The trip is designed to begin and end at Seville. Of course, you can fly here, or you can take a train from Madrid (2hr 30min) or Barcelona (5hr 30min). If you're in any doubt, just let us know and we'll advise the best option.

This trip can start any day of the week, from February into early July, and September through to the end of December.

Please note that midweek start days can be tricky, due to a couple of the hotels which prefer not to have one-night bookings at the weekend, so we try to avoid this.

This vacation is enjoyable year-round though we would tend to advise not to go in January because it can be rainy and the days are short. We also avoid July and August as it is too hot to be enjoyable.

Temperatures in early spring and late fall will likely be somewhere over 10° during the day. From April through June and September to October the temperatures will be more likely in the 20°s. Rain is common for some days from October to April.

Peak season is usually around the national vacations in Spain, of which there are many, but Easter in particular is a busy time.

We do guarantee only one departure every other day, so if you have a limited travel window and specific dates we suggest you book around nine months ahead. If you are flexible with dates, then three – four months ahead should be fine.

In common with all of our Inn to Inn walking vacations, most of the costs of this vacation are fixed so going solo will usually mean you pay nearly the same for one person as you would for two.

If you enjoy walking alone and time to yourself then the experience itself will be absolutely lovely, and safe.

The walks are reasonably strenuous over several consecutive days. On most days you can expect it to be somewhere in the region of four to five hours at a comfortable pace with stops. Daily distances range from 11-19km.

Although the Aracena Hills are rolling and gentle, there are some fairly steep ascents and descents with height gains and losses between 350 m and 550 m. You are at low altitude and the conditions underfoot are excellent so it shouldn’t be too demanding if you are walking fit.

We provide detailed OS maps, walking notes and a smart phone with a GPS-enabled navigation device - your route is pre-loaded.

Most of our guests like to navigate using maps and written notes but appreciate having the reassurance of the GPS just to check if they feel unsure at any point.

With all of the navigational tools at your disposal, and the friendly locals, you are unlikely to get lost but if you do get into any difficulties, simply call the local support number - we are always on hand 24/7.

Your main luggage is transferred ahead for you each day you move on. This is the case with all our Inn to Inn trips. You just carry a day pack with what you need for the day. The hotels are very familiar with this system.

Yes, it's usually possible to skip a walk on any given day if you are tired, the weather is being unkind or you want to give your knees a rest. You can hop in with the luggage transfer and travel to your next hotel by vehicle. It's best to let us know the night before if you can so we can let everyone know.

You can of course use the circular routes as rest days and opt out of the walk that day and explore the local area instead. Your guide will be able to talk you through the different options during the briefing.

The inns and hotels we use on this trip are small, charming and comfortable. Expect a general standard of around 3 – 4 star, except in Cortelazor where you stay in a village house which has been converted to an inn and not so easy to grade! It is furnished with the most wonderfully eclectic art deco furniture and fittings. Expect a homely, informal stay.

Yes. One advantage of the slow pace of an Inn to Inn walk is that it allows you to enjoy not only nature but the rich rural culture of the area.

The Aracena hills are a genuinely untouched corner of Andalucía. It’s an area so little known that you see a way of life long forgotten elsewhere. You can expect total peace and quiet in small rural villages with older residents, in particular, sitting out of an evening watching the world go by - aided by the seemingly endless sweeping of front doorsteps. In some of the villages you can still see women come out to wash clothes in the fountain together.

This vacation can be tailored to suit you in certain ways though as an Inn to Inn walk, we can't easily deviate from the route without compromising the trip.

Extending the trip is perfectly possible. It’s easy to take in more of Andalucia with time down on the coast or in the cities of Seville, Granada or Cordoba. Trains from Seville can take you to Catalonia in a few hours - another Inn to Inn walk from the hills to the Mediterranean coast is quite a contrast to this trip. In short, we have lots of options and ideas, just call to start the conversation!

We take a 15% deposit to secure your vacation, with the remainder due eight weeks before your departure.

Your money is 100% protected through our ATOL licence if your trip includes a flight booked through us, or through our ABTOT bond if it does not. Either way, this protection provides a cast iron financial guarantee and helps you book with complete peace of mind. Because the contract between us exists here in the UK, you get this protection regardless of where you live