Lanjaron lies at the foot of the Bordaila Hill. The river and the surrounding countryside, have turned the place into a traditional summer resort – including a spa – and into almost the last area of urban civilisation on the route into Las Alpujarras.
The regional road takes the traveller to Orgiva where the road branches out into the Upper and Lower Alpujarras, respectively. Before the village is reached, there is a turn off for Cañar on the left, a minuscule village with an untouched Moorish air. The whitewashed houses and their flat roofs, made rainproof with lauda, a kind of clay only found in this region, are terraced as the crops in the surroundings.
Pampaneira and Bubion are found clinging to a
slope. Both overlook the splendid panorama of a valley full of orchards,
pastures, walnut and chestnut trees and both look surprisingly African
with their cubic houses contrasting with the mountain scenery.
Capileira is very close. From there we have the
choice between climbing towards the Mulhacen and the Veleta and
continuing his visit of Las Alpujarras.
Trevelez comes into view after skirting a long stretch of the river after which it is named. It is also surrounded by kitchen gardens and lush trees which hide a deep valley. Trout abound as do wild goat on the slopes near the Mulhacen. The upper area of the village is lovely and unmistakable. And trying the local Trevelez ham is almost a must.
Between Trevelez and Berchules (21km) the scenery changes abruptly and turns more southerly. Mecina-Bombaron and Yegen already overlook the lower Alpujarra.
About 2km from Mecina-Bombaron the road, after passing through Cadiar, Torvizcon and Los Tablones, takes the traveller to Velez de Benaudalla, where one can retake the CN-323 and return to the coast.
