Válor is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range at the eastern end of the Alpujarras. It is a typical, picturesque Spanish village with a few shops, bars and restaurants. The village is surrounded by terraced farming land, much of which is still worked using traditional methods. The Alpujarras area of Andalusía in southern Spain is famed for its white, Moorish villages. One of Válor's claims to fame is that it is the birthplace of Aben Humeya, the last Moorish leader before the Christians finally took control of the area. Válor is ideal for people looking for a walking holiday that is not overrun with other walkers as it is still virtually undiscovered. The best place to stay (in my opinion, because I own it!) is Los Arcos. See our website www.losarcosholidays.com

In the summer the municipal swimming pool is open. It is a beautiful pool with a grassed area from which the views are spectacular. It has a bar that also sells hot and cold food. If you want to do some reading before you come we would recommend ‘South from Granada’ by Gerald Brennan plus ‘Driving Over Lemons’ and A Parrot in the Pepper Tree by Chris Stewart. These titles will give you a bit of a feel for the area, even though Gerald Brennan’s book was written in the 1930s.

To explore beyond the village non-walkers will need to hire a car to get the full benefit of the area. Válor is ideally situated between the city of Granada and the coast. Granada (two hours’ drive away) houses the Alhambra Palace, one of the most beautiful, interesting and historic sites in Spain. This is well worth a visit if you are in this area. There are several beaches, which can be reached in about one and a half hours in the car. Non-walkers can still find plenty to do. The area is ideal for mountain biking, bird watching and painting.