Our flights from East Midlands and Gatwick had arrived in Granada in the early evening - to be met by Alejandro's transport from the Hotel Los Berchules.

We travelled to the little village of Los Berchules through the evening light, arriving in time for dinner at the hotel, and a welcome bed!

We woke to enjoy the views from the hotel, perched as it at the outskirts of the village on a hillside above a gorge with mountain views around us.

After breakfast we sorted ourselves out and set off on foot from the hotel for our first walk - up the Rio Grande gorge.

Our route initially took us towards the village and between the lovely flower bedecked village houses and the old village warehouse.

From here we contined out into the campo and along the acequia (water channel) shaded by chestnut trees with the gorge below us.

There were views up to the rocks of Reyconcillos where the last Moorish King in the area Aben Aboo hid out from the Christians.

Walking along the acequias we arrived at the ruins of an old Moorish silk factory.

We now walked over rocks as we followed the Rio Grande to a lovely lunch spot in the shade of poplars.

Our return route took us back along the valley bottom and back up to the hotel.

In the evening we ate at the hotel - a delicious meal in a lovely setting looking out over the valley.

Today we had a lift after breakfast to Juviles a short distance away, and walked up onto the top of El Fuerte (a hill fort from Moorish times).

From here we had lovely views back to Juviles.

From here we walked down to Timar with its grey roofs covered with the local Launa.

We saw the village cemetery, an old mercury mine, and a threshing circle - a beautiful example of an era past.

Agave flowers made arches across our path as we walked down into the Lobras gorge to the village of Lobras.

We had lunch down in the Guadalfeo valley which we walked along to arrive at Cadiar.

Here we saw the surprising sight of a lone ostrich in an orchard!

We stopped for a welcome drink in bar Jamanadels in Cadiar, before an hour of uphill through Narila and Alcutar back to the hotel.

A cloudier day today. Our walk took us up above our village to the top of El Portichuelo. As we climbed, we had lovely views back to Los Berchules.

We made our way slowly to the summit at 2000 metres.

Then down from here through the forest, we began to get our first views over the Trevelez gorge and over to the high sierra and Mulhacen, which was in cloud.

Trevelez came into view as we descended, finally reaching the village with its large ham factories.

We had dinner in Trevelex before heading back on the public bus

Another bright day again, and our route took us up in the sunshine to the Cadiar cemetery.

We now headed down into the Rambla de Repenil with its huge red sandstone cliffs full of nesting birds.

From these dramatic views, we walked over the hill to the tiny village of Jorairatar with a large museum of local life, which we were shown round by Angelita, 81 year old local woman.

The village also boasts a 300 year old fountain and a lovely washhouse - and great views over the lower slopes of Sierra Nevada.

On the way back over the hills to Morayma we were caught in a thunder storm and the sandstone paths became rivers of red water.

The log fire and candlelight at Morayma Hotel were a welcome sight - where we ate that night.

Today, from Mecina Bombaron we walked past lovely converted mills and along acequias through chestnut woods, with extremely large trees, very old.

One had been used to hide the valuables from the local church during the civil war when the communists were thought to be coming to attack it.

Hundreds of goats were squeezed into an enclosure at a farm along our route.

Following the GR7 route we finally arrived on the edge of the Rio Grande gorge with fantastic views over to Berchules.

We had quite a descent into the gorge to cross over the small footbridge and wend out way back up to the village...

... and we had deserved a refreshing drink by the time we arrived back!

Today sadly we left Los Berchules to journey back to Granada for our last night.

Here we were to stay in a lovely old courtyard hotel in the old centre - and everyone loved the hotel with its atmosphere and rooftop terrace.

We explored a little in the afternoon - seeing the sights of Granada. In the evening we ate out in a restaurant in the old centre.

Today, after a good night, some women went to visit the Alhambra. We had arranged their tickets beforehand to ensure the got into this extraordinary Moorish palace.

Meanwhile, others made varous excursions...

Some of went to Sacromonte to see the caves, others to the wonderful Banuelos Moorish baths with star shaped windows in the ceiling to let in the light, and some to the shops.

We all met up for a lovely lunch by the river Darro before our late afternon flights.

It was sad to say goodbye to each other - it had been a great first WW holiday in the Alpujarras.