CENTRAL GRAN CANARIA

For those who love high mountains and volcanic landscapes, vast basalt columns rising solitary from rocky platforms, deep valleys, greenery, wild flowers in abundance the centre has to be the place. Pico de las Nieves is the highest point, more a mountain rim than a peak, looking down over the southeast. The freestanding Roque Nublo, a vast trunk of stone, rises almost as high, and looks west and southwest.

Mountain villages, many with inhabited caves as well as houses, are gently domestic in atmosphere, white in color, ancient in appearance. There are forests of Canarian pine, sometimes streaming with lichen, and echoing with woodpeckers. There are rocky hillsides dense with cistus, lavender, broom and thyme. There are short paths, long trails, rough roads and asphalt roads. Above all, there is a lofty landscape, offering drama and surprise at every turn