Three walks that start at the village.

Six kilometres point-to-point, a couple of hundred metres of climb, and the gentlest of the three. The path leaves the western edge of Cómpeta, picks up the old acequia — the irrigation channel that runs north along the hillside — and follows the water around a low ridge before crossing onto the path that drops into Canillas de Albaida, the next white village along.

Pack a water bottle and an early appetite. The bar in the Canillas plaza has a good cold beer and a tortilla worth crossing the valley for. The way back is either the same path retraced or, for a slower descent, the road — about two hours either way.

A 9.4 km clockwise loop with about 425 metres of climbing — technically easy, scenically the best introduction to the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama. Park at the football field on the northern edge of the village, pick up the Gran Senda de Málaga, and within twenty minutes you're at the Mirador de Cómpeta: white village below, Mediterranean and the Vélez valley to the south, the bulk of La Maroma (2,080 m) to the north.

From the mirador the route climbs east on unpaved tracks to the Collado de Huerta Grande, then drops south through the Puerto del Collado — a saddle with picnic tables and views across the Sierra de Almijara towards Frigiliana and Nerja. The last stretch winds down through Cómpeta's old town past the Ermita de San Isidro and the parish church on the main square. Boots help on the one rougher section near the top; trainers are fine for the rest. Allow three to four hours at a steady pace.

The full day. A 16 km circular known locally as the Ruta de las Ventas — the historic merchants' route between Granada and the coast — with around 685 metres of climbing through the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama natural park. From the football field the trail climbs the Loma Gaviarra (where you'll likely see Spanish ibex) to the Collado de Huerta Grande at 1,044 m, then traces the watershed past the Collado Moyano and the Cruz de Canillas before turning down to a string of ruined ventas — María Dolores, Pradillos, Cándido — old way-stations from the merchant trade, with a threshing floor and an intact bread oven still visible.

The route drops to the Arroyo de los Pradillos, follows the Loma del Daire and the Camino del Daire down past the Casa de la Mina (now a small rural hotel), then climbs back to the Collado de Huerta Grande and rejoins the outward path. Take lunch, two litres of water, sunscreen and a paper map; there's no shade or water on the long middle section, and phone signal drops out in the ravines. We'll lend you a walking pole and pack the breakfast accordingly.