THIS is something I've written for inclusion in guidebooks, hopefully. I'm sending this some publishers I've come across for their next revised edition of their guides of this area.
The Genal Valley of the Serranía de Ronda, Málaga
(for inclusion in Costa del Sol Guide, Andalucia & Spain guidebooks)
(for inclusion in Costa del Sol Guide, Andalucia & Spain guidebooks)
The quiet and restful Genal Valley has a history that goes back hundreds of years. It is located in the Serrania de Ronda just to the south of the bustling white village of Ronda. It is sandwiched happily between two national parks, La Sierra de las Nieves and Grazalema. There are two main roads that access the valley, the A369 which is known locally as the Ronda - Algeciras road and the A397 (formerly known as A376), known as the Ronda - San Pedro road.
Each road has a turn-off to the Upper Genal Valley. Following the A397 (formerly A376) from the town of San Pedro de Alcantara on the Costa del Sol, the turn for the Valley is located 11km before Ronda. The A397 is a winding mountain road with plenty of traffic, especially in the summer months. It will repay you with the fantastic views of the coast, Gibraltar and, on a clear day, the mountains of North Africa. Following the turn for the Genal Valley, one will see six of the seven white villages of the upper valley, Parauta, Cartajima, Júzcar, Puerra, Faraján and Alpandeire. All have populations of less than 300 and all have very traditional lifestyles. Mobile vendors still pass through these villages on certain days of the week selling a wonderful variety of wares: bread, fish, vegetables, melons among an orchards worth of fruit, as well as fabrics.
Because the upper Genal Valley is still not widely known or developed, it is not heavily travelled; it is therefore a recommended destination for those looking for peace and quiet in a traditional Spanish environment. Each March until May, the valley is filled with wild flowers. As many as 2,000 species growing in this area in springtime with different blooms appearing weekly. The Genal Valley is also chestnut country. In May, the upper valley is filled with the pungent odour of the yellow chestnut flowers in bloom. In autumn, there is a swath of autumnal colours burning across the valley as the chestnut leaves pass through their seasonal change.
Each road has a turn-off to the Upper Genal Valley. Following the A397 (formerly A376) from the town of San Pedro de Alcantara on the Costa del Sol, the turn for the Valley is located 11km before Ronda. The A397 is a winding mountain road with plenty of traffic, especially in the summer months. It will repay you with the fantastic views of the coast, Gibraltar and, on a clear day, the mountains of North Africa. Following the turn for the Genal Valley, one will see six of the seven white villages of the upper valley, Parauta, Cartajima, Júzcar, Puerra, Faraján and Alpandeire. All have populations of less than 300 and all have very traditional lifestyles. Mobile vendors still pass through these villages on certain days of the week selling a wonderful variety of wares: bread, fish, vegetables, melons among an orchards worth of fruit, as well as fabrics.
Because the upper Genal Valley is still not widely known or developed, it is not heavily travelled; it is therefore a recommended destination for those looking for peace and quiet in a traditional Spanish environment. Each March until May, the valley is filled with wild flowers. As many as 2,000 species growing in this area in springtime with different blooms appearing weekly. The Genal Valley is also chestnut country. In May, the upper valley is filled with the pungent odour of the yellow chestnut flowers in bloom. In autumn, there is a swath of autumnal colours burning across the valley as the chestnut leaves pass through their seasonal change.
Along the boundary between Cartajima and Júzcar lies another area which is worth a visit. This is Los Riscos (literally, "The Cliffs"). It is a wild area in which millennia of winter winds and rains have worn the limestone of the terrain into a series of wild natural sculptures. Although these are not as spectacular as others in the province of Málaga, they are worth seeing as a reminder of how desolate and remote this area was in the days before paved roads and the combustion engine and of the days when a handful of hardy Berber Arabs made their way into the mountains from the coast on mule and on foot and decided to stay.
The Valley is a great destination for motorcyclists, cyclists, walkers, bird watchers, star gazers, rock climbers painters, photographers, writers and nature enthusiasts. For bird watchers especially, this area is a must. It is right on the north-south corridor for the annual bird migrations. It is not unusual to see soaring griffin vultures, eagles, falcons or other birds of prey above the mountainous terrain. With all the natural subjects to paint (ruins, mountains, rooftops, churches, valleys, villages, trees, flora, etc) and changing light, painters could spend endless days painting and not run out of subjects. And all of the villages of the Valley have annual traditional fiestas and Semana Santa festivities, August being the month of fiestas for the Upper Valley.
The lower Genal Valley has eight villages which are all located along the Algeciras – Ronda road. Travelling north from the coast, one first comes to Gaucin, the most southern village on the A369 and then to Benarrabá, Algatocin, Benadalid, Benalauría and finally Atajate. All the villages are similar to those of the upper valley in terms of size but all have their own unique charm. Some offer museums, all offer at least one place to stop for a drink or a meal and some offer accommodation.
