Walking the mountains of Spain - Phil Lawler

Phil Lawler talks about walks he has discovered, or created, in three Spanish regions. In Andalucia he looks at the Sierra Almijara and Sierra Tejeda; in central Spain, the mountains of Madrid, and in the north the spectacular Picos de Europa.

About the speaker

Phil Lawler was sent to Spain by his employer in the newspaper industry to buy Spanish publications. He acquired fluency in Spanish to accomplish this. Living initially in Madrid he retired to the mountain village of Canillas de Albaida in the hills behind the Costa del Sol.

He began looking for the equivalents of the footpaths he knew in his native Yorkshire and the Lake District. Finding few, he began to improvise, and later extended his searches to central and northern Spain.

Having returned to Britain Phil settled in Skipton and wrote up his findings in three books collectively entitled Spanish Trails, each illustrated by maps based on the GPS readings he had assiduously recorded.

He still visits Spain to lead walking groups based in hotels where he knows the proprietors, thus founding new or enhanced tourism in localities in need of it. At home in Yorkshire he develops his competence in playing a Flamenco guitar, which adds to his lifelong competence in a range of keyboard music.

Booking information

• Advance booking for this event is not required.
• If you have any questions please email events@rgs.org

This event has been organised by the Yorkshire and the Humber regional committee with the Huddersfield and Halifax branch of the Geographical Association.

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