In the footsteps of Virginia Woolf in Southern Spain 2025

SUMMARY

Dates: Monday September 29th to Sunday October 5th 

Guide: Encarna Castillo

We will lead you on a journey to discover a walking holiday which Virginia Woolf did herself. In 1923 she visited Granada and then on to a small village Yegen in the Alpujarra in southern Spain. Join us to find out more and walk amongst this beautiful landscape of olive trees and the ocean in the distance.

We have other holidays in the Alpujarra region and if you would like to stay on to experience both Yegen and Capileira we can arrange a discount for both holidays. Please do get in touch.

Walking Grade: 2 Goats

Max elevation: 200m

Terrain: some village roads, wide paths and soft underfoot . No challenges.

Max distance: 7km

Base: Monday and Tuesday at the Hotel Reina Cristina where the poet Lorca stayed in Granada – we spend 2 nights here and have a welcome drink here surrounded by literary characters.

From Wednesday we travel by local bus to the village of Yegen and stay 4 nights at El Rincón de Yegen – very typical, simple local accommodation in this small village run by Tobyn and Loli. Loli was born and bred in a small neighbouring village and whilst staying here we will experience some of the local foods,wines and music.

Rooms are in traditional apartments with shared kitchens and living rooms. There are 2 or 3 rooms in each with 2 bathrooms. There are also some ensuite rooms which will be allocated as you book so first come first served.

Getting there: Best is to fly to and from Granada but direct flights are minimal. Flights to Malaga are cheap and frequent and there is now a direct train line to Granada taking 1 hour 20mins. We can advise if you would like to travel this way or check out the national train service Spanish Trains

Your guide will meet you at your hotel in Granada – this is the meeting point.

Arrival: Our meeting point will be Hotel Reina Cristina, C/Angulo, 3 , Granada for a 17.00 briefing and short orientation walk with your guide before a welcome dinner together at 20.00 in a local restaurant.

Departure: A group transfer from Yegen after breakfast at approx 9am to arrive at Malaga Airport for approx 12 noon. Book flights after 14.00.

If you are returning to Granada we suggest the local bus as a taxi would be approx 100 euros.

We can recommend a stay in Malaga to make it a two city break and advise on hotels.

If you do want to extend your stay and visit other places in Andalucia we can help.

Price:£1400  for a solo occupancy room including :

• Ensuite room for solo occupancy  – 2 nights in Granada
• Room for solo occupancy with shared bathroom ( 2 or 3 women and 2 bathrooms) – 4 nights in Yegen
• All breakfasts
• All Lunches in Yegen – packed lunches for walking
• All evening meals
• English speaking guiding and an option of walks/activities
• Alhambra Visit
• Local transport for walks and tours
• Some local activities such as wine tasting and flamenco
• Group Airport transfers for  departure

If you bring a partner or friend and share a room there is a discount of £100 per person.

Total price per person sharing £1,300

Not included:

• Travel to Granada
• Lunches in Granada
• Additional drinks

Download the brochure »

DETAILS

We have a love of Andalucia and especially the more undiscovered parts away from all the coastal tourists. The Alpujarras are known for the ancient white villages clinging to the hills with trails between them that people have walked for centuries.

What might not be so well known is that this was an area that the spirit of Bloomsbury blossomed. Gerald Brenan was part of the Bloomsbury set who discovered the lost hamlet of Yegen in the Alpujarra and lived there for many years. He was considered the most outstanding Hispanist of the last century for his works like The Spanish Labyrinth, The Face of Spain or South from Granada.

He had visitors from London and Dora Carrington, Lytton Strachey and on April 3, 1923, the Woolf couple, Virginia and Leonard, arrived at the tiny  hamlet. They stayed some fifteen days. Brenan knew them from London, where Virginia had already started to excel as an extravagant and Romantic figure. The Woolfs wanted to know Brenan more in-depth and they walked and talked and got to know each other and the area.

We walk in Virginia Woolfs footsteps and experience what she experienced as she walked in both Granada and Yegen. There are options for shorter or longer walks to walk between villages and around the mountains.

This year we found a natural swimming pool that was a welcome refreshment during a hot walk!

ITINERARY