Discover the wild beauty of southern Spain's highest mountains with this guidebook to walking and trekking in the Sierra Nevada, where sunlit ridges, glacial corries and vast high plateaux rise above whitewashed villages and fertile valleys. From tranquil alpine lakes and flower-filled meadows to barren rocky summits and expansive views across Andalucía, the range offers unforgettable mountain experiences, including classic ascents of Mulhacén and the celebrated Tres Picos challenge, linking Veleta, Mulhacén and Alcazaba.

This comprehensive guidebook presents over 30 graded day walks alongside multi-day treks and five high mountain scrambles, covering routes of 5?38km (3?24 miles) lasting from a few hours to a few days. While some outings provide accessible introductions to the range, all routes demand good fitness, navigational awareness and confidence in remote rugged mountain terrain, with opportunities for hut-based trekking, wild camping and extended traverses across the Sierra Nevada's 3000m peaks.

• Over 30 graded walks ranging from half-day rambles to demanding mountain outings, complemented by multi-day treks and five classic Sierra Nevada scrambles for experienced hillwalkers, such as the Tres Picos traverse, a 3-7 day journey across the 3000m peaks and an overview of the long-distance 302km (188 mile) Sulayr GR240.
• Clear route descriptions supported by 1:50,000 mapping for walks and scrambles, with additional overview mapping (1:100,000 and 1:250,000) for longer treks and high-level traverses.
• Photo topos illustrating the scrambling lines on Grade 2 to 3S Sierra Nevada routes, helping confident mountaineers tackle exposed ridges and rocky summit approaches.
• Practical guidance on seasonal conditions, navigation, equipment and winter mountaineering considerations for exploring the remote high terrain of the Sierra Nevada, alongside information on shelters, wild camping opportunities and water sources across the range.
• GPX files available for download to support navigation across high plateaux, remote valleys and summit approaches.
• Includes classic ascents of Mulhacén, mainland Spain's highest summit, alongside opportunities to explore lesser-known ridges, corries and panoramic viewpoints across the Sierra Nevada.
• Background information on the region's landscapes, wildlife and mountain culture, plus practical advice on access, bases and transport to help plan a rewarding Sierra Nevada walking trip.

Plan your Sierra Nevada mountain adventure with confidence using this inspiring and practical guidebook, and experience mainland Spain's highest peaks, remote trails and unforgettable high-mountain scenery on foot.

Richard Hartley started walking in the UK hills in the mid-70s. In the 80's and 90's he spent many seasons walking and mountaineering in the Alps. Since then he has led six expeditions to the Patagonian Icecap and joined a Berghaus sponsored expedition in 2013 to ski volcanoes in Kamchatka. In 1998 he quit his job as an accountant in search of a better life and found it in the Sierra Nevada where he has lived since 2002 just outside the spa town of Lanjarón in the Alpujarras. He is the owner of local tour and guiding company, 'Spanish Highs, Sierra Nevada' (www.spanishhighs.co.uk). They run walking, trekking, mountaineering, snowshoeing and ski touring trips into the mountains of the Sierra Nevada and further afield, organise regular expeditions to the Southern Patagonian Icecap.

A guidebook to 30 day walks and 2-day excursions, 5 high mountain scrambles and three longer multi-day routes in Spain's Sierra Nevada. Routes are graded by difficulty: all call for good fitness and hillwalking experience, and the more demanding options involve navigational challenge, prolonged ascents, remote rugged mountain terrain and scrambling.

The walks range from 5 to 38km (3?24 miles) and from 3 hours to 2?3 days. The scrambles are graded from Grade 2 to 3S. Also included are a 3?7 day traverse of the range's 3000m peaks, a 3-day traverse of the 3 highest peaks ('Los Tres Picos') and an overview of the 302km (188 mile) Sulayr GR240.

• Clear route description illustrated with 1:50,000 mapping (1:100,000 and 1:250,000 for the longer treks)
• Photo topos showing the line of the scrambles
• GPX files available for download
• Information on water sources, plus additional notes for winter mountaineers
• Includes ascents of Mulhacén, mainland Spain's highest summit

Overview map Mulhac&##xe9;n and Alcazaba overview map Map key Mountain safety Route summary tables Introduction Plants and wildlife Climate and conditions Getting to the Sierra Nevada Getting around Accommodation and bases Respecting the environment Safety and rescue Water sources Weather resources Planning and maps Using this guide Walks Trev&##xe9;lez Route 1 Ascent of Alcazaba via Cañada de Siete Lagunas Route 2 Ascent of Mulhac&##xe9;n via Cañada de Siete Lagunas Route 3 Round of the Río Juntillas and Trev&##xe9;lez valleys Capileira Route 4 Barranco de Poqueira circular Route 5 Ascent of Mulhac&##xe9;n from Hoya del Portillo Refugio Poqueira Route 6 Ascent of Mulhac&##xe9;n from Refugio Poqueira Route 7 The Caldera peaks Route 8 Around Mulhac&##xe9;n via the Vasar and Siete Lagunas Route 9 The Púlpitos Western Alpujarras Route 10 Pico del Tajo de los Machos and Cerrillo Redondo Route 11 Ascent of Cerro del Caballo from the south Route 12 Ascent of Cerro del Caballo via los Tres Mojones Dílar valley Route 13 Silleta de Padul Route 14 Integral de los Alayos Cumbres Verdes Route 15 Boca de la Pesca Route 16 Trevenque via Cuerda del Trevenque Route 17 Circuit of Trevenque and Dílar valley Route 18 The Cerro Huenes group Route 19 Pico del Tesoro and Cerro del Cocón Route 20 Trevenque direct Ski area - Hoya de la Mora Route 21 Veleta, Tajos de la Virgen and Lagunillas Route 22 Veredón Superior and Cerro de los Machos Route 23 Veredón Inferior, Veta Grande, northern flanks and lakes Route 24 Across the mountains to Lanjarón via Refugio Elorrieta Vereda de la Estrella/Genil valley Route 25 Vereda de la Estrella, Refugio Cucaracha and Cueva Secreta Route 26 Cortijos del Hornillo circular Route 27 Ascent of Mulhac&##xe9;n via Cueva Secreta Route 28 Round of the northern peaks via Peña Partida J&##xe9;rez del Marquesado and Refugio Postero Alto Route 29 Ascent of Picón de J&##xe9;rez and round of the Alhorí valley Puerto de la Ragua Route 30 The eastern peaks Main ridge traverse and longer treks Route 31 'Los Tres Miles' Integral 3000m peaks Route 32 'Los Tres Picos' - Veleta, Mulhac&##xe9;n and Alcazaba Route 33 The Sulayr GR240 High mountain scrambles Route 34 Espolón de Alcazaba Route 35 Traverse of Puntal de la Caldera Route 36 Espolón de la Caldera Route 37 Arista de las Campanitas Route 38 North ridge of Tozal del Cartujo Appendix A List of the 3000m peaks Appendix B Accommodation Appendix C Useful contacts Appendix D Glossary Appendix E Further reading