Dallas has been offering riding holidays on top quality Spanish horses in Las Alpujarras for more than 20 years.

She came here from Britain at the age of eight, and has rarely been far from a saddle ever since. Riding since childhood and working with horses all her adult life, she established the first stables in Las Alpujarras and now has more than 20 horses, all of them broken-in, schooled and cared for personally.

She also possesses a great understanding and respect for the ways and customs of these mountains. Few people are better acquainted with its hidden valleys, lost paths and ancient waterways.

Over the years she has gained a wonderful reputation for the quality of her riding holidays. Excellent horses, a lifetime's knowledge of these mountains and her own carefully researched trails - through some of the most beautiful and rewarding riding country in the world - are some of the secrets of her success.

All the rides are accompanied by Dallas personally and as the owner / trainer of the horses she is the ideal person to select the horses for each participant, and to give advice or assistance whenever required.

As Horse and Hound Magazine wrote "her determination to make everything as much fun as possible is only superseded by her love for her horses".

You will climb the high mountains of Sierra Nevada and pass through its beautiful foothills; the woods, water and valleys of the Las Alpujarras.

We ride from village to village, staying in little hotels along the way, eating in local restaurants, stopping for picnics beside rivers or on hillsides carpeted in sage, rosemary and thyme.

Dallas has chosen a selection of three trails which offer an amazing diversity of terrains, views and flora. Whichever ride you choose, you will follow ancient bridlepaths and drovers routes, many of which have been in use for a thousand years or more, as have the terraces and irrigation channels they traverse.

The average riding time per day is between five and six hours (longer - and more demanding - on the high summer, El Marquesado ride). On some days there are plenty of opportunites to trot and canter, other days it is mainly walking (due to the rough terrain). No matter what the pace, it is always a beautiful ride.

Here you can forget the pressures of daily life and ride all day, meeting only the occasional shepherd or farmer. No fences or tarmac roads, a wonderful sense of freedom and space, rarely found in Europe today.

Overnighting in the attractive white villages of Las Alpujarras, this week-long ride follows bridle paths and forestery tracks at an altitude of between 1,300 to 2,500 meters. We avoid the mid-summer heat, making the very best of the stunning views and majestic scenery during the late Spring and early Autumn.

An ancient land of pine forests and alpine meadows, wooded valleys and gorges, almond, olive and orange groves, La Alpujarra is the name given to the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Its natural splendour and heritage, harking back to times forgotten, is legendary within Spain.

We follow ancient bridlepaths and valleys where the horse, mule or oxen still pull the plow and thresh the harvest. Each day of the ride we pass through different terrain; from mountain pastures and pine forests to almond and olive groves.

Here is an opportunity not only to discover spectacular landscapes and sceneries, but also a culture where tradition remains very much part of everyday life.

There are plenty of opportunities to canter or gallop, but we do sometimes have to lead the horses on foot as we penetrate the heart of the mountains.

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Sierra La Contraviesa lies between the Sierra Nevada and the Mediterranean Sea. With the semi-tropical coast so close-by, Spring starts as early as February and wild flowers bloom through to June. Late autumn is also very mild, very pleasant, so this is Dallas' chosen route for the beginning and end of season trails. Here you can ride from winter to spring and from spring to summer, and then back again, all in a week.

A circular ride, the first day is the same as that for La Alpujarra ride, after which we are on lower trails dropping down to 800 meters.

These southern mountains have an extraordinary range of scenery, views and vegetation, all of which we will experience at first hand. We trek along old Roman and Moorish bridlepaths, tracks and riverbeds; always through beautiful, unspoilt countryside.

Small farms dot the lower slopes cultivating almonds, olives, figs and grapes. Little has changed over the centuries: mules and oxen still pull the plough and horses are the means of transport.

The pace of the ride is determined by the terrain: on two days paths are narrow and there is a lot of climbing (it is often necessary to dismount and lead the horses); on other days there are opportunities to canter and gallop.

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This route circles the mountains at an altitude of between 1,600 to 3,000 meters - that's high - but it's the perfect altitude for mid summer.

It involves long, challenging - but wonderfully rewarding - days through some of the remotest and most spectacular parts of the Sierra Nevada.

We take some of the highest bridle paths on the Spanish Peninsula, accessible only by horse or foot. We will be riding through some of the most amazing, varied and often demanding terrain in Sierra Nevada and El Marquesado.

Following a combination of forestry tracks, bridle paths, old droving routes and Moorish irrigation channels we will cover approximately 30 to 40 kilometers per day, riding for between 7 to 9 hours per day. Each day there will be sections where it is necessary to lead your horses due to very steep and rough terrain. On 2 days there are downhill walks on foot of up to an hour and a half.

Endurance is key, so you have to be reasonably fit and confident about being in the saddle for a long time, mounting and dismounting regularly (sometimes from the off-side but there is usually a rock or something to use if you're not as flexible as you once were!).

One night is spend in a high mountain refuge, the other six nights in comfortable village hotels (three with swimming pools).

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"A great holiday. Dallas, our guide, was very knowledgeable and experienced, and we rode across the most incredible country, including vast almond orchards, & acres of wild rosemary and thyme. Every day was different, and our horses were fit, strong, and incredibly sure footed. The two highlights were riding up to Trevelez, the highest village in Spain, and walking our horses down the precipitous gorge near Castaras. We would definitely recommend this holiday".

"Dallas couldn't have tried harder to please her clientele, she looked after us extremely well. Horses were perfectly fit for purpose and well behaved. The tack was spot on".

"The horses were of a very high standard and would rate at the top end of the scale compared to other rides we have done".

"Dallas made every effort to make our holiday enjoyable, Jeanette was a great help, the scenery and flowers were spectacular, picnic lunches were superb. The horses were very sensible and extremely well mannered".

"Exceeded my expectations, lovely horses and such comfortable saddles".

"The horses were absolute treasures; well cared for, fit and tremendously sure-footed. We all felt, at the end, that this was a trip that was exceptional, extra-ordinary".