Richard Hartley's Page

We provide activity holidays in the Alpujarras and Sierra Nevada of Andalucia, southern Spain. The area provides great opportunities for all, from the high and wild mountains, in winter, to the more gentle hills of the Alpujarras. There is something to interest everybody.

We have been operating here, from our permanent base in Lanjaron, since 1999 and offer a wide range of holidays. Our enthusiastic team of professional guides live and work here, and know the mountains and environment intimately. Access is easy from Granada, Malaga or Almeria airports.

We offer trips of any duration and any start date. Singles and groups are welcomed. Tailor made, family friendly activity courses available and also support for self guided climbers, walkers and trekkers. Our website provides lots of weather,mountain and local information for those travelling independently or those who just want to learn more about these wonderful mountains!
We also run expeditions to Patagonia and the Andes.

Mountaineering, Snowshoeing & Ski Touring in the Sierra Nevada

Mountaineering - winter skills courses, ascents of peaks and mountaineering days in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Learn how to walk the winter hills in safety.
Alpine Introduction - Suitable for hillwalkers and scramblers who wish to aspire to more adventurous and bigger mountains.
Ski Touring - this will appeal to anybody who has skied on-piste red runs and has aspirations to escape from the crowded slopes. These hills are ideal. Day or multi-day trips.
Scrambling - Andalucia has a weath of untapped scrambling opportunity. We can show you the best it has to offer from grades 1 to 3S.
Introduction to Ropework - for the novice scrambler & rock climber.
Granada area Rock Climbing - rock climbing for the beginner or intermediate climber on some of Andalucia's quiet and remote crags.
Snowshoeing - great fun! Try it and you'll be hooked. The only way to travel in deep snow.

Walking Alpujarras & Sierra Nevada

Alpujarra- walking the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Beautiful surroundings and white villages make for interesting and enjoyable walking for all.
GR7 & GR142 - day walks along the long distance paths through the Alpujarra, linking villages. Stay en route or from a base in Lanjaron.
Desert Walking in Almeria - the desert region of Tabernas offers fascinating walking among "wild west "type scenery.
Sierra de Huetor - this a relatively new walking area. Quiet with few tracks and people. The hills reach almost 2000m but what they lack in height they more than make up for in quality. Good walking and scrambling.
Sierra de Almijara (Otivar) - unlike the normal southerly approach, we use the north and east to access the area. Day or multi-day trips available.

High level Trekking Sierra Nevada & Pyrenees

Trekking the 3000m peaks - 3 or 5 day treks covering the higher peaks of the Sierras and staying in high huts or camps.
Mulhacen - Spain's highest mountain- Climb Mulhacen in either a 2 day ascent staying in the Poqueira Hut or a 1 day (summer only ascent).
Climbing the Sierra Nevada high peaks - Multi day trips in the high Sierras staying in huts or camps.
Mulhacen/Alcabaza 3 day trek - A new trek traversing south to north across the range. Stay in high camps in the mountains.
"Pyrenees - The Best Bits!"- a week long trek covering the best parts of the french and spanish Pyrenees.

Expeditions & Specialised holidays

Sierra Nevada "self-guided" - self guided groups of adventurers. We help with planning, airport transfers, transport to and from trailheads, accommodation, route planning and snow advice. We also have a large gear rental facility so you are not penailised by the airlines.
Navigation and Team Building - for corporate clients. Run in conjunction with the University of Manchester. Develop your team!
Navigation courses for walkers - a short course for hillwalkers which aims to build confidence and technique in the hills.
PATAGONIA - "Icefield Exploration" - a 2 or 3 week expedition which aims to traverse the Patagonian continental icecap from north to south encirculing the Fitzroy and Cerro Torre ranges. A trip of a lifetime!