Felted natural handmade soaps

Thanks to my good friend Trudi, I now have some lovely hand felted soaps in stock. Trudi has used high quality Merino wool as the main felting ingredient and fine bamboo silk threads as decoration to make these bars, so they are extra soft and gentle. Felted soaps may look a little unusual, but they really are a wonderfully practical way to use handmade soaps in the shower. By just wetting the felted soap you can use it as an all in one exfoliating body wash. The felt adds to the lathering effect and the wool gently exfoliates without being too scratchy. As you use the soap the felt shrinks with the soap and once its finished you are left with a lovely scented piece of felt that you can then use to perfume inbetween your clothes in the cupboard. If you like you can also make a small slit in the empty pouch and put in another piece of soap. They last extra long, and just need to be left to dry on a soap dish between each use. Felted soaps make an ideal gift particularly for men, as they're so practical and really wash away all the dirt after a hard days work. They are now available in the shop in Ronda and online too.

Dead sea mud bar-exfoliates and detoxifies

Dead sea mud products abound in the cosmetics industry, and luckily I was able to get my hands on some of this magical mud from a friend who came back recently from Jordan. I added it at trace to an olive oil rich soap base, and scented the soap with pure peppermint essential oil. The Dead Sea is the most saline body of water in the world and contains far greater concentrations of minerals than any other ocean (a concentration of 32% minerals compared to other seas, holding approximately 3%). Mud from the Dead Sea contains almost 20 different types of minerals, and in the beauty industry it is renowned for its gentle exfoliating and deep cleansing properties. It helps to tone, hydrate and improve blood circulation which inturn can aid differing skin conditions such as excema and psoriasis but also be a useful treatment for acne sufferers. So this soap is really an ideal all round choice as a general body bar but also for those people that suffer from troubling skin conditions. The Dead sea mud handmade soap bars are now available for sale on my website so why not try one, and treat your skin to a post winter de-tox.

Creamy Oatmeal Exfoliating Handmade soap

Another honey inspired soap, I decided to make this soap because many asked especially for it. Oats have an incredible attraction to water therefore helping to draw and hold moisture to the skin. Finely ground oatmeal also makes a fantastic gentle exfoliant, adhering to what is irritating the skin thereby washing it away with the soap. The benefits of using oatmeal soap include relieving skin irritations and redness from rashes or exposure, reducing itching and moisturizing or softening skin. These benefits make it an effective product for people with eczema, sunburn or allergies, the elderly and young children. Apart from finely ground oatmeal I also added a dollop of organic honey and mild essential oils of sweet orange and ylang ylang. It has a very gentle aroma and with no added colour it really looks and smells extra natural. With the high extra virgin olive oil content this handmade soap is super mild and extra moisturizing so it would be a good choice for anyone suffering from dermatitis, excema, or other skin irritations.

Honeycomb Handmade Soap

So Easter is over, the Royal wedding is over and its time to get down to some soaping again! My lastest creation was a bit of an experiment- I saw a tip to create a honey combed look to the soap bar by using bubble wrap when lining the mold, on line somewhere and thought it looked pretty good so thought I would give it a try. I used my usual recipe and added a good dose of honey from a local beekeeper I bought at a farmers market, steeped the olive oil in Madder root, that gave it a wonderful honey colour and added an extra virgin avocado oil to the final mix and some petitgrain and bergamot essential oils to give it a fresh but not too overpowering aroma. The resulting soap is remarkably like a honey comb! Even the fact that some of the bubble wrap was broken only means it looks like the cells are still full of honey. Its an excellent soap for extra dry skin or with its fresh scent and the deodorizing properties of the petitgrain and bergamot oils a good choice for general foot care.

Honey is actually a great natural moisturizer for dry and parched skin. A humectant, it is able to attract and retain moisture, rebuilding the moisture level in the skin without making it oily. Honey can also calm irritated skin, and helps replenish necessary skin moisture, especially during the winter months. If you use honey on the skin its very important to choose an organic variety and it can be combined with other ingredients to make face masks or just used direct on chapped lips.

