MOUNTAINS OF FUN

LOOK up inland and from just about every tourist resort or villa on the Costa del Sol you can see a line up of soaring peaks.

Almost always framed by bright blue skies, the majority of them trump the UK’s highest peak of Ben Nevis and are full of wildlife including rare Ibex and otters, while Black Kites and Honey Buzzards patrol the skies overhead.

Now finally, after nearly 20 years of campaigning, this stunning mountain range, the Sierra de las Nieves has been designated as Spain’s 16th National Park.

Largely untouched by tourists yet ridiculously close to the coast, it’s a weekend getaway begging to be booked.

Highly endangered Pinsapo fir woodlands and the aforementioned Ibex and otter have helped to gain its new National Park protection.

Crisscrossed with hiking trails, it’s even possible to stroll up from Marbella, Benahavis and Mijas, while by car you are in the heart of the park within an hour via the stunning Juanar Valley (above).

An even better option is to spend a weekend in the nearby Guadalhorce Valley, which buffers the range, while in the north you will find the Andalucian Lake District and its now famous Caminito del Rey.

The polar opposite to the glitz and glamour of the nearby coast the valley - where you will find the well known towns of Coin and Alhaurin - offers a more peaceful, largely rural relaxed way of life.

A great place to kick off your exciting journey inland is Tolox, which is the back door to this incredible mountain wilderness.

As someone once described it, ‘If Coin sits at the foot of the Sierra de las Nieves, then Tolox is the toenail’.

Formerly part of the Moorish Kingdom of Solei -