Answer

By Trail magazine

The Ronda mountains are situated north of Malaga in the Adalucian region of Spain. The hills in this area are pretty modest by European standards – the highest peak is 1,919m: still well over 500m higher than Ben Nevis. But what they lack in height they more than make up for in magnificent Iberian spectacle.

The landscape here is a mixture of steeply rising limestone buttresses, weathered, jagged formations and deep valleys. Look up and you’ll see eagles and griffon vultures circling on currents of warm air. Set out on one of the local walks and you’ll be strolling through ancient olive groves with sheep and goats grazing on the hillside. It is a rural idyll, high enough to be cooled by the breeze off the Mediterranean to the south.

The main town is Ronda, site of Spain’s oldest bull-ring, which is situated on top of a massive limestone buttress 3,000ft above sea level. The Rio Guadelevin runs through the town dividing it in two and forming the El Tajo canyon. The two halves of the town are linked by a spectacular bridge – el Puente Nuevo – built 1793 – that towers some 120m from the canyon floor.

Three natural parks surround Ronda so there is plenty of walking on hand and this can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. The town of Ronda is already at Munro height, so walks starting from here can easily avoid lots of ascent. But if you want something a little more demanding, there is plenty on offer. You’ll find ten good starter routes by clicking here.

If you’re keen on climbing then there are some excellent routes to be found in El Chorro mountains. These are mostly fully bolted sport routes, which only require quickdraws, but there are some routes that require a more extensive rack for protection. For more details check out the Rockfax website which has details of El Chorro climbs.

If you’re into biking then this is a great area for two-wheeled exploration. It takes about two hours to freewheel from Ronda to the coast, but it can take almost a full day to climb the 900m back to town.

While the Ronda mountains don’t have the sheer drama of the Picos or Pyrenees in northern Spain, or even the lesser-known Gredos national park to the west of Madrid – a favourite with city weekenders – they do offer a delightful slice of Spanish life that has made few concessions to tourism.