Round trip walk Barrio Sanfranscisco- Virgen de la Cabeza- Barrio San franscisco

Its been a while since I did a walk, but yesterday it was another beautiful sunny day here, and since we had visitors we decided to take them on a longish ( 2 hour) walk just outside Ronda, taking in the Hermita de la Virgen de la Cabeza and the fertile valley that lies infront of the gorge itself. With wonderful views of Ronda from below, the surrounding hillsides and ancient olive groves its a gentle walk that is mostly off road.




The walk starts at the Barrio Sanfranscisco; if you have the city walls behind you and the square infront, take the right hand road that leads out of town. Keep on this road for about 500 meters and then at the second mini roundabout theres a sign indicating right for the Virgen de la Cabeza. Keep right and follow this gravel track through ancient olive groves that are dotted with a myriad of wild flowers for about 2 kms. The views of Ronda to the right and the surrounding mountains are really spectacular. Once you get to the head of the track that leads down on the right to the Virgen de la Cabeza itself, there is a clearing on the left and a large gate. Just to the left of the gate is a small opening in the fence go through and follow the path that leads downwards, there is a stone wall to the right which you follow all the way down heading into woodland. Once at the bottom it levels out and there is a little clearing, where you need to turn right down a smaller path that leads you through ancient Encina forests (evergreen oaks), the forest floor was full of cistroses in pale pink and white. This path continues for about 500 meters until you reach a gate, go through the gate and follow the path through two fincas on either side. After about another 500 meters you will come to a wider track, here you have to turn right and keep following this track back up the hill through the fertile valley infront of the gorge, which is on your left. The views of Ronda from here are really spectacular and the sides of the path were full of wild flowers, wild gladioli, daisies, periwinkle, and poppies. Eventually you will come back up to the old walls of the city, turn right up hill at the horse riding stables and continue up for about 200 meters until you come back to where you started from.

Grazalema's historic flour mill is back in business.

Grazalema is known for being one of the wettest areas in Spain, and one of the most popular walking destinations here in Andalucia. Frequented by Spaniards and foreigners alike the picturesque village is the gateway to a Pinsapo reserve, a Spanish Fir, that has survived evolutionary changes since the tertiary period.

Since the 17th century Grazalema became famous for its textiles, making blankets and woolen clothing. Below the village the valley known as “La Ribera” was an area with many water powered mills processing wool for the textile industry. There were also other water powered mills that ground wheat and the other main crop of the area Olives for Olive oil. However since the onset of the industrial revolution many of these mills were abandoned and left in ruins. The good news is that one of these mills has been lovingly restored and installed in the Tourist Information Centre of Grazalema and is now back at work milling wheat that is now being used by the local bakers to produce a true stoneground, wholewheat bread. The flour can also be bought directly from the Tourist Centre and makes great bread. Clive and Sue Muir, an English couple that run the centre and are responsible for getting the project off the ground believe wholeheartedly that local is best, and aim to produce flour for the entire surrounding area, using locally grown wheat, cutting down on transport costs and therefore making the whole process more sustainable. So if you are interested in seeing how a traditional mill works you can actually see it in action at the Tourist Centre, and go home with a bag of wonderful stoneground flour for only 1.25euros a kilo.

