Activities

Many things to do

Area

Cities

Hiking

We believe there are few places in the world better for hiking than in our area. There is a great variety of landscapes, terrain, vegetation and difficulty levels so you will find something that is perfect for you.

What will it be, a half hour walk to the Guadiaro River to watch the fish jump the waterfall or an 8 hour climb to 1500 meters and see the views to North Africa? Or somewhere in between?

Molino offers you a wide range of options from the hotel door, all with clear descriptions so you don’t have to worry about getting lost. All these directions are available to hotel residents, free of charge of course.

When you have booked with us, we will give you a password so that you can access many more trails if you want to plan ahead.

If you would like to go with a guide, Eva Bratek offers a very professional service. She tailors her routes to all abilities and is very friendly – all clients who have hiked with her recommend her 100%. Contact us to find out more about her.

Birds and Ornithology

It is impossible to ignore the birds of the Serrania de Ronda – there are too many species and too many interesting species.

We have blackbirds – hunting underwater – in the river that flows next to the hotel, there are bee-eaters, orioles in the field a short distance away – with their exotic and colorful plumage. Look up into the sky as you sunbathe and you’ll see griffon vultures with 10-foot wingspans soaring over the mountains.

And that only sums up the ones that are easy to see… there are so many species to see that it would be impossible to see them all even if you spent a long stay. Warblers of all kinds, four species of eagle – watch a Bonelli’s vulture hunt over the bush and try to look disinterested. Hawks and harriers, making their great migration to Africa, swallows, swifts and kingfishers in the summer.

Guides How to see them? Never close your eyes and let us guide you to the most promising places. Or contact a guide to make your experience even better. We can recommend two people who offer this service:

Peter Jones is a star and a gracious companion as well as a source of information and stories regarding all aspects of nature.

Eva Bratek is a sunshine who has studied various aspects of the fauna and flora of Andalucia and has an infectious passion for this area.

Flora

In many places walking through a field of wildflowers is a long-forgotten pleasure. In the area around Molino del Santo this is still one of the biggest attractions for a walker and a nature lover. Some flowers bloom as early as January: the lovely Paper-white Narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) or the bright blue and yellow Broad-leaved Iris (Iris planifolia) are just two examples. April and May is an explosion of colour and scent. In the summer the Cork, Holm and Portuguese Oak forests can keep your inner naturalist happy while you walk in their shade. Late spring and summer is also a great season for butterflies: the large and showy Common and Scarce Swallowtails, the iridescent Cardinal or the cheerfully bright Spanish Festoon. Several exciting species of Dragonflies hover around the stream at Molino and the nearby river. Flowers Andalucia Hotel Sawfly Orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera) There are over 1800 plants described in the Ronda region, 40 of which are unique to the area, such as the Spanish Fir (Abies Pinsapo) or the delicately wrinkled orange Grazalema poppy (Papaver rupifragum). The Pinsapo trees can live several hundred years and the older they get, the more beautiful they look: gnarled and wizened, with candelabra-like split trunks.

Over 40 species of wild orchids exist in the Ronda mountain area and it is pure joy finding these tiny jewels along the paths. Many wildflowers surprise with their exotic looks: the bright pink wild Peony (Paeonia broteroi and the rarer Paeonia coriacea), the long-stemmed Spanish Iris (Iris xiphium) or the lavish-looking Portuguese squill (Scilla Peruviana, a famous misnomer by Linnaeus as the plant reached him from Spain on a ship named “Peru”). Take a break from the abundance of plants and seek out the beautiful Ocellated Lizard or the photogenic Large Psammodromus as they bask in the sun. And if you keep scanning the surrounding crags you have a good chance of spotting the long-horned Spanish Ibex, the wild mountain goat which could be considered a symbol of the Ronda mountains. Molino del Santo is perfectly located for exploring the wildlife of the Parques Naturales. The hotel ´s immediate surroundings (for example the river banks – a five minute walk from Molino) are exceptionally rich in flora and fauna. Want to find out more of the best things to do in and around Ronda? Sign up for our free guide to unlock all of its secrets.

White Villages

When people talk about the famous white villages of Spain, they do in fact mean those of Andalucia – and a certain part of Andalucia, at that. The white villages are all around the Serrania de Ronda and some of the most attractive are within easy reach of Molino del Santo. Where should you start? Each village has its own character and its own customs and traditions. Visit Grazalema or Zahara for their stunning lcoations and surrounding landscapes. Setenil has cave houses, Benalauria overlooks chestnut groves and Gaucín has great views to Gibraltar and even Africa on clearer days. white villages in SpainWoollen blankets are made in Grazalema, cheeses in Villaluenga, sausages in Benaoján and Montejaque, almond cakes in Atajate, leather goods in Ubrique, guitars in Algodonales – and nearly all of the villages have restaurants serving typical local dishes. Coincide your visit with local fiestas – and you may see religious processions, hear Cante Hondo, see bulls being run in the streets or Corpus Cristi decorations in El Gastor and Zahara de la Sierra. Alternatively just relax in the timeless pleasures of a slower pace of life where people still have time to stop and chat… Which white village will be your favourite?

