Valle de Lecrín

Why visit Valle de Lecrín

Valle de Lecrín lies just south of Granada city, a green corridor that drops from the Padul plain towards the coast between the western flank of Sierra Nevada and the Sierra de las Albuñuelas. The Moors called it the valley of joy, and its terraces are still thick with orange and lemon trees, olives and almonds, watered by ancient irrigation channels. Small white villages such as Nigüelas, Dúrcal and Restábal sit among the orchards, with mountain views at every turn. Halfway between the Alhambra and the Costa Tropical, it suits walkers, cyclists and travellers who want a peaceful rural base with both city and sea close by.

Main attractions in Valle de Lecrín

Nigüelas preserves an old oil mill with its original machinery, and the village is a starting point for trails into the Sierra Nevada Natural Park. The Padul wetland, a lagoon where mammoth remains were found, has boardwalks for birdwatching, and in Dúrcal the iron bridge of an old cableway that once carried goods down to the port of Motril now carries walkers. Villamena’s Cozvíjar and the hilltop castle of Lojuela at Murchas reward short detours, while the Sierra de las Albuñuelas Natural Park offers more rugged hiking. Mountain bikers can follow the old mule paths between villages. Spring brings the scent of orange blossom, and local cooking makes the most of citrus, olive oil, almonds and the hearty dishes of the Granada uplands.