Rose Geranium and Grapefruit soap

Well Spring is really here now-the temperatures are soaring and it feels more like the beginning of Summer than the start of Spring. Here in Ronda, which is a little later to warm up than the coastal areas, the gardens are beginning to bloom and the heady scents of Jasmine perfume the warm night air. The roses have their first big blooms of Spring and I felt it was time to create a new soap that combines the floral scents of roses with the sharper tang of grapefruit. Using the locally pressed fresh olive oil I added a touch of rosehip oil and scattered the mix with ground rosehips. A generous amount of rose geranium oil, and a hint of grapefruit gives this soap a wonderful flowery, quite heady aroma toned alittle by a gentle sharpness from the grapefruit. Geranium oil is a staple in the cosmetic world being a fantastic skin care oil, particularly for more mature skin types. Its regenerative and moisturising properties are well documented and it also has an uplifting effect on the psyche making it an effective aid against many of the hormonal effects of menopause and also depression in general. Topped with deep pink rose petals it looks and smells gorgeous- so if youre looking for a pick me up this is the handmade soap for you.

Recipe - Andalucian Lemon Meringue Pie

Ingredients:

200gms flour
100gms butter
3 lemons
3 eggs
200gms sugar
60gms butter
300mils water
40gms cornflower.

Lemon meringue pie has always been one of my favorite desserts- the combination of the tangy lemon pudding with the sweet airiness of meringue and the crunchy pastry is just sublime.

At the moment there's an abundance of eggs - well its Springtime after all, and there's still a glut of lemons, so I thought that this pie was a great way to turn them into something mouthwateringly delicious.

It looks a bit daunting at first, but actually its quite easy to make. First make the pastry- sift the flour and add a pinch of salt, cut the butter into small cubes and add to the pastry, lightly crumb the butter into the flour and once its all been incorporated add two tablespoons of cold water, mixing lightly to create a homogenous pastry. Line the tin with the pastry and bake blind for about 15 minutes at 200 degrees celcius.

Once the pastry comes out of the oven, reduce the oven temperature to 180 degrees celcius and start to make the lemon filling. To do this put the juice and grated lemon rind of 3 lemons into a double boiler, add 40gms cornflower and whisk until it makes a smooth paste. Then add 300 mil water to this mixing well all the time, bring to the boil and it will thicken slowly. Once thick add 60gms butter, 80gms sugar and the yolks of 3 eggs mix thoroughly and then fill the pie base with it.

Next take the 3 egg whites and whisk till they form stiff peaks, gently fold in 120gms of sugar and top the pie with it. Bake in the oven till its golden brown. Leave to cool and then eat with some single cream or just on its own.

Best Churros in Ronda

Churros are one of the things that alongside the ubiquitous Paella seems to stick in ones mind about eating out in Spain. Now they are to be found all over the world, even at Glastonbury festival, but its Spain where they're done to perfection. It wasnt till I went to Granada one weekend that I realised that churros are actually made differently in each town. In Ronda they're made extra light and airey and fried in big rings, but in Granada I was severely dissappointed as they were considerably doughier and not at all like the crispy delights I was used to. So where is the best place to get ones churros in Ronda?- well Rondenans favorite is definately, La Ponderosa which is infront of the bus station and has a large patio outside. In the mornings, but particularly on weekends you will see hordes of young Rondenos after a heavy night out soaking up their alcohol indulgence at this very churreria. The churros are 1.20 euros per person - unfortunately I have had some feedback from a couple of tourists that read this piece and then went to La Ponderosa for their recommended churros, only to be charged 2 euros a person. When I could I went up to La Ponderosa to check this with a Dutch friend and sure enough they charged him 2 euros per churros per person. Unfortunately the real price is 1.20 but as so often and sadly is the case here in Ronda tourists are charged more. So although these are the best churros in Ronda by far youll probably have to pay extra for the privelege. I have to say that I wont be going there again as its a practise I despise but unfortunately it occurs even in high street shops. The staff are incredibly quick, so within a few minutes you're served with a big round of churros and chocolate, the traditional drink - which is more like a pudding-into which to dip the churros. If you like them extra sweet they can also be generously dusted with sugar. They really do do the trick if youre feeling a little worse for wear! For many from the surrounding pueblos this is a must have when they get to Ronda, getting into town before the shops open at ten, means breakfast is something of a tradition and many choose churros over toast as its often not available in the small white villages that dot the serrania. So if youre looking for great churros - head up to the bus station, only a 5 minute walk from the main shopping street and you wont be dissappointed.

