Walking in Spain in July

If you are looking for mountains you could try the Picos de Europa west of Santander. very impressive limestone mountains, excellent walking, some good climbing and, if you are unto that kind of thing, the deepest caves in the world. It also has a sufficient network of mountain huts to manage without tents. You could do a combination of hut to hut days with other days based at huts doing summits. You would probably be better off taking cooking equipment with you as this would give you the flexibility to use also the smaller huts, some of which do not provide food. Can't recommend it strongly enough, really excellent range. I have always camped but huts look OK - you may have to book in July but you will have to check that out yourself. good maps produced by Miguel Angel Adrados and a guide book - 'Picos de Europa' by Robin Walker published by Cicerone Press. It will be hot in July but not unbearable if you stay high.

PS There is a blue cheese produced locally (called Cabrales) available in the villages north of the range which I rate the best in the world (though I admit there are some I have not tried! Also good local cider.

Other options or the Cantabrian mountains further west though there is not the same hut network or, though a little out of your area, there are the north Pyrenees

happyr

Thanks for your reply! i really haven't done anything like this before - could you recommend essential things to bring with us? Are there a range of different trails at Picos (ie. easy - moderate walking)? And do you think, as a newbie, we would be ok setting out (just 2 of us)?
We've camped at home and done some hikes but for me that was a while ago and my fitness has ahem declined.

Thanks!

Get the maps and guidebooks referred to above. Fairly readily available in the UK don't know about in Australia but Amazon would be a good bet for the book and Standford Maps for the maps (and book). You will have to do a websearch to get their web address.

Main trails are all pretty clear, hut to hut routes have no technical difficulty in most cases and at that time of year weather should not be a problem. You may get thunderstorms so go equipped for that. Take a small stove (whatever fuel you prefer but if flying there you cannot carry fuel of any kind on planes so try to check out what you can get locally. And all the coking accessories but as light as possible. Without a tent carry loads should not be too bad but try to keep weight down. Picos are only 2600metres at maximum but the height gain from most entry points are considerable. With the guidebook you should be able to pick out some easy routes to start with and then judge it from there based on how you feel. Most summits are walking only. Exceptions are El Naranjo de Bulnes with an easiest route graded at D- which is quite a serious climbing grade. Pena Santa de Castilla with an easy route at AD- and pitches at grade II and III and two abseils for the descent is also a climbers mountain though not difficult. Torre de Sante Maria has an easiest line at grade PD with pitches at grade I and II which can be managed without a rope. The highest peak Torre de Cerrado has an easiest line at grade PD- with pitches at grade II. The last two of these summits can be managed safely by competent scramblers without a rope. Don't let this put you off there are many other easily accessible summits and the scenery is stunning.

Go for it.