Mountain Walkers conquer Cazorla

Two groups of Costa Blanca Mountain Walkers each enjoyed a week in Cazorla exploring the mountains, woodlands, rivers and lakes. The weather conditions were varied with days of sunshine, rain and at times cool temperatures. As always both groups made the most of the challenging walking and magnificent scenery also the après walk socialising.

Cazorla lies at an elevation of 836 metres on the western slope of the Sierra de Cazorla. It is the entry point and base for visits to the Natural Park of Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, a vast protected area of magnificent river gorges and forests. Spain's second longest river, the Guadalquivir, has its source in the mountains to the south of the region.

The natural park in the eastern and north-eastern part of the province of Jaén, was established in 1986 and is the second largest in Europe. It was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1983 and also a Special Protection Area for migratory birds in 1988. The park is famous for its magnificent formations of limestone, and Spain's largest continuous area of pine forest along with more than 2170 plant species. Animal species include many varieties of invertebrates unique to the park and also deer, ibex, mouflon, wolves, wild sheep and boars.

This friendly international group hopes that you will come and join them, with the opportunity to participate in future walking trips. Full details of all their walks are on the programme which can be viewed or downloaded from the website www.cbmwalkers.org.