Sierra Nevada - Pico de Veleta

It is possible to drive round the Solynieve region, remaining on the main road and bearing left to reach the Parador Nacional Sierra Nevada, beyond which, off the road to the left, is the Residencia Universitaria (alt. 2,550m/8,365ft). The road to the Pico de Veleta continues through the bare mountain landscape and comes to a side road on the right which leads in 2km/1.25mi to a beautiful mountain lake, the Laguna de las Yeguas (alt. 2,970m/9,745ft; mountain hut). After another 5km/3mi the road ends at an altitude of 3,392m/11,129ft on a rocky platform just below the Pico de Veleta (3428m/11,247ft), the second highest peak in the Sierra Nevada. On its slopes, at a height of 2,850m/9,350ft, is a 30-meter radio telescope for space research established by the Franco-German Institute of Radio astronomy.