Júzcar also boasts La Fábrica de Hojalata (the Tin Factory). This was the first factory ever built in Spain which operated from 1731 to 1905 producing tin for the king’s armoury. Alpandeire was once home to the much revered Friar Leopoldo, a local friar who lived out his life in a monastery in Granada but is still admired by many in the Serrania de Ronda; it is not uncommon to come across his portrait in any number of shops, bars and restaurants in Ronda and the surrounding area.
Lodgings and restaurants are available in varying shapes and sizes throughout the valley be it a hotel, casa rural (country house) or other accommodation, bar or restaurant. La Casa Grande in Alpandeire, opened in January 2006, offers 10 double rooms along with a restaurant and bar. Hotel Bandolero in Júzcar, opened in October 2004, offers eight double rooms with sweeping views of the valley and theme painting holidays. Its restaurant, La Bodega del Bandolero, offers creative tapas and country cooking which can also be enjoyed in the bar or on the terrace. Hotel Los Castaños in Cartajima, opened in 2004, is a bit higher end with five luxury doubles, a roof top terrace, sweeping valley views and an in-house residents only restaurant. La Casa del Llanete in Alpandeire opened in 2005, offers bed and breakfast rates as well as creative and therapeutic holidays by the English owners. Restaurant Anafe in Parauta offers a range of game meats while Bar Torricheli in Júzcar offers a variety of tapas as well as combination plates. Restaurant Remidios in Faraján also offers a variety of meat selections on its menu. There is also a camping site in Júzcar, Nuestra Virgin de Moclón, alongside the Genal River for those on a budget opened in the warmer months with a bar / restaurant and a wonderful natural swimming site in the river itself. Hotel Banú Rabbah in Benarrabá has 10 rooms, a restaurant and a good size swimming pool for the summer months. Meson La Molienda restaurant in Benalauría is a museum and restaurant with fantastic views of the valley.
Then there are locally based outdoor adventure companies offering services such as rappelling in the Genal river, paint ball, mountain bikes, hot air ballooning, organised hiking, guided bird watching, quads, amongst others.
Genal Valley - Accommodation and Restaurants
Hotel Bandolero * *
La Bodega del Bandolero
Cl. Tercio Mora Figueroa, Nº 11
29462 Júzcar (Málaga)
http://www.hotelbandolero.com/
Telf:+34.952.183.660
E-mail: reservations@hotelbandolero.com
Hotel Banú Rabbah * *
Restaurante "Kábilas"
Cl. Sierra Bermeja s/n29490 Benarrabá (Málaga)
http://www.hbenarraba.es/
Telf: +34.952.150.288
E-mail : hotel@hbenarraba.es
Hotel Hacienda La Herriza
Crta. Gaucín - El Colmenar, Km. 6
E-29480 Gaucín (Málaga)
http://www.laherriza.com/
E-mail : info@laherriza.com
Hotel Salitre & Restaurant ***
Ctra. Comarcal 373, Partido Salitre
29491 Algatocín (Málaga)
http://www.turismosalitre.com/
Telf: + 34.952.117.172
E-mail : complejo@turismosalitre.com
Hotel Los Castaños * *
Cl. Iglesia, Nº 40
29452 Cartajima (Málaga)
http://www.loscastanos.com/
Telf: +34.952.180.778
E-mail : reservations@loscastanos.com
La Casa del Llanete
29460 Alpandeire (Málaga)
http://www.casadellanete.com/
Telf: +34.951.166.057
E-mail : info@casadellanete.com
La Casa Grande & Restaurant
Cl. Barranco Nº 76
29460 Alpandeire (Málaga)
http://www.avired.com/
Telf: +34.952.180.400
E-mail : hotellacasagrande@yahoo.es
Mesón La Molienda
Cl. Moraleda, Nº 59
29491 Benalauría (Málaga)
http://www.molienda.com/
Telf: + 34 952152548
E-mail : angarilla@avired.com
Mesón La Sierra
Ctra. Ronda-Algeciras, Km. 18
29494 Atajate (Málaga)
www.atajate.net/lasierra
Telf: + 34.952.180.165
E-mail : lasierra@atajate.net
Restaurante La Fuentecilla
Cl. Cerrillo Isidoro s/n
29491 Algatocín (Málaga)
http://www.hotelruralfuentecilla.com/
Telf: + 34.952.150.371
E-mail : lafuentecilla@depcapc.com
Bar Torricheli
Cl. Ereta, Nº 3
29462 Júzcar (Málaga)
Telf: +34.952 .183.677
Camping Ntra. Sra. de Moclón
29462 Júzcar (Málaga)
Telf: +34.659.682.898
Telf: +34.606.802.211
Restaurante El Anafe
Cl. Calvario, Nº 1
29451 Parauta (Málaga)
Telf: +34.952.181.035
Restaurante Los Labraos
Ctra. Ronda-Algeciras, Km. 83´300
29493 Benadalid (Málaga)
Telf: + 34 952117058
E-mail: loslabraos@hotmail.com