Trains

If you like trains, Molino is just the place for you. We have a sleepy railway station just 300metres from the hotel where four trains stop each day in each direction. Cheap, reliable, air-conditioned and comfortable – this is how train travel should be and we are proud to support the service as much as we can by promoting its delights. Hotel Rural Ronda This is the Algeciras to Granada line serving mostly small villages and towns. It passes through wonderful scenery so is ideal for a slow day letting the train take the strain. Or use the rails to visit the stunning beaches of Tarifa – click here to see an example of a day out to this fantastic area. Alternatively the historic delights of Gibraltar can be easily reached via San Roque station – we have carefully prepared details if you need them. The trains also serve Ronda and Antequera as well as Granada.Hotel Rural Ronda The trains work well for combining with a walk to the next station – a still totally unspoilt river valley walk of a couple of hours. If you are more adventurous you may like to use the Altaria trains from Ronda – twice a day service to Madrid calling at Cordoba en route. Getting to other Andalucia capitals by train is also possible but time-consuming – Sevilla, Cadiz, Almeria for example – better suited to a real train buff. For details of using trains rather than road transport to get to Molino see our directions page.

Outdoor Activities

Cycling Cycling is a great way to see an area, as the speed at which you ride allows you to still take in your surroundings and at the same time you can see a lot more than when going by foot. There is also a variety of landscapes you can choose to cycle in: from the outskirts of Ronda on a more urban route to the plains, which run through the mountains behind Molino. There are varying levels of difficulty and duration, so you are sure to find a route that suits you. Please contact us to find out the latest hire rates from a reputable company in Ronda. Alternatively, it is possible to rent a bike to explore an old railway track near the town of Olvera. Known as the Via Verde – along a relatively flat track which was never made use of, complete with tunnels and viaducts ´it is an ideal day out for people of reasonable fitness. Along the line there is a Vulture Station where you can see recordings of vultures in the area and maybe even spot one for yourself as well as a number of old station buildings converted into convenient refreshment stops.

Canoeing in the Reservoir of Zahara If you fancy an activity where you are sure to keep cool, canoeing is perfect for you! In the calmest reservoir imaginable, surrounded by the Grazalema Natural Park and all its beauty, you can canoe the afternoon away and adapt the difficulty and length of time out on the water according to your needs. The owners and their family have done this activity a few times, and cannot recommend it enough. Please contact us to find out the latest rates.

Canyoning For the more adventurous, canyoning is available in various sites near us. The day will involve abseiling in waterfalls, jumping from rocks and following the course of the river, all with experienced guides and safety gear provided. It is a great way to see nature up close as well as engaging in some physical exercise. Most sites are aquatic year round, and have varying levels of difficulty. The activity can last from two hours to eight, depending on what you want to do.

Caving One of the most interesting and challenging activities to do in our area is to enter the caves and follow the river upstream, passing through subterranean galleries with incredible formations. Again, there are many variations on this activity to suit beginners or advanced cavers, from 3 hour routes to 8 hour routes. There are also routes suited to children as young as 10 if you wanted to make this a family day out. Please contact us for more information.

Rock Climbing There are plenty of rock climbing opportunities in our area. Indeed, people come from many other countries to try out the challenges in the Sierra de Grazalema. Whether you are a beginner or experienced, we can arrange an initiation session or arrange for you to be taken to more difficult rock faces. Please contact us for more information.

Persona de compras por Ubrique Ronda Costa del sol

Shopping

Ubrique At 1:15h by car is the town of Ubrique, which is dedicated to the manufacture of leather goods. All are made in Ubrique and are of good quality, sometimes they manufacture for the big designer brands. From time to time it is possible to see the process by which bags, shoes, jackets etc. are made. A fun day out if you like leather. Ronda In Ronda there are various shopping options. The main pedestrian street is Calle de la Bola (very near the bull ring) and is where most of the shops are situated. Here you can find international clothes shops such as Mango as well as Spanish brands such as Adolfo Dominguez. There are lots of cheap shoe options, including La Bomba and Marypaz (although these mainly cater for women) whilst Gody offers better quality shoes for men and women . If you are interested in buying ham or cheese, there are many shops in Ronda and we can advise you on the best ones. Near the bull ring there are lots of souvenir shops. Costa del Sol You will be able to find anything you need on the Costa del Sol. El Corte Inglés in Marbella, Mijas and Málaga is a big department store which sells designer labels, as well as a wide range of shoes. There are other department stores along the coast in Marbella and La Cañada shopping mall, where all the big names in fashion are, especially cheap Spanish brands selling on-trend clothes. Zara seems to be a particularly popular choice of stop-over point. In Puerto Banús are the haute-couture shops, and is a great place to window shop and also marvel at the big marina filled with enormous yachts. Here you may also see older men with much younger companions holding on to their arms … it might be advisable for these gents not to walk too near the quayside on a dark night. This shopping is about an hour away and, if you need some retail therapy, well worth the drive.

Beaches

The beaches on the Mediterranean Coast are easy to get to, but in summer are often crowded and a bit dirty. They do, however, have clean, warm water and are good for children because lots of them have playgrounds on the beach. They are near the very famous towns of Marbella and Puerto Banus and all the glamour attached to it.

There are many restaurants along the coast line offering fresh, local fish and other classic Spanish dishes such as paella or tapas. The other advantage of these beaches is that you can combine it with a shopping trip to the big stores on the coast or with playing a round of golf. Click here for more information on shopping and on golf.

The best beaches on the Costa del Sol, along the Mediterranean coast, are Elviria and Cabo Pino and can be reached in just over an hour – Reception will give you directions.

Write us with any questions you may have, we will be happy to hear from you.

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ADDRESS: Barriada estación S/N 29370 benaoján Pcia de Málaga.

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Address

Barriada estación S/N 29370 benaoján
Pcia de Málaga.

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Phone

(+34) 952 167 151
(+34) 952 167 327

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Email

info@molinodelsanto.com