We have our plane reservations between the U.S. and Seville, 17 days and nights, and our interest is day-hiking, along with the Seville, Granada and Cordoba. We would like recommendations for two hiking areas where we should stay for 4-7 days. Grazalema seems to be everyone's choice, but we would like to visit a second area, maybe with different type of terrain. We plan to rent a car in Seville, either as soon as we land and start driving a short distance, or after staying 2 days in Seville (but we still have to spend a night in Seville at the end so we can return the car the night before our 7 a.m. flight!

So here are a few more questions:
What would be a destination no more than 2 hours from Seville where we should stay for 2 days (maybe Cordoba or south of Seville?) We'll be tired after the trans-Atlantic flight and don't want to drive far.

Any suggestions for how to visit Cordoba and Granada without taking the car into the cities? Somewhere to stay outside the cities or a place with parking, and then public transportation?

Thank you! We always get such good advice from Slow Trav travelers!

I have seen know one has answer this question, So I will attempt to do so. All the information is from what I have found on the interweb!.
Sierra de Aracena and Donana Park are the closest natural reserves to Seville. It seems that walking in the Donana Park is restricted to guided parties only. But that should not put you off.
Some websites for you to read through:
http://www.viasverdes.com/ViasVerdes
http://www.justlanded.com/engl...sure/Hiking-in-Spain
http://www.everytrail.com
http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/home.do
http://www.sierradearacena.net.../pueblos/pueblos.htm
http://www.walking.demon.co.uk/sierradearacena.htm
http://www.andalucia.com/envir...t/protect/donana.htm
One of these websites should give you a route or two which will suit your walking abilities.

I have been a great fan of Toprural website for Casa Rural accommodation. However they have recently revamped the website which seemly makes it impossible to find anything unless you know where you are going to be located. So to give you a start I have searched for Casa Rurals in Andalusia. That has thrown up many, (too many?), but at least you can now find one to suit budget and have an idea as to it’s location. http://tinyurl.com/y8ovsms
The other website which is seemly growing in stature is http://www.booking.com/. Both websites have reviews of establishments.
Before I lived in Spain and I wanted to explore cities in Spain I have sometimes taken a local bus or braved it and driven in.
So here are the websites for buses in Cordoba;
http://www.aucorsa.es/portal/aucorsa/es/index.html
and in Granada;
http://www.granadadirect.com/t...e/autobuses-granada/

Hello:
For walking you may want to consider El Torcal,near Antequera; the Sierra Nevada, south of Granada,near Orgiva;Cabo de Gata Park,near Almeria (we like Agua Amarga as a base); Cazorla,east of Jaen.

We do some geocaching and have found that some of the places where caches are hidden are on some delightful lesser known trails. One can register at www.geocaching.com and explore any area. If one is not interested in finding a cache, just take down the directions to the trailhead and start walking.

We've found "Walking in Spain" by Lonely Planet and "Andalucia and the Costa del Sol" by John and Christine Oldfield helpful. Local tourist offices sometimes have walking guides for their area. This site offers some suggestions: http://www.andalucia.com/rural/walking.htm

Seville's airport is on the north side of the city, heading out east on the E5 towards Cordoba, Carmona is about 50kms away. On the same road and closer to Cordoba is Ecija (100kms? from Seville)

To the south and the east around 120kms from Seville is Olvera. It is then a short drive to El Torcal. Olverva is also a terminus of a via verde in case you want to stretch your legs. Also south, is Arcos de la Fra.

We've had luck parking at a bedroom community's bus or train station and taking commuter trains/buses into city centres.

May will be a wonderful time for walking. Have a great time.
Dennis

Update:

I can now see that Toprural has revised the search facility slightly--- so maybe a bonus, but it is still not how it used to be.
I have also found another website about walking. This time near Grenada.
http://www.dlineas.com/senderos/

Hello again.
This site may assist you with your plans. http://www.topwalks.net/en/index.htm
Dennis

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I have looked at all the suggested websites and we are close to making some decisions. Here is where we are:
2 days in Seville
13 days split between Grazalema, Cazorla and Granada vicinity (Monachil or Bubion or Orgiva - we will not stay IN Granada but want to be close enough to visit one or two days)
1 day Cordoba (any hotel recommendation, considering we have a car?)
Last night in Seville (any hotel recommendation for convenience for a 7 a.m. flight?)

The www.andalucia.com and www.topwalks.com websites are VERY helpful!

Hello again:
I was just gathering together some info for our upcoming trip and rediscovered this site for Cazorla. http://www.cazorla.es/

The section on hiking trails is a very good overview of what to expect on the trails. Given recent weather, the paths may be soggier than usual.
Dennis

I can now verify that the trails are indeed soggy. After a week of sunny walking in Cabo de Gata we've had fog and heavy cloud here. It reminds me of Vancouver Island at about this time of year.
Regarding your trip specifically this may help: the free map of trails at the info centre isn't of much use; buy an Alpina guide for the area. El Churro, Utero, Virgin de Cabeza walks are all pleasant. There are many more. Even the walks fron the town to the hermitas and castles are worthwhile.
The road to the source of the Guadaquiver is doable from Cazorla with a standard vehicle if you take it slowon the unpaved parts.

The weather limited our time on the trails but what we did left us promising to return. Great waterfalls, wildlife, vistas and mountain crags.

Waterproof your boots!
Dennis