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Ruta Bancos Gigantes or Huge Bench Route in Andalucia

A new rage is slowly spreading across Andalucia with its beginnings in the province of Malaga and that is huge benches are being installed in beauty spots across the region. The Huge Bench Route or  Ruta Bancos Gigantes #rutabancosgigantes can be found on Instagram  where they are more active with updates on the new installations of these enormous benches and they have a   Facebook  page too. Map of the Ruta Bancos Gigantes The initiative started by Forest Green an agrobroker company that supplies and works with treated wood to large construction and environmental companies in Spain. The huge bench route is steadily growing, with constant new installations spreading across Andalucia. The enormous handmade wooden benches are 4 metre long and 2.3 metre high, with the seat being 1.3 metres above ground and needing steps to get onto them, appearing in natural beauty spots hopes to encourage people out into and  enjoy the views and of course take photos to be ...
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Shinrin Yoku - Forest Bathing, Back to Nature Wellness in Spain


With anxiety and stress becoming almost commonplace the 'new' fad of shinrin yoku, which translates as ‘forest bathing’ and not too different from tree hugging, is said to calm the body and the mind. A calm mind then helps to lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormones. I believe it, but not in the 'new therapy' boot camp type of wellness holidays that are springing up. You don't need to book a cabin in the woods and have instructors. Do it Yourself.



Shinrin Yoku is originally from Japan and is just about going into woods. In the early 1990s it became part of the Japanese national health programme as they were so convinced of the healing properties of 'forest bathing.'




So head away from the towns and cities, distance yourself from the constant noise. Breathe in some fresh air (yes, it does still exist, but has to be sought out) – basically get back to nature. Take a picnic, a hammock or a blanket and air bathe. The therapeutic silence, the being in touch with and surrounded by nature is, I think, a basic human longing. A necessity.

I live in the midst of man's largest man-made 'forest' the sea of olive groves with more than 66 million olive trees in the province of Jaen in northern Andalusia. Silence prevails. Birds twitter, sunshine rules practically every day. Stress isn't common here. It's hard not to relax. Impossible even.

Olive Groves, Sierra Sur de Jaen, Andalusia, Spain

Perhaps I should set a challenge to those who are stressed or full of anxiety and invite them to experience the 'slow life' of the Sierra Sur de Jaen to see how nature cures and restorative to mind and soul. Watch the swallows build their nests and feed their young. Study the humming moth seeking out nectar. Listen to the tinkling of the goats grazing under the olive trees.

Go for a walk and see nobody. Let your thoughts do their own thing. It's amazing how creativity and imagination flow when you allow them to. It's not easy. But when you actually stop scheming and planning then the very essence of you is allowed to fruit.



Fancy a bit of shinrin yoku? My holiday rental house, Casa El Reguelo, in a tiny olive growing hamlet in the middle of nowhere is ideal. I can vouch for the peace that surges from within. New fad or not nature rules.


Read other posts about the Sierra Sur de Jaen

 Jaen, Land of Olive Groves, Olives Trees, Olives and Olive Oil

Star Tourism - Unesco Starlight Reserves in Spain

 Walking in the Hinterland of the Sierra Sur de Jaen




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