Walking
There are many half- or full-day walks you can make from the village. Slightly further afield, a full day starting from the local town of Cádiar takes you by the river Yátor to the village of Jorairátar where there’s a lovely little museum of agricultural artefacts and other curios. Another good walk is to the village Yegen, the 1920s home of hispanist and author Gerald Brenan who recounted his unique experience of mountain village life in pre-fascist Spain in South from Granada.

Cástaras is also close to the walking route of the GR-7 which forms a part of the great European walking network. The route from Greece to Gibraltar is called the E-4, and the E-4 GR7 route enters Spain in Andorra, crossing the Alpujarra from Laroles to Lanjarón. It passes through nearby villages and then ascends to Trevélez. Lying at the foot of Mulhacén, Trevélez, at 1,700m, is the highest village on the Iberian Peninsular and famous for its air-cured Serrano ham.

Jeremy Rabjohns, author of Holiday Walks in the Alpujarra, has been living and guiding in the area since 1994 and is available for guided walks on a daily basis. Visit www.walkalpujarra.com

Mountain Biking
If you wanted to do some mountain biking for a day or two but don’t want the bother of bringing the bike, all can be arranged by Jenny and Tim at Pure Mountains (minimum of four). Visit www.puremountains.com

Painting and drawing
Jeni Rabjohns is a local painter and printmaker. She specialises in watercolours and pastels and is available for tutoring on daily basis. Visit www.walkalpujarra.com. Jack Rutherford is an artist who has exhibited, lectured and taught in the US, Mexico and Europe and for 20 years ran his own art school outside of Canillas de Albaida in the Sierra de Tejeda. He now lives in Cástaras and classes can be arranged on a daily basis (minimum of 3 students). Visit www.jackrutherford.com