Walking for Wellness - Rio Pereilas

This was the second outing of the new Walking for Wellness group, designed to do shorter and easier routes than the Saturday walks. The weather for todays walk was almost perfect with light cloud under a blue sky that shealded us from what could have been a rather hot sun today.
The route started from what is known locally as the Toblarone bridge, so called because of it's shape, and follows the bank of the river. The track alongside the river was in the past used extensively by locals on  the contractor removing gravel from the river, this is no longer possible as the floods at the end of last year have widened the river by some metres leaving a very narrow path for  about 70 metres. We follow the river and pass through the Eucalyptus woods that adorn the bank and come to another victim of the recent floods, where the pipe that used to carry the track over the stream has been washed away leaving us to do a little jumping.

We then leave the bank of the river and head into the campo passing the orchards of Pecan nut trees and Oranges that are still giving of the wonderful fragrance from their blossom.

the route now takes us along the acequia track offering us wonderful views across the valley to the Sierra de los Nieves with its villages nestling on it's slopes. This part of the route is bounded by Broom which is now in full bloom with it's bright yellow flowers. We pass what was once a derelict property that had become known as the Graffiti house due to very artistic graffiti that had adorned it's inside walls, but now sold and being totally renovated.

It's now back onto a short stretch of tarmac road back to the bridge and the finish. We had a number of first time members on the walk today whom I would like to welcome and hope that you enjoyed your first outing with us.

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Cerralba to the Rio Grande

Another good turnout of almost 30 walkers for this Saturdays route, which started from outside of the Church in Cerralba and then took to the tracks into the campo, where the first obstical was a huge puddle from the previous nights thunderstorm. We then carried on through the mainly arable landscape and past the Pig Farm and down into the valley of the Rio Grande.

When we reached the bridge carrying the drovers track over the river it was time for the group photo and then notice the work that had been carried out to slow the river and to strengthen the bridge supports, all as a result of the recent floods. The route then heads up the hill that was my nemesis on the cycle, but affords us wonderful view across the valley to the hacho of Pizarra. We now follow the drovers track until we leave this and take to the field tracks back to the start.

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The First ‘Walking for Wellness’

Wednesday 19^th April 2017 saw the first outing of the ‘Walking for Wellness’ group, and I have formed this extra group for those of us who are not able to tackle some of the longer or more hilly routes. This first walk saw a group of 15 of us rambling along the banks of the Rio Guadalhorce and through the wonderful display of wild flowers.

The route was only 7 kms and contained only one reasonably easy incline and was, I believe, enjoyed by all of those who took part. Not only is there a physical benefit to the walking but also a social aspect, as a great deal of chatting goes on during the walk, and this one ended with a bar nearby where some of us took refreshment.

I certainly am a glutton for punishment as I now have 3 groups that I administer and walk with whenever the route is suitable. At least this keeps me from getting bored.

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What it's all about

Newsletter, April 2017

Dear Walker
The first walk for Al’s Rambles was on 03^rd October 2015 with a grand total of 6 of us, since then we have grown and gone from strength to strength and often there are over 30 walkers out with us on a Saturday. We raised over €4500 for charity last year, with donations to not only S.O.S. Animals Spain but also other animal and non animal charities.

Not only are we a walking group but there is a fabulous social element to the group and many people have become good friends having met through the group. We are also very diverse in our nationalities and backgrounds which make for some amazing conversations, we not only have English walkers but others from all over Europe and beyond.

As most of you know I suffered a life changing episode in October last year and am now more limited in the walks that I am able to undertake, and a huge thank you goes out to those who have kept the group going in my absence, John Milborrow, Paula Shrimpton, John Campbell and John Staton and others. These have been your leaders on the walks that I have been unable to undertake, and will continue to be so.

It is with all of this in mind that I have decided to make some changes in the group and offer some shorter and easier routes to those people who are not able to do some of the routes that have become the staple of the Saturday walks. I intend to call this Al’s Walking for Wellness, because not only is walking good for your physical health but also for your mental wellbeing, it’s a way to meet new people and chat whilst taking physical exercise.

Here are my proposals;

Walking for Wellness;
This will be open to anyone, and is aimed primarily at walkers that are a little worried about their ability to undertake some of the routes that we have used so far.
This will be on Wednesdays and I have worked out a number of new routes so far that are between 5 and 7.5 kms in length, with no steep inclines, at least only short ones, and I will, over the coming weeks, be trying to find even more routes for you to enjoy.
The problem is that inclines can’t be avoided in this area, and most of the routes are in the countryside so obviously you will need some decent walking shoes.
Once every 6 weeks I have planned a walk along the Paseo and my idea is that on that walk we have lunch somewhere on route. I will send out the emails with details of the Wednesday route on the Sunday before, and I have published the provisional schedule of walks on the Blog.

These walks will be starting on Wednesday 19^th April 2017.

If you want to be sent details of these walks and be part of this group, then please let me know by replying to this mail.

Rambling with Al;
This will remain as the Saturday walks and will be alternating between easier and more challenging routes, with the details of each weeks route sent out on a Wednesday as now.

Thursday Rebels;
This is for members who want to attempt something a bit more challenging and will include checking out new routes for the Saturday group. Details will be circulated on a Tuesday as now, but if you are no longer interested in this activity then please use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the Thursday email.

These walks will be starting on Thursday 20^th April 2017.

Charity Contributions;
As you should all be aware I have a strong belief that as a group we can make a difference and I am proud of the difference that we have been able to make with our contributions.

I will be asking for a €2 contribution from all walkers on Wednesday’s and Saturday’s, BUT only one contribution.
If you attend the Wednesday walk and the Saturday walk I will only be asking you to pay on the Wednesday.


Don’t forget that we have our annual Sponsored Hike on Saturday 29^th April, and this year it is a sponsored Half Marathon Hike along the tracks of the beautiful Cerro Negro on the outskirts of Coin.
If you want to take part then it is a minimum €10 entry and if you won’t be taking part in the hike, we are having a picnic and get together at the end so you can come along and support the walkers and the charities. So that we can raise as much as possible for the four charities then it would be good if you could sponsor one of the walkers. If you have any fund raising ideas for after the walk then please let me know so that we can coordinate all the activities.

It is the Cudeca sponsored walk on Saturday 06^th May 2017 and I would once again like to put a team into that. There are three grades of walk a 2.5 km a 5 km and a 10 km. I will be contacting you again nearer the time with more details.

First Aid;
If you would be interested in attending a one day First Aid course at the very reasonable cost of €25 then please let me know I will then get this organised. We need a minimum of 6 and the venue is yet to be decided.


If you know of any routes that you think may be suitable for the group either the main Saturday group or the Walking for Wellness, please let me have the details and we will see if it is suitable to include in the schedule.


Also I would like to see the social side of the group expanded, and will be looking at this in more detail in the near future, but one thing at a time.


At the moment I send out almost 160 emails for the Saturday walks but only about 60% actually get opened. With the system that I use I get a report which shows me who has opened what. I will be going through these reports and having a cull of those who are not opening the communications. Anyone who no longer wants to receive the emails should click the unsubscribe button at the bottom of any mail.

I am confident that these proposed changes will open up the group to even more walkers and If you have any queries about any of this then please feel free to contact me.