Sunday - You are collected from Seville and driven up into the Sierra and to Finca el Moro; a journey of one and a quarter hours.
Monday - 4 hrs riding. After breakfast a few moments to accustom you to the vaquero tack and to feel happy with your horse and you are off. Cantering north across the sierra to Valdelarco and tapas lunch in the plaza. On after lunch up the river valley and passing vineyards and cherry orchards you return to Finca el Moro, where you can relax, make yourself tea in your cottage, have a swim or a siesta before a splendid dinner.
Tuesday - 5 hours riding. Up and over the sierra through chestnut groves giving wonderful views south. A stop for coffee in the pretty village of Linares. Then lovely canters through cork and cattle country through the farm of the local fighting bull breeder. Stopping for a picnic lunch and then, after a short siesta, on to the village of Valdezufre to spend the night in the very comfortable local Posada where your overnight bag will be waiting for you. The horses are kept at a farm on the edge of the village. Spring comes early this far south. The mimosas, cherries and the first of the wild narcissi in February. Peonies and lavender soon follow and the villages fill with the heady scent of jasmine and orange trees.
Wednesday - 4 hours riding. Riding on the old muleteers caminos past the Hermitage of Santa Marina for morning coffee in the pretty village of Higuera la sierra. Past the spring of Our Lady of Fatima and onto the historic town of Zufre for a prelunch bar stop. Zufre perched on the southern rim of the sierra has wonderful views south to the distant Lake where we ride on to enjoy our picnic. Returning to the village to stay overnight in the local Posada and enjoy the village atmosphere. Zufre is a village where time seems to have stood still. The horses are stabled locally.
Thursday - 5 hours riding. Following the mediaeval camino blanco a well known drovers track that runs between Seville and Portugal we stop for coffee in el Jarrito's bar in La Umbria. Then cantering over the high open country carpeted with wild flowers in early spring, black vultures and honey buzzards sailing the thermals overhead to lunch in the village of Corteconcepcion. The afternoon riding up the wooded valley of the river of the Fuente del Rey (the King's Spring) to arrive at your overnight stop a pretty country hotel where the horses are also stabled.
Friday - 6 hours riding. An long exhilarating final days ride. Cantering through the rolling cattle and cork country of the big farms to the north of Aracena. Stopping for coffee in the small village of Carboneras before picnicing on private ranch land in a corner of the real Spain that is not often visited. Finally we arrive back at the farm - El Moro - the journey complete. Back to your cottage and room to relax before a splendid valedictory dinner..
Saturday - Leave after breakfast to the ancient and evocative city of Seville. The narrow streets perfumed with orange tree and the walls covered in tangles of jasmine and plumbago. A chance to stroll the streets lined with palm trees, purchase wonderful ceramics, or sit and watch it all from the pavement cafés.
If you would like to stay on on Seville please have a look at the list of hotels we recommend on the "Staying in Seville" pages.
