Ronda Things to Do Tips by scotlandscotour

Ancient Cave - Paintings, Stalactites By Gass Lamp

Cueva de la Pileta

A magical place - where you explore the cave in small parties with only a few gas lamps - no electric cable, souvenires, sound systems or microphones. Yes - this is wonderful!!!

I held a camping lantern and tried to light the way for the elderly couple infront. They struggled a bit but made it.

Our guide was wonderful, passionate about the cave, its limestone features and prehistoric paintings - and very considerate / careful.

I will not tell you more about inside so not to spoil the discovery should you get there - you should!!!

Well well worth it - excellent value - perfect for a couple of hours - great views from outside - its delightful.

Either book in advance or gamble on others to make at least a party of 6. Its all very informal, fun and adveturous. The gate is locked as your tour begins - so hope your guide doesn't drop the key! :-)

Directions: About 18 km SW of Ronda, south of Benaojan, on the MA501 road.

Near the Grazelema National Park.

Other Contact: www.multimap.co.uk

Website: http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/home.htm

White Village - Terracota Tiles - Silent in Siesta

This is Olvera, north of Ronda, visited during siesta - so very quiet.

Mid afternoons proved a good time to drive since roads were quiet - just a few old folk out walking and kids kicking footballs around.

Its cheap too as many places are closed - and you can explore a bit more freely.

This is a typical view of a White Village - "pueblos blancos" - which the area is famous for - beautiful with white walls, terracota tiles, orange trees and narrow cobbled streets.

The countryside is beautiful too, with gnarled olive and cork trees, limestone rock and short grass, herbs and flowers.

I recommend you head for this area, for a day.

Directions: Malaga District, Andalucia, Southern Spain.

Website: http://www.andalucia.com/villages/malaga.htm

A Typical Mountain Scene - Spain

this is Benaojan, 10km west of Ronda, towards the Grazelema National Park.

The area has more rain than most elsewhere in Spain and was shrouded in mist this day.

The remains of quarrying and hydro works, together with the weather, reminded me of Wales (UK).

Lots of hairpin bends - I'm sure these mountains are higher than 1200m as it says on the map.

Website: http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/home.htm

Black Iberian Pig - Supermarket Display!

A typical display in the supermarket.

This is the local delicacy and a big part of the diet. Very common.

Well worth eating - if you don't eat it your only excuse is being vegetarian or religious.

Supermarkets are well stocked with seafood, hams and tasty foods - Spain is a good place for self catering, experimenting and its cheapish to buy. A great place for chefs.

Party!
Barby!
Picnicy!

And do try Tapas - many Tapas :-)

Website: http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/home.htm

Walk In The Countryside - See The Spring Flowers

Take A Walk in the Spring by Ronda.
This was day one - in May 2004 - walking through the fields above Arriate, 6km north of Ronda.

Just enough heat to cause a sweat going up hill, and sun glasses needed but very comfortable. Take water!

The whole place was a riot of spring flowers like poppies thriving in the dry soil. Later days it rained - this is perfect farming land - a bit rocky and poor - but perfect for olives, almonds, herbs, capers, cork oak, pigs, goats and small plots of vegetables.

Just watch out for dogs - a stick might be a good idea. Crazy.

Visit Ronda - http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/home.htm

Address: Ronda

Directions: Andalucia

Other Contact: http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/h

Website: http://www.andalucia.com/accommodation/rural_cottages.htm

This is The Photo - Ronda - Bridging The Gorge

The "New Bridge" connecting Old Ronda (fortified) with the modern town.

Some how, despite the tour groups (mostly German and British, it seemed, and typically intent on following a short person holding an umbrella or flag aloft - odd) and souvenires and flocks of afternoon tourists up from Costa del Sol, Ronda seems to both absorb them all and get on with life in an almost indifferent manner.

A Macdonalds lingers in the corner looking apologetic for being there. Life seems to continue despite (not because of) visitors.

Ronda, famous for its Old town and the Bull Ring charmed the pants of me because of this - and because the view of the gorge, the bridges, the architecture and the museums are all superb.

Choosing a week here instead of a few hours was the best decission. I recommend you give Ronda time - and Ronda will give back, filling your heart.

Website: http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/home.htm

The Gorge - Ronda - Impregnable - Almost

This is Ronda - Spectacular.

If you are going there - ignore this picture (sorry) and save the first impression for arriving. No picture will do this justice, though many try!!

Head to Ronda - it was everything we hoped for and more.

See this map of the area
Map Andalucia

One thing you cannot tell from all pictures is the smell. This gorge appears to be used for getting rid of waste - something we British know a lot about - so a slight whiff of sewage.

(see, you don't get virtual smells yet ... but I try my best to "get you there"!)

Website: http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/home.htm

The Wettest Place In Spain - Good Idea Malcolm

Grazalema
So - it rained in Spain - where? - in the Plain. Ha ha - trust a Welsh / Scotsman to find the wettest place in Spain to holiday!! (Rachel was less impressed *smiles* but it is so beautiful).

The best tapas in my world do far - a wonderful location - and a very picturesque village (many abandoned and empty houses, falling down but new money, investment and rejuvination too)

Grazalema is in the Grazalema National Park and the Sierra de Grazalema. Have you got the spelling yet? Grazalema ;-)

Basically, I loved this place!! Mountains and obvious excellent walking, loads of places to explore and ... well, I'm going back!!

We arrived before a thunder storm - which broke an hour later and washed the streets clear - so who cares about sun - this place captivated me. Its small, simple, unpretentious, and in a beautiful setting.

I don't think it'll be long before this is an expensive place to live - but for now - its a dream. Check it out.

Directions: Parque Natural de la Sierra de Grazalema,

Just west of Ronda, in Andalucia, Spain.

Buses access from the coast.

Remains Of The Roman Town

Acinipo - or also called Ronda la Vieja

20km north west of Ronda - this is the remains of a roman town - abandoned supposedly in favour of the better defended Ronda.

Only this one building remains - the hillside is a mass of rubble piles and there was no interpretive signs, guides or info. Our book told us little archaeology had been done.

It cost nothing, took more time to drive to (30 minutes) than we stayed and was free. Yet I have very good memories of the place - I loved the views from this hill and would recommend it to everyone.

Moorish Baths, Ronda - The Best Example - Great

A real "Must See" - in Ronda - allow a good 30 minutes - and see the superb video interpretation of life in moorish times - gives you real respect for the culture and standard of living, hygiene and society in general.

This is the best example of such Moorish baths in Andalucia - great value again and wonderfully cool underground.

Walking this part of town is very interesting with the medieval bridges, city walls and no tourists (they hang around the New Bridge and upper level).

Directions: By the older bridges lower down the gorge.