Wildside Holidays is an innovative web site promoting nature, environment and activity holiday companies in Iberia (Spain and Portugal). If you are looking for a relaxing nature holiday and enjoy bird watching, botany or photography or are more active and prefer climbing, hiking, skiing or mountain biking, Wildside Holidays is the place to look
El-Andaluz House Rentals and Sales
Self catering Watermill and village houses in the white village of Grazalema, at the heart of the Parque Natural "Sierra de Grazalema". Stunning country side. Selected houses also for sale
Casa rural - Huerta la Terrona "Huerta la Terrona" with more than 300 years of history, offers a relaxing, welcoming atmosphere and all the modern conveniences our guests can expect in a contemporary Country House. A two story building with five large guest rooms, three on the upper floor and one on the main floor, affords maximum comfort for our guests. Each bedroom includes mattresses and linens of the highest quality, unique décor, a private bathroom, individual heating units and magnificent views of the Park, in particular of the mountain pass “Puerto de las Palomas”.
The Sierra de Grazalema has recently celebrated 30 years as a Biosphere Reserve - designated by UNESCO due to the exceptional wealth of flora and fauna. The aim of this special weekend is to demonstrate this diversity of fauna, flora and habitats through digital photography and share this with all at the website of 'Biodiversidad Virtual'. This is a Spanish website dedicated to mapping the biodiversity of Iberia and is quickly becoming an exceptional educational tool due to its enthusiastic members.
‘Grazalema has the highest rainfall records in Spain’, this is a phrase that is commonly found on the internet, but without further explanation could be very off putting to the holiday maker! Mountains will always alter their local climate where-ever they are in the world, and this is no exception. Note that only a few hours drive away at the eastern end of Andalucia is Europe’s only desert!
Teresa Farino's latest publication comes as a great surprise.... With many beautiful photographs supplied by Carlos Sanchez this book is a must for any visitor or resident with an interest in the wildlife and geography of Spain....I must admit I was expecting a kind of pocket or travel companion guide but at 24cm X 31cm this is more of a coffee table edition. That said if you are travelling to Spain and have the space... Take it....Well done Teresa, absolutely brilliant! Click the read more for more information and a link to buy the book!
When in Spain many people may wonder about scorpions, spiders and venomous snakes and will not be aware that they are much more likely to endanger themselves and their pets by getting too close to an innocent looking line of caterpillars that can be found crossing a pavement, road or footpath during the first months of each year. The pine processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) will, during late winter/early spring, be coming out of pine trees and forming conspicuoussnakelike lines.
At the beginning of August, when the heat was turning up towards its maximum for the year, Clive and I decided to walk for a couple of kilometres up one of the smaller river beds within the Sierra de Grazalema natural park to see if any small pools lingered through the summer and just what treasures they would hold, we were more than pleased with the results.
Even the lightest breeze is appreciated when you are out and about in the sierras during August. We set off with sun cream, hats and plenty of chilled water, even late into the afternoons the sun showed little desire to lower in the sky. The brilliant blue skies could be relied upon to form a beautiful backdrop to most of our images with occasional pure white clouds offering an interesting colour contrast.
We took the drivable track that enters the Sierra de Las Nieves natural park from the western perimeter on the Ronda road. It heads about 10km in before reaching "Los Quejigales" picnic area. We were pleasantly surprised at how well the mainly gravel tracks have been maintained especially after the heavy spring rains. Cistus crispus which is a low shrub with large deep pink flowers stands out brightly against the drying grasses. We only travelled a few hundred metres before stopping to watch a Booted eagle that was carrying something in its talons. Whilst we watched a second eagle grappled, trying to steal the meal which dropped to the ground followed closely by one of the birds.
During May, after much debate and delay we finally took possession of some chickens. They are “Gallinas Andaluz Sureño Negro” something that has become a rare breed of chickens from Andalusia as other types have gained in popularity. We collected a cockerel and a hen from the Zoobotanico in Jerez de la Frontera as they are breeding this pure race to promote old breeds and increase their numbers. The two of them were about 3 months old, virtually all black with a green sheen and quite handsome. We also collected 3 little chicks that were still going to need a heat lamp at night!
Restaurant Al Lago, Zahara de la Sierra
A stunning setting with lake views from the terrace in which to enjoy a leisurely lunch, dinner or innovative tapas. Chef Stefan Crites, who trained in New York for many years, re-interprets some of Spain’s culinary classics with a creative and exotic touch using local organic vegetables, top quality meat and fresh fish from the markets in Cadiz.
Villa Turistica Grazalema
This hotel is located 500 metres from the charming village of Grazalema, a place characterised by its whitewashed façades, its narrow and windy streets and set in the centre of the natural park
Cortijo Valverde
Beautiful hotel with outstanding views of the surrounding countryside providing that special vacation destination for either a restful holiday, or a base from which to explore the many treasures that Andalucia and Inland Spain has to offer.
Hotel Fuerte Grazalema
Situated in the heart of the sierra de Grazalema natural park, Hotel Fuerte Grazalema is a paradise for outdoor walking enthusiasts and is set in oak woodlands 5 kilometres from the village of Grazalema. It makes an excellent base from which to discover this stunning part of western Andalucia
Las Truchas
Las Truchas is a small hotel with a home from home atmosphere, located in the quaint town of El Bosque. Explore the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and the White Towns Route (Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos) that are situated within easy reaching distance of this hotel. You can enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding landscape from the hotel rooms.
Nature and Environment 
‘Grazalema has the highest rainfall records in Spain’, this is a phrase that is commonly found on the internet, but without further explanation could be very off putting to the holiday maker! Mountains will always alter their local climate where-ever they are in the world, and this is no exception. Note that only a few hours drive away at the eastern end of Andalucia is Europe’s only desert!
Teresa Farino's latest publication comes as a great surprise.... With many beautiful photographs supplied by Carlos Sanchez this book is a must for any visitor or resident with an interest in the wildlife and geography of Spain....I must admit I was expecting a kind of pocket or travel companion guide but at 24cm X 31cm this is more of a coffee table edition. That said if you are travelling to Spain and have the space... Take it....Well done Teresa, absolutely brilliant! Click the read more for more information and a link to buy the book!
When in Spain many people may wonder about scorpions, spiders and venomous snakes and will not be aware that they are much more likely to endanger themselves and their pets by getting too close to an innocent looking line of caterpillars that can be found crossing a pavement, road or footpath during the first months of each year. 
At the beginning of August, when the heat was turning up towards its maximum for the year, Clive and I decided to walk for a couple of kilometres up one of the smaller river beds within the Sierra de Grazalema natural park to see if any small pools lingered through the summer and just what treasures they would hold, we were more than pleased with the results.
Even the lightest breeze is appreciated when you are out and about in the sierras during August. We set off with sun cream, hats and plenty of chilled water, even late into the afternoons the sun showed little desire to lower in the sky. The brilliant blue skies could be relied upon to form a beautiful backdrop to most of our images with occasional pure white clouds offering an interesting colour contrast.
We took the drivable track that enters the 
During May, after much debate and delay we finally took possession of some chickens. They are “Gallinas Andaluz Sureño Negro” something that has become a rare breed of chickens from Andalusia as other types have gained in popularity. We collected a cockerel and a hen from the Zoobotanico in Jerez de la Frontera as they are breeding this pure race to promote old breeds and increase their numbers. The two of them were about 3 months old, virtually all black with a green sheen and quite handsome. We also collected 3 little chicks that were still going to need a heat lamp at night!