Discover Beires

Beires can be explored through a range of travel interests: the extensive Sendero Sulayr, the landscape around the Barranco del Nacimiento, and local architectural and castle history. When planning your stay, you can decide whether to focus primarily on a hiking route, a viewpoint or historical remains.

Trails and landscapes around Beires

From Beires, the AL-4402 road leads towards Ohanes. After 3.3 km, an uphill dirt track branches off; a further 13.4 km on, it joins the Sendero Sulayr at Collado de los Huertecillos. If you plan to use this route, check the road and track conditions before setting out.

The Sendero Sulayr is a 300 km long, major circular hiking trail that goes around the entire Sierra Nevada massif. The section accessible from Beires offers views from the peaks of the Sierra Nevada to the sea horizon and passes through areas of pine and holm oak woodland. The circular trail and the section accessible from Beires are therefore two different scales: the trail circles the entire massif, while the section described offers specific landscape views between mountain peaks and the sea horizon.

Shrubs, fruit trees, poplars and laurel trees grow mainly in the Barranco del Nacimiento. Another view of the surrounding area can be enjoyed from the church square on the western edge of the village: from there, the panorama stretches from the Sierra de Gádor to Cabo de Gata.

Village character and historical traces

The Barranco del Nacimiento also helps orient visitors within Beires: it separates the eastern district of Zambrón from the western district of Beires. The church was built between 1676 and 1679 under the direction of Pedro de Cerezuela, replacing the earlier church building. The stone bridge in the ravine is also part of this building history; it was constructed between 1682 and 1715. These dates place the church construction before the start of the bridge construction.

Beires Castle stands on a plateau-like hill sloping southwards. From there, views extend over the nearby villages, or alquerías, of Beires, Almócita and Padules. Only remains survive of the castle, which has now almost completely disappeared. It is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category and received special recognition from the Junta de Andalucía in 1993. If you plan to visit the castle, check the visiting arrangements in advance.

The castle's history also includes its former function: it guarded the route connecting the Middle Alpujarra with Alto Andarax and the Valle del Nacimiento. The natural route between Almería and Granada passed through Laujar, Beires, Ohanes, Tices, Puerto de Santillana and Abla. In severe winters, it was the only passable route.

Recreation areas and dates

Before reaching Beires, a track branches off to the right towards the Fuente de Nacimiento recreation area. It is considered a place to cool off or rest; check local conditions before you arrive. La Pileta developed from a water collection point initially used by a few irrigators into a recreation area for Beires. The pool is fed by water emerging from a small mine tunnel. If you plan to visit La Pileta, check the current bathing conditions on site.

Beires's popular festivals in honour of the town's patron saint, San Roque, are celebrated on the weekend closest to 16 August. Confirm the dates for the year of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Roquetas De Mar, Agua Amarga, El Campillo De Rodalquilar, Taberno, María, La Envía, Uleila Del Campo, Purchena

For the overview of the wider area: Almeria.