Coastal Range Ride

Group transfer from Malaga airport no later then 5PM to the village of Bubión where you will be met by the ride organizer and guide. Overnight in the cozy and charming Casa la Sevillana, a comfortable 19th Century town house with 7 bedrooms with private shower-rooms, large patio, sitting room, breakfast room in the heart of the village and dinner in one of the local restaurants. 

After breakfast you will be driven to the stables situated 5 kilometers from the village of Bubion at an altitude of 1.650 meters. Today is a day ride local to the stables, enabling you to acclimatize to the area and altitude and getting you acquainting with your horse prior to setting out for the week. Leaving the stables take a small path up through summer pastures to join the main forestry track into the National Park with opportunities for canters. Follow the track to approximately 2.300 meters where it joins a bridle path which takes you through pinewoods to come out on the ridge of Barranco Habali at approximately 2,100 meters where we will stop for a picnic lunch. On a clear day the views down the valley are fantastic, across the Contraviesa, the Mediterranean and even Africa. After lunch the route descends through oak woods and open pasturelands to meet the main forestry track leading back to the stables. There are a few places where it is necessary to lead the horses for approximately 10 minutes each time. Overnight in Casa Sevillana and enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants. 5 hours saddle time.

Heading east, set off for the village of Trevelez, which at 1.476 meters, is the highest village in Spain. During the morning, follow the old mule paths through open countryside, orchards and small terraces as it skirts the villages of Capilerilla, Pitres to the village of Portugos for lunch. There are a few sections of the trail where it is necessary to lead the horses on some of the steeper descents. After lunch join the main forestry track to Trevelez. This track maintains pretty much the same altitude as it winds its way through woodlands and small mountain farms. There are some good opportunities for trots and nice canters. As you are coming into the village of Trevelez there will be a 15 min walk down an old stone path. Arrive in time to freshen up before dinner and overnight at the comfortable Hotel Fragua situated in the old Berber quarter of the town. Use of the pool at the hotel June through September. 6 hours saddle time.

Today the trail is over totally different terrain, through mountain farms and pine forests to the village of Berchules.

After a 10 minute walk through the streets of Trevelez the horses are watered at one of the many springs. Then mount up and head down to the river. Once across the river the you join a very pretty centuries-old bridle path following the ancient Moorish irrigation channel. Leaving the water channel below the path climbs steeply through evergreen Holm oak and pine forests to an altitude of approximately 2,200 metres.

Picnic lunch in the shade of the pine woods with spectacular views across the valley of Trevelez to the Mediterranean Sea. After lunch the path continues to climb for another 20 minutes to reach the top of the ridge and commence the descent to the village of Berchules.

During the afternoon a combination of bridle paths and forestry tracks descend through pine woods, open hill-sides, pasturelands and old farms. The path will bring you to the top of the village where you will need to lead the horses down to the stables. An approximately 25 minute walk. Overnight and dinner in the comfortable Hotel Berchules. Pool June to end September. 6 hours in the saddle. 

Today is a shorter ride with a late lunch at the hotel Alqueria de Morayma where you will also be spending the night. The route takes you down to the Contraviesa foothills, through very different and rapidly changing terrain. The morning starts with approximately a 15 walk down to the riverbed. Here you mount up and ride through small cultivated terraces and orchards to the town of Cadiar.

Leaving Cadiar below head into the foothills. the terrain becomes much more arid and eroded. Green cultivated land gives way to wild rosemary, thyme, almonds, figs and vineyards. 

The hotel Alqueria de Morayma is in a beautiful setting situated amongst almond groves above the river Cadiar, approximately 2 kilometers from the town of Cadiar. A perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon. Pool June to late September. 3 hours saddle time

Today you ride back to the village of Trevelez on a much lower route than that of day 4.  The first part of the path is through vineyards to a riverbed. Crossing the riverbed you pass along a dry arroyo to join the path up to the village of Lobras. From Lobrasit takes approximately 10 minutes on a small secondary road to the tiny village of Timar.  From here climb steeply on an old stone path to the village of Juviles, and then on to the open hills of the Sierra of Juviles.

Picnic lunch in the pine woods before starting the descent into the village of Trevelez.  On this descent there are places you will be required to lead your horses. Overnight  and dinner in the comfortable hotel Fragua. 6 hours saddle time. 

On the final day of the trail you return to the village of Bubion following the forestry track through pine and oak woods.  Here there are opportunities for some nice canters. Late lunch in the village of Bubion, with a chance of a well deserved siesta and maybe a little shopping. Overnight in Casa la Sevillana and farewell dinner. 3 hours saddle time. 

After breakfast transfer to Malaga for departure.