Your Walking Holiday in Spain
You Need to Bring : Clothes
Any
experienced walker will know that sensible shoes are the first priority for walking.
We recommend ankle boots with sturdy soles or hardwearing training shoes. It is
unusual to walk in bad weather in Spain so heavy clothing is not really needed.
Rainstorms, when they happen are usually torrential so best avoided, as are fierce
winds on the peninsular. This may seem a little weak willed to the hard northern
European walker used to braving the elements - but with so many perfect days of
sunshine locals do not really feel the need to face unpleasant of difficult conditions.
In the winter months it is good to have reserves of warm and windproof
clothing. In the summer you need to take precautions to protect yourself from
the sun and dehydration. Walks need to be started as early as possible to avoid
the heat of the day, aim to be finished by mid-day especially if the walk is going
to be challenging. A hat is essential to keep the sun off your head and neck,
you will need long shirt sleeves and long trousers. Even with these precautions
wear sun block on you ears, nose and lips, and a high protection elsewhere. If
you venture away from established paths you risk entering areas where gorse has
become overgrown. It is a painful experience even with long trousers and sleeves,
so beware! Safety
If you are going to be
exploring areas away in the countryside, it is worth taking some basic precautions.
To list a few: a first aid kit, a mobile phone, plenty of water and salt tablets
in the summer, and good maps of where you are going are a good starting point.
Travel insurance is also a wise precaution in case of anything more serious. Injuring
yourself is probably the greatest risk, however you need to aware of some of the
wildlife. Snakes bask in the sun and will try to avoid you as best they can -
they tend to flee when they hear noise and vibration. There are venomous snakes
but there is nothing as dangerous in this area as the English adder. Even so,
be careful where you go, by leaning against stone walls you may be inches from
where one of these animals live. Any bite needs to be take seriously, as should
be a sting from a scorpion but the risk from infection generally outweighs the
original injury. Other risks are from wasp and bee stings, especially if they
cause you an allergic reaction, so if you have a sensitivity carry an antihistamine.
Recommended books to bring
Bob Stansfield
‘Costa Blanca Mountain Walks’ published by Cicerone
Volumes 1 &
2. » walking
holidays in spain p.4 : walks from your front door
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