Spring florals

Ive been a bit busy lately making lots of beautiful floral inspired handmade soaps, the weather is absolutely gorgeous here at the moment and the flowers in my small garden are busy budding which inspired me to make 3 lovely soaps with flower toppings.

Gardening is high on my list at the moment as Spring has definately arrived and Ive been busy seeding rocket, coriander, parsley and planting out lettuces and tomatoes. I like to do my gardening work without gloves as otherwise Im a clumsy gardener but it does mean I end up with very dirty hands that often have small cuts and scratches. So a special gardeners soap was top of my list. So I made an extra virgin olive oil rich soap, enriched with cocoa butter to give extra moisturizing qualities and lavished extra quantities of Tea Tree essential oil to help clean and cure those little cuts and scrapes. It also looks lovely as its topped with deep blue cornflowers. Tea Tree is an amazing essential oil; as well as being a powerful antiseptic, antifungal, antimicrobial essential oil its also a powerful cicatrisant which means it helps wounds to heal quicker and then protects them from further infections and is also said to promote scar tissue so its a wonderful aid for any one that suffers from acne, or for cleaning any type of wound. I have also had success with this soap with people that suffer from common herpes. Tea Tree is also well known as a natural fungicide which makes it a good choice for sufferers of Athletes foot.

Scrub up with an invigorating eucalyptus and poppy seed soap

Its Spring here in Andalucia and the countryside is full of wild flowers and the scents of spring which include the fresh aroma of Eucalyptus. Although this tree is not a native of Europe, having been introduced from Australia mostly at the turn of the last century, it is relatively abundant particularly in certain areas. Its blue-green leaves make a welcome change from the darker hues of the various types of indigenous oak that are so abundant in the Serrania of Ronda. Some varieties have beautiful papery type bark that glisten with either silvery or golden tones that light up the forests especially in the bright Andalusian sunlight. Eucalyptus is a highly controversial tree as it poses a severe fire risk and also sucks water out of the ground therefore lowering the water table- infact they have been used to drain swamp lands in countries like Italy in an attempt to reduce mosquito infestations. The Eucalyptus tree also provides a wonderfully fragrant refreshing essential oil that is distilled from the leaves. Its incredibly useful as an effective decongestant and has antimicrobial properties that makes it a powerful aid in personal hygiene products. It also helps stimulate the immune system so its a great choice for a handmade soap especially an invigorating exfoliating shower bar. So with this in mind I set about making a soap speckled with poppy seeds and genorously scented with eucalyptus and a hint of rosemary oil. Coloured naturally with powdered spirulina its also rich in trace minerals. So if youre feeling a little lack lustre this handmade soap is sure to pick you up and get you ready for the day ahead.

Relax with lavender aromatherapy soy wax candles

Well known in the United States Soy wax is now making headway in the European and UK markets as an alternative to paraffin wax based candles. Soy wax is hydrogenated soy bean oil - made from soy beans and is a completely renewable resource, that also has several user friendly advantages over paraffin wax candles. Firstly, and perhaps of most interest to the consumer is the fact that soy wax candles burn slower and therefore last up to 50% longer than their paraffin wax counterparts. They also burn cleaner releasing less CO2 into the atmosphere- up to 90%less smoke giving a cleaner home environment which is of particular interest to people with small children. Due to their slower burn time soy wax candles also have a wonderful scent throw and you can even use essential oils to scent the candles meaning they are a completely natural alternative. One of the handy advantages of soy wax is that any spills are completely removed with just some hot soapy water so you dont run the risk of spoiling your nice tablecloth with wax spills. We have recently made several differently scented soy wax candles- lavender with flowers pictured, or juniper and cedarwood plain white and they are now for sale in the shop in Ronda at Calle Sevilla 23 or via the website. So give them a try you'll be surprised how long they last and how great they smell.

Treat your feet!

At the end of a long days walking, theres nothing quite as good as soaking your feet in a bowl of hot perfumed water. Making your own bath salts is really easy, all you need is some good quality sea salt full of natural minerals, ( you can buy good salt at any health shop) and if you want you can add some natural essential oils and even flowers or flower petals that then expand in the water. Its best to take the sea salt of your choice(there are various different varieties all packed with minerals and often clays aswell), then add the essential oils and any flowers or petals and leave it to infuse in an airtight container for at least 24 hours. The general rule is 300gms of salt to 30 drops of essential oil; a good relaxing blend would be lavender and geranium, or for tired aching feet, rosemary and eucalyptus. Just add a 100 gms to a bowl full of hot water and soak your feet in it. We all have problems of hard skin especially in the summer months when sandals tend to exacerbate rough areas, so once the feet are nicely soaked rub off any hard skin with a pumice stone or a better alternative if you can get one is a moroccan clay foot scrubber. These handy scrubbers are easy to use as they have a small handle to grip on and the round scored base sloughs away dead skin really effectively. These are normally found in Moroccan markets or in the hammam but they can be bought online. After all this pampering moisturize your feet with a good natural moisturizer or body butter, my mum allways used to tell me to do this before bed and put some light cotton socks over the feet and then in the morning you wake up with super smooth relaxed feet.

How to look after your all natural handmade soap

Handmade natural soap is a pure pleasure to use on the body and face giving a wonderful creamy lather and leaving ones skin super soft to the touch and extra moisturised by all the wonderful oils and essences packed in them. However because of its very "naturalness" it needs a little more care than the shop bought chemical ridden variety. When I first made soaps I searched high and low for a good soap dish which you might think would be an easy task but actually it wasnt at all. So in the end I designed a dish that would meet my needs. The soap dish I came up with is a stoneware dish that curves slightly so that the soap sits only on its edges and can therefore drain completely after each use. This means that your handmade soap will last and last which is of course a good thing seeing as they tend to be a little more expensive than a shop bought one. I have also been lucky enough to find some beautiful smelted glass dishes that also drain effectively and are absolutely beautiful to look at. Both types of dishes are completely handmade to order by some local artisans that live in the beautiful white village of Olvera which is just a short drive from Ronda where Im based. Available on my website each one is unique and a must for anyone who treasures their handmade soaps.

Zahara de la Sierra-magical white village by the lake

Right now its raining heavily here in Ronda and its difficult to imagine that next week it could be hot enough to have a beautiful country walk by the lake, but its something Id love to do as soon as the weather picks up again. Zahara de la Sierra is just a short drive from the mountain town of Ronda on the A374 which heads on towards Sevilla. Taking in the breathtaking scenery that is synonymous with this area, you pass the small villages of Monte Corto and then El Gastor on the right and then theres a left hand turn, that crosses a bridge- sign posted Grazalema- that takes you to on to Zahara de la Sierra skirting the man made lake that you see in the picture. Its definately the more scenic way to reach the village but you could keep going towards Algondonales and then there is another left hand turn towards the village. Zahara de la Sierra was an important Moorish outpost using its strategic position in the first line of defense against the Christians, for the towns of Ronda to the south and Seville to the north west. The remains of this moorish castle can be explored after a picturesque walk through the orange lined streets of this lovely white village and theres also a little museum that outlines the history of the fortress. Once at the top of the fortress which is quite a climb the views are stunning. In the central square there are various restaurants, bars and some hotels but the best place to stay if you want something extra special is the fabulously run Al Lago which apart from being an innovative restaurant is also a chic boutique hotel. Owners Stefan and Mona Crites also organise various themed weekends like next weekends Flamenco show or Indian inspired weekend menus but its best to check the website for dates and availability. Theres also a delicious menu del dia during the week for only 12 euros and I would happily recommend it to anyone who wants really good fresh food that delights the taste buds and leaves you feeling satisfied if youve got a healthy appetite like me- especially if youve been walking in the sierras of the Grazalema Natural Park.

100 years of International Womens Day

Ok just wanted to post something in honor of all the fantastic women that I know. Its 100 years since the first oficial womens day was celebrated and of course there have been many advances in womens rights and health issues since then, so that is something to celebrate, although theres alot of work still to be done around the world especially in those countries that are at the moment experiencing extreme turmoil- we are at least lucky enough to be celebrating even if its not as much as we would like.

On a personal level Im glad to have been enriched by all the wonderful and creative women that I have had the pleasure of knowing over the years. Sometimes in our lives we all need that special kind of support that a good friend can give and often but not allways it comes from a fellow woman. So for all my dearest girlfriends Happy International Womens Day!

Andalucia day- 28th February

Here in Andalucia weve just had a holiday- Andalucia day that celebrates the autonomy of the Comunidad Andalucia. Its celebrated in all aspects of society especially in the schools where children sing the Himno de Andalucia, that celebrates peace and equality for all its citizens with the words "the white and green flag returns after centuries of war to declare peace and hope under the sunshine of our land". They also eat the traditional breakfast of toast or bread with olive oil, although some schools sneak some sugar into the equation! Here in Ronda its particularly poignant as it was here in 1918 that one of Andalucias most famous sons Blas Infante, as part of the Assembly of Ronda unfurled for the first time what is now the Andalucian flag and its coat of arms establishing the basis of what it is to be an Andaluz and how the area was to attain its autonomy within Spain as a whole. The green and white colours of the Andalucian flag decorate the towns and villages throughout Andalucia on this day that commemorates the 1980 referendum that finally gave Andalucia its autonomy within Spain. All over Andalucia there are cultural events and activities many of which are free, which ties in with the school holiday of Semana Blanca. As it was a beautiful sunny day here we enjoyed a relaxing walk through the valley below the Tajo with the dogs, only to be marred by the constant whine of a souped up motorbike going backwards and forwards along the path- fairly tipical Andalucia.

Rondas growing wine industry.

Ronda is famous for its ancient bullring, the height defying bridge that spans the impressive gorge, el Tajo, its spectacular fortress like location and the beautiful scenery that surrounds it. However recently Ronda has also become famous for its growing wine industry. Until a couple of decades ago there wasnt really a wine industry to speak of, although the region has in the past been an important wine growing area; infact in Roman times the local currency even featured a bunch of grapes on one side of the coinage. Unfortunately the ancient vineyards were wiped out by Phylloxera in the 19th century and it dropped into obscurity until in 1982 a German, Friedrich Schatz decided to plant some vines, realising that high daytime temperatures combined with low night time temperatures were the ideal growing conditions for vine growing. His organic vineyard is now one of the best in the area and has won several awards. Since then he has been joined by many others; some local Spaniards but also Germans, Argentinians and Austrians.

The main varieties to be found are Shiraz/Syrah, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo and Cabernet-Sauvignon and also the local Romé, and after serious lobbying the wine growers have managed to achieve the areas wines to have their own “Designation of Origin Malaga – Serranía de Ronda”. If you are a wine lover but dont quite know where to start, most of the local wines can be tried by the glass at a small wine bar called Entre Vinos on Calle Pozo just round the corner from the Alameda Park. Owner Javier has more than 12 varieties to try by the glass and stocks an extensive range to be ordered by the bottle. They also serve delicious tapas all presented with style and at reasonable prices; they are closed all day Sunday and Monday lunch, but are otherwise open everyday lunchtimes and evenings. Just around the corner on Calle Molino is the amazing wine shop Placer ego run by Fernando Angulo that stocks all the local wines plus over a thousand more varieties from around Spain and the rest of the world. So if you are planning a trip to Ronda and like a good tipple you are in for a serious treat.

The humble Lemon,

Yep its that time of year again- there are lemons everywhere......the tree outside my window is laden down with these rather overlooked fruits and if its going to produce more for next year they really need to be picked. So Ive been doing my best to use them in everything; instead of vinegar in salads, squeezing the juice and freezing it in icecube trays for the times when lemons are not so abundant- late summer, making lemon syrup- this involves copious amounts of squeezing and boiling up with even more amounts of sugar etc etc. By now Im a little fed up of these bright little fruits and there just doesnt seem to be many takers round here for the odd lemon or two!

But I did make a lovely luscious gorgeous lemoney cake that used up 3 fruits in one go! and it tastes absolutely yep you guessed it lemoney! A bit rich due to the serious amounts of lemon syrup that soak through the cake, but it helps to soak up the oat flour. So heres the recipe alittle fiddly but not too bad but it is yummy and super sweet, I like to think its good for me too with all that vitamin C but somehow I think probably not. Anyway try making it you wont regret it and you might just get rid of a few lemons.

Ingredients: 400gm sugar
125g butter
100ml oil
3 Lemons zest and 100mil juice
3 organic eggs
225gm flour
2tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate soda
75g gm oat meal flour

Beat 250gms of sugar with the butter and the oil till light and fluffy add the eggs one at a time and the lemon zest. To this add 75ml of warm water stir well. Next add flour, oatmeal and raising agents sifted folding them into the mixture carefully. Line a baking tin with paper and place in a preheated oven at 180 degrees C for 50 minutes or until firm. While the cake is in the oven mix the juice with the rest of the sugar and gently heat till all the sugar is dissolved completely. Once the cake comes out skewer all over and pour the syrup all over the cake and down the sides. Leave to cool and voilá.

Fairy tale walk in Los Riscos de Cartajima- Serrania de Ronda

Today its a beautiful sunny crisp day here in the mountains of Ronda and I thought about all the lovely walking that can be enjoyed here and that it would be nice to share the details a walk that we did last weekend when visiting some friends in Cartajima.

Cartajima is one of several white villages that sits in the Alto Genal Valley that is a short car journey ( about twenty minutes from Ronda going out on the road to San Pedro). Perched at an altitude of 826m and surrounded by steep valleys covered in Chestnut trees and ringed by impressive limestone outcrops known as Los Riscos its a truly beautiful place to relax and enjoy unspoilt countryside and discover some of the local flora and fauna.

Luckily we were visiting some good friends in the area that know all the more out of the way walks and they took us to a newly marked route that takes in the hidden pastures of Los Riscos. Just a short car journey from Cartajima on the way to Juzcar about four kilometers out of town there is a sign on the right for Los Riscos, and a well maintained track takes you several kilometers up hill to a parking area, where there is a well marked map of the route. There are wonderful views towards Juzcar and back towards Cartajima across the Alto Genal Valley. Across the track from the car park is a newly made wooden gate that marks the start of the path- go through and just follow the path that is marked with natural limestones on either side. The walk starts gently circling the limestone outcrops on ones left and on the right is a field of Almond trees that at this time of year were all in blossom. As one ascends, the path takes you into Los Riscos that from the outside look craggy and closed off but once inside there are small glades and its really like being in another world. Craggy rock formations with nooks and crannies are all around and the floor was carpeted in wild iris it was really magical. The path is dotted with 5 threshing circles where the local farmers would have brought their wheat or chickpea harvests to be threshed by a mule or donkey. Along the route there are information posts that explain how these threshing areas would have worked and a little bit of history about the area. Once deep inside Los Riscos its surprisingly open, with larger glades and flat areas ideal for picnicking and just taking in the wonderful views or watching the birds fly overhead. The walk takes you through Los Riscos and back around the mountain peak to finish where you started back at the carpark. If you fancy there is also a longer round trip walk from Juzcar to Alpandeire and back to Juzcar that also starts from the same car park area.