Sierra Nevada and Mulhacen

Sierra Nevada rises straight out of the Granada plain and carries the highest ground in mainland Spain, with Mulhacen at 3,479 metres and Veleta a little lower. The scale surprises people who arrive expecting Andalusian heat: snow lies into July on the north faces, and the ski station above Granada runs one of the longer seasons in Europe. Mulhacen is a walk rather than a climb, but a long and exposed one, usually done from the Hoya del Portillo side above Capileira with a summer shuttle shortening the approach. Below the peaks the Alpujarra valleys hold terraced villages, irrigation channels and chestnut woods on the southern slope.

What you actually see

• Mulhacen - the mainland's highest summit, walked rather than climbed.
• The Veleta road - high tarmac above the ski station, closed to cars near the top.
• Snow above Granada - a ski station within sight of the city and the coast.
• The Alpujarra slope - terraced villages and irrigation channels on the southern side.

When to go

The summit walking season runs roughly July to September, once the snowfields have gone and before autumn storms set in. The summer shuttle from Capileira cuts several hours off Mulhacen and needs booking. Skiing runs from December into April, occasionally later. Any month can bring sudden cold and hard wind above 3,000 metres.

Honest expectations

Mulhacen is a long day with real altitude, and people underestimate it every summer; sun, wind and thin air do more damage than the gradient. The shuttle has limited seats and a fixed return time. The ski station is a purpose-built resort with no character of its own. Cloud frequently swallows the summit view by midday.

Nearby

Granada and the Alhambra sit below on the north side; the Alpujarra villages line the south.