Jayena sits on the edge of the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Natural Park. It's a wild, beautiful landscape of pine forest, limestone ridges and river gorges, and there's plenty to explore within a short drive.
🏘️ Alhama de Granada
Our favourite day out, about 20 minutes away. Alhama is a proper Andalusian town, perched right on the edge of a dramatic gorge. Wander the old streets, peer over the edge of the cliffs, and stop for tapas in the square. The Restaurants around the square do a nice Menu del Dias for a relaxing lunch and the local museum is well worth the visit
Don't miss the natural hot springs by the river near the old spa. It's a real treat to sit in warm water under the open sky on
[Photo of Alhama gorge]
💧 Los Bermejales lake
Just down the road is the Embalse de los Bermejales, a big blue reservoir ringed by pine woods with the mountains behind. It's lovely for a picnic, a paddle or a lazy afternoon by the water.
From the dam, you can walk the Tajos de los Bermejales. The route drops into the Cacín gorge, a canyon over 100 metres deep and around 5 km long, with fixed hanging bridges, metal ladders and ropes along the way. It's great fun, but it's challenging and for the sure-footed
[Photo of the lake]
🌲 La Resinera
A hidden gem tucked in the forest between Fornes and Arenas del Rey. The old resin factory was set up in 1902, and at its peak around 300 people lived there, with their own houses, a school and a chapel. It became one of Spain's biggest producers of turpentine. A huge fire in 1975 destroyed much of the surrounding forest, and it's said to be the only resinera left to visit in Andalucía.
Today the old buildings house a visitor information centre and a botanical garden of local plants. There's also a peaceful garden walk with water channels, shady cypresses and cedars, and aromatic plants you can touch and smell, leading down to the river. It's a lovely, easy place to spend an hour or two and the river is great for a cool dip on a hot day.
[Photo of La Resinera chimney]
🥾 Walks
There's great walking right on our doorstep. A few favourites:
Fornes, La Resinera and the Mesa de Fornes. This circular walk is about 10.5 km, takes around 4 hours and is of medium difficulty. From the top of the Mesa you get sweeping views of the Tejeda and Almijara peaks, the Bermejales lake, and the villages of Fornes and Jayena, with Sierra Nevada behind. You can spot our village from up there! Junta de Andalucía
Tajos de los Bermejales. This is the gorge walk with hanging bridges from the dam. It's more adventurous.
Meson Los Prados There are great walks from the restaurant with amazing views over the sea and if you time it right the resturant will do a cool beer or a hot coffee
🍽️ Eating out
In the village: Jayena has a few local bars for a beer, A nice coffe shop with lovely cakes, all an easy stroll from the house.
🏘️ Other villages nearby
Fornes and Arenas del Rey are small, friendly villages right by the lake and the Resinera, and they're good starting points for walks.