On a recent autumn visit to this little-known sierra in the foothills of thecentral Pyrenees, we initiallyexplored by car for a full day, almostcircuiting the Guara using the back roadsbetween the villages of Alquézar and Bara.During over 12 hours on these roads weencountered not a single other vehicle -an astonishing achievement in today'sage, especially within Europe! However, asany map of Spain will indicate, the Sierrade Guara, protected as a parque naturalsince 1990, is one of Spain's quieterregions and, although it does become ahaven for canyoning and climbingenthusiasts during the summer months, wehope to find plenty of peace and quiet,and an abundance of birds and plants, aswe explore its valleys, gorges and uplandmountainsides during the course of thisexciting holiday.The Sierra de Guara is not a high range -Tozal de Guara, at 2,077 metres, being itshighest summit - but, being protected bythe high Pyrenees just to the north, itssouthern slopes, in particular, receive littleprecipitation and are consequently verydry. At lower altitudes it offers a prettypatchwork of rolling oak woods, almondorchards, olive groves and small, irregularwheat fields, traditionally farmed. Attractivelimestone villages and their splendidchurches ride the flanks of the sierra; theirpopulations, like virtually all in rural Spain,dwindling today and allowing nature backin. Above them lies a rugged land, clothedin stunted oak forest and maquis scruband characterised by numerousspectacular gorges, canyons, cliffs andpinnacles fashioned from limestone andconglomerate. This is a land beloved ofbirds of prey. Griffon Vultures arenumerous, whilst other resident breedingbirds include Lammergeier, Golden Eagle,Bonelli's Eagle, Red Kite and Peregrine,and these are joined in summer byEgyptian Vulture, Short-toed and BootedEagles, Honey Buzzard and Hobby.On this 2-centre holiday, we will exploreeach day on a series of gentle walks in thecompany of our expert guides, a botanistand an ornithologist, breaking each daywith a traditional Naturetrek picnic lunch!It is the southern slopes of the sierra thatwe will focus on during the first part of thisholiday, and during it we will be based inthe magical fortress town of Alquézar, builtaround a spectacular 8th century Moorishcitadel which sits on a pinnacle above thegorge of the Río Vero. This quaint andancient town, with its narrow streets, sitslike an eagle's eyrie on a shoulder of thesierra and is a perfect centre from which toexplore on foot the surrounding valleys,gorges and higher slopes . and fromwhich to watch for passing birds of prey.The fortifications at Alquézar are typical ofmany forts built in this area, to the south ofthe Pyrenees, by the Moors or Christiansas they wrestled for control over thesenorthern limits of Muslim Spain throughoutthe Middle Ages. Today, like many of thedeserted villages, they now provide ahome for Hoopoes, Black Redstarts,Spotless Starlings and Rock Sparrows.The maquis-like vegetation of the southernslopes is dominated by dense, low,evergreen oak scrub, mixed with junipers,pines, Strawberry Trees and Rosemary. Itis a habitat favoured by such birds as BlueRock Thrush, Red-backed and WoodchatShrikes, Melodious, Subalpine andBonelli's Warblers, and Cirl, Ortolan andRock Buntings. Overhead, Alpine Swift,Crag Martins and abundant birds of preyare to be seen whilst, lower down, gorgesand rivers lined with poplars supportbreeding Bee-eaters and Golden Orioles,and little fields hold Crested Larks, TheklaLarks and Tawny Pipits.The northern slopes of the Sierra de Guara are very much damper, sustainingheavy winter snowfall. Consequently thevegetation they support is quite differentfrom that of the arid southern slopes. The extensive oak forest and scrub here is largely deciduous, containing also Beech and maple, whilst the higherslopes are awash with rose and bramblecover. To explore this area during thesecond phase of our holiday, we will baseourselves in the village of Nocito. Thisremote and isolated village, situatedtowards the end of a long track, boastsfewer than 10 inhabitants and is an hour'sdrive from the nearest shops! From it, wewill explore almost entirely on foot, though we may include a night drive to look for the Wild Boar, Polecat and PineMarten that may sometimes be seen on the road after dark. We will also enjoy a peace, solitude and magnificentnight sky that is not easily found elsewhere in Europe.Outline itineraryDay 1Fly Zaragoza andtransfer Alquézar.Day 2/4Sierra de Guara(southern slopes), fromAlquézar.Day 5/7Sierra de Guara(northern slopes), fromNocito.Day 8Fly London.AccommodationA comfortable family hotel inAlquézar and a simple, friendlyhotel in the very isolated village ofNocito. All rooms have privatefacilities.FoodAll included in the price.GradingGrade A/B. Easy to moderate daywalks, though some tougheroptions may be offered.FocusBirds, plants and butterflies.LeaderByron Palacios.Single room supplement£140. Web quick search: ESP13Spanish FestoonSierra de GuaraTOULOUSEBARCELONACATALONIA LLEIDAHUESCASIERRADE GUARAZARAGOZATARRAGONAANDORRA BILBAOMADRIDFRANCE SPAIN128Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItinerarySpain's Sierra de Guara -Land of the Lammergeier An 8-day holiday of gentle walks focusing on the birds, plants and butterflies of the little-known Sierra de Guara, the most thinly populated and under-developed region of Spain's Pyrenean foothills -a land of gorges, cliffs and canyons beloved of the Lammergeier. Sunday 6th May - Sunday 13th May Cost: £1,195Lammergeier

This week-long holiday complementsour 'French Pyrenees' week whichhas proved so popular andsuccessful over the years. In a similarmanner, it is our aim to enjoy the richvariety of birds and plants in the SpanishPyrenees during a series of gentle walksfrom our base. We will be staying in adelightful 300-year-old property situated inthe pretty hilltop village of Berdún, with itsfine views of the Pyrenees, surroundingfoothills, and valleys of the Veral andAragón Rivers. Here, our hosts make usmost welcome, keeping us well fed onwholesome local cuisine, and providing amine of information that would not beavailable on a hotel stay in the region. Thisholiday focuses on both birds and botany,and we will also endeavour to look at andidentify some of the wonderful butterfliesand moths of this region.The Spanish Pyrenees, the southernslopes of the spectacular 450-kilometrebarrier between France and Spain, couldnot be more different from their northern,French, counterparts. Whilst the FrenchPyrenees are wet, green and thicklyforested, the Spanish side is dry, arid andgenerally more Mediterranean, as clearlyindicated by its very different list of plantand bird species. Whilst the Spanish sidealso supports good beech and coniferforests, it is the variety of scrub, maquis,arable farmland, wide river valleys, and the sheer spectacle of the cliffs,canyons and stunning limestone erosions, that so characterise these sunnysouthern slopes.This will be a single-centre holiday basedat Berdún, the most spectacular andtraditional of villages, situated between theAragón and Veral Valleys, in the southernfoothills of the central Pyrenees. Just tothe east is the small, historic town of Jacawith its 15th century fort and an interesting11th century Romanesque cathedral-the first, indeed, to be built in that style.Berdún occupies a truly prime position, forit is so close to so many wonderful andvaried birding and botanical sites, many ofthem within walking distance. During ourstay, we will explore the area aroundBerdún, where the Aragón and VeralValleys, and the spectacular Binies Gorge,are home to an excellent variety oflow-level birds and plants. Bee-eaters,Golden Orioles, Woodchat Shrikes,Crested Larks, Tawny Pipits, PendulineTits, Spotless Starlings, Rock Sparrowsand Ortolan Buntings may all be seen,whilst birds of prey may include Griffonand Egyptian Vultures, Red and BlackKites, and Booted and Short-toed Eagles.We will visit the beautiful Hecho Valley,enjoying the displays of flowers and theirattendant butterflies, and hopefully birdssuch as Alpine and Red-billed Chough,Lammergeier and Citril Finch will be seen;there is even a chance of the elusiveWallcreeper here! We will also explore the hills and limestone outcrops to thesouth, looking for vultures, Black Wheatear and Blue Rock Thrush at thespectacular red pinnacles at Riglos, andfor Crested Tit, Rock Bunting and Hoopoeamongst the wonderful scenery around theCastillo de Loarre. We will head to theFrench border and visit the flower-richmeadows around Portalet, an area goodfor raptors, Water Pipit and Rock Thrushtoo. At all these sites we will also beenjoying the wealth of flowers andbutterflies that this area provides.We will end our holiday with a visit to thebeautiful Aisa Valley, situated to the north-west of Jaca. On a gentle walk up thevalley amongst some of the finestPyrenean scenery, we will concentrate onthe birds and plants. Lammergeier, GoldenEagle and Rock Bunting are amongst thebird species most typical of the area, andthe botanists in our party will additionallyfind carpets of gentians and PyreneanButtercups in the valley bottom, andnumerous saxifrages and otherrock-dwelling plants on the scree slopesabove. The Pyrenean race of Chamoisalso occurs here, together with AlpineMarmot and Wild Boar, though beingrather shy the latter are only seen with a little luck.The Spanish PyreneesAn 8-day holiday of birdwatching and botanical walks in the Spanish Pyrenees.Sunday 13th May - Sunday 20th May Cost: £1,195Book direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking InformationJACAZARAGOZABERDÚNLOURDES TOULOUSE ANDORRA BILBAO MADRID ORDESSA NATIONAL PARK FRANCE SPAIN Outline itineraryDay 1Fly Zaragoza andtransfer to Berdún. Day 2/7Berdún. Day 8Fly Stansted.AccommodationA characterful 17th centuryAragonese dwelling, situated in adelightfully unspoiled village. Allrooms have private facilities.Food and wineAll included in the price.GradingDay walks only. Grade B.FocusBirds, plants and butterflies.LeadersGerald Broddelez or Mike Hodgson(ornithologist) and Phil Thompson(botanist).Single room supplement£140.ExtensionsArranged on request.Web quick search: ESP16129Queen of Spain FritillaryLammergeierAisa Valley