Hiking in Spain (Lonely Planet Walking Guides)

Features 58 hike descriptions covering Spain, from the Camino de Santiago to Mallorca. This title includes practical information on equipment, transport, accommodation, eating and drinking.

When it comes to seeing a country in its true light away from the neon glow of the city, getting off the beaten track is not only desirable--it's essential. Certainly in Spain's case it makes a lot of sense to take to the hills, for while Europe's third largest country may attract 47 million visitors a year, tourists are mostly confined to a few densely populated coastal areas, leaving vast tracts of the Iberian peninsula relatively deserted.

One of Spain's greatest virtues is its amazing variety, whether it be the terrain, climate, dialect, cuisine or the temperament of the local inhabitants. This diversity is admirably represented in Walking in Spain's selection of treks. Will you choose the Galician green fjords in the North West, the arid cliff tops and serene blue waters of the Cabo de Gata in the South East, the inland plains of Castilla, the snow-capped Picosde Europa or the famous pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago? The book contains many wonderful dilemmas for the aspiring walker.

Every walk is graded for difficulty and each itinerary contains detailed information about distances and times involved, useful landmarks, as well as discussions on the flora and fauna, architecture and history of a region. Walking in Spain makes it easy to leave behind the pollution of the city, abandon your motorised vehicle, fasten your backpack, pull on your boots and set off into the sunset of one of Europe's emptiest and most beautiful lands. -- Tom de Castella