Images
Amongst the poppies
The Castril Valley
Drinks and Tapas
Lake Portillo
Ulises one of your guides
High above the Lakes
Back along the lake towards Castril
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Village/Town: Castril
Region: Andalucia
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
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Main Activities Other Activities Available - Bird watching
- Canoeing
- Cycling
- General nature
- Mountain biking
- Walking
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Our riding holidays in Andalusia can offer you the rider a great horseback riding vacation or just a short break holiday in and around the Castril Valley region of the Granada province situated in Andalusia, southern Spain.
This is a beautiful and ancient part of the world with a great equine tradition. Discover a great rural horseback equine adventure around the goat and mule trails of this Andalucian country-side.
Ride amongst the Sierra’s, natural parks, lakes and mountains of the region, with views across the valley to the regularly snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
While riding in this the northern part of the only European desert you can enjoy excellent and stunning scenery, while experiencing the real Spanish saddle (silla Vaquera) from the backs of our experienced Andalusian horses.
Andalucian trail riding truly capture the spirit of the Andalusia horse, while crossing rivers, traversing valley walls delicately balanced on the goat or mule trail of yesteryear or passing through pine forests, olive and almond groves.
All tours are self catering and start and finish at our stables in Fuente Vera with guests staying in our modernised three bedroomed cave home fully equipped for the modern traveller, but retaining a really rustic rural feel. From the cave patio you will have stunning views across the valley and the terrain you will be riding over.
The cave has a history going back for around 400 years.
For the very experienced rider-
You can ride our sure-footed Andalucian horses on treks across some wild country-side with stunning views, river crossings, pine forests and challenging landscapes.
For the less experienced-
We offer horseback riding over some less demanding landscapes over looking the Castril Valley which includes level land, pine forest, almond and olive groves.
Each of our horse riding holidays in Spain is for between one to six riders and is tailor made to your requirements and abilities.
Novice or beginners Welcome:-
Lessons are available for the novice rider culminating in a few days of cross country riding. If you are looking to build your confidence and horse riding abilities, then this is for you.
The owner and ride master at Spanish Rural Bliss is Alan- A 57 year old former British Army Sergeant that has been riding horses since he was three years of age. Alan’s father was formally head coachman with the horse transport troop of the R.A.S.C. British Army, and he passed on all his skills of horse riding, horse sense and coach driving to Alan at a very early age. Alan has ridden all over the world.
The aim at Spanish Rural Bliss is to take people of a given standard of riding and try to increase their confidence, and their ability to control the horses in this wild environment. Most of all Alan wants his guests to experience the wonderful Andalucian countryside on the backs of his sure-footed Andalucian horses on their Andalucian riding holiday adventure
New for 2008-
The Sierra Castril Trail
Starting from our base in Fuente Vera we ride up through the Sierra de Castril mountains to the source of the Rio Castril.
Day One
Meet at Cuevas Jimenez and select and ride the horses to match up, we then go on a four hour ride to become acclimatised with horse and weather.
Day Two
Set of for another more adventurous ride taking in river crossings and pine forest trails to asses the abilities of horse and rider.
Day Three
Having matched horse and rider we head down to the valley floor to start our journey to the source of the Rio Castril. As we pick our way through bolder ridden gullies, cross rivers and take in the dramatic scenery, we steadily head north and upwards towards the Sierra de Castril mountains.
We stop for lunch and a drink in the historic and picturesque town of Castril De La Pena.
In the afternoon we make our way along the banks of lake Portillo and perhaps take a swim with our horses, in its cool mountain waters. Afterwards we head into the Sierra Castril mountains, passing two of the largest natural rock caves of the area. Cave Don Ferdinand over 2.5 kilometre long and goes down some 241 meters below sea level, this cave is the largest in Andalucia and the second in Spain.
Cueva del Muerto (cave of the dead) with it’s historic cave wall paintings.
From here we pass through the pine forests ( it is said locally that the trees of the Sierra de Castril mountains were cut and floated down the Rio Castril to the Coast in order to build the boats that sailed to the new world with Christopher Columbus.) and make our way down to the river a short break follows, horses drink people swim if they want.
Riding on we climb slowly up following the course of the Rio Castril until we come to our base for the night a lovely little cortijo set against the Rio Castril, the top floor of which has been turned into a bunk house by our friends Dave & Dorothy. Dorothy will be pleased to supply an evening meal ,or we can take a walk down to the local camp site and enjoy a meal and drink or two in the campsite bar.
Here we will overnight and on the following morning follow the trails and goat tracks up to the source of the Rio Castril high in the mountains above us
On arrival we will picnic and rest the horses the brave can take a swim in the cold mountain rivers if they want or just lay back in the grass and take in the view of the Valley below.
After lunch we make our way back down on the other side of the Valley to Dave & Dorothy’s. Here Dave will be pleased to show you his collection of exotic birds that roam his bird gardens, and you may even be allowed to handle some. The Rio Castril runs through Dave's garden so a swim in the cooling mountain waters is possible.
The next morning we ride back stopping at Castril again stopping for lunch and a drink before setting of for home at Cuevas Jimenez in Fuente Vera
In the evening we will enjoy a BBQ where all involved in the trek will join together for a feast.
N.B.
Price In GBP £550 Per/Person.
Ensure you bring a camera as the views are stunning.
Saddle bags are provided for your overnight essentials.
For non riding guests we have mountain bikes and inflatable canoes available for hire. All guests have access to our swimming pool, patios and BBQ area.
The nearest airport is Granada international and is serviced by Ryan Air from East Midlands, Stanstead and Liverpool.
Please see our website (link below) for more information about our riding holidays. |
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Phone: 0034 958065022
Website: http://www.riding.spanishruralbliss.com
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