Although Guy-Hunter-Watts lived in a tiny village in the Serrania de Ronda (Montecorto pop. 582), he was famous throughout Spain and the English-speaking world. Many readers of EyeOnSpain will know of him and/or will have read one or more of his 10 published books, all still in print with Cicerone Press. His most famous was probably "Walking in Andalucia", now in its seventh edition.
OBITUARY: GUY HUNTER-WATTS
Monday 15 May 2023
By Paul Whitelock
The death has been announced of Guy Hunter-Watts, a neighbour and friend who lived in this part of Andalucía for over 30 years. He died over the weekend from injuries sustained in a road accident, whilst riding his bike. Further details are not yet available.
Photo: Cicerone Press
Guy Hunter-Watts, from Bristol, came to Andalucía as a young man. He fell in love with the area and after settling here went on to become a distinguished writer, walking guide and all-round good 'guy'. Aptly named, I'd say!
He lived for many years in the tiny village of Montecorto (Malaga) where he also had some high class rental properties.
Guy lived in Andalucía for more than 30 years and was passionate about his adopted country. He worked as a freelance journalist and walking guide and wrote extensively about walking, hotels and travel.
He worked with many specialist companies including Abercrombie and Kent, Alastair Sawday, i-escape, Andrew Brock Travel, The Hotel Guru, On Foot Travel and Safari Andalucía.
Guy's first experience of walking in Andalucía came more than three decades back when he discovered the stunning trails of the Grazalema and Ronda mountains. Since then he dedicated much of his professional life to researching and writing walking guides about this uniquely beautiful part of Spain.
His guides contain clear yet detailed route notes and maps, GPS references, along with recommendations for good places to stay and to eat, as well as overviews of all the areas described.
The guides have been recommended in The Times, The Telegraph and The Observer, as well as in The Rough Guide, The Footprint Guide and The Time Out guide to Andalucía.
I first came across the name Guy Hunter-Watts when I bought a copy of his guide "Walking in Andalucía" some 20 years ago. A few years later I met him in the company of another walking guide writer, Tony Bishop, who sadly left us in 2013.
I bought a copy of the sixth edition of "Walking in Andalucía", which bears a dedication from Guy.
Photo: Paul Whitelock
Later, I heard him on BBC Radio 4, in the "Ramblings" series presented by Clare Balding. In theory, this should be available on YouTube or BBC Sounds, but I couldn't find it. That was in 2002.
Last year I bumped into Guy by chance at a builder's merchant in Ronda. I knew who he was, but, much to my surprise, he also knew of me from my writings on various websites on the worldwide web.
I bumped into him a few times since then, in Montejaque and Jimera de Libar. The last time I saw him was two weeks ago and we agreed