurants.

At Motril there is a large port, plenty of fish restaurants. Recent developments have included golf courses.

Between the major resorts there are smaller villages and secluded beaches - something for everyone!

THE ALPUJARRAS

Anyone who has read "Driving over Lemons" by Chris Stewart will be familiar with the Alpujarras an area on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevda which stretches for 100 miles from the Lecrin Valle in the west to Almeria province in the east. The last stronghold of the Moors when the Catholic kings re-conquered Andalucia, it retains a moorish flavour with Berber-style, flat-roofed houses and many North African influences in its cuisine. A mountainous region, it is ideal territory for walking and mountain biking. Recent developments in local tourism mean that you can also explore on horseback or in four-wheel drive safaris.

This is an area rich in arts and crafts. It also produces many interesting wines ideal for drinking with the local cheeses and cured meats. A fascinating area to explore.

SOL Y NIEVE - SIERRA NEVADA SKI RESORT

Aptly named (Sun and Snow) the ski resort is open from December until the end of April. A paradise for beginners and intermediates alike, good for snowboarding too. There is an extensive network of well-tended pistes served by a good lift system. The weekends are busy but midweek it is possible to ski without queuing for a single lift!

The resort itself has good ski hire shops as well as plenty of restaurants. The ski school can arrange lessons.

Non-skiers can hire a sledge from 'Hoya de la Mora' above the resort, walk up the mountain road towards the peak of Veleta, or simply order a drink and enjoy the sun and the stunning, snowy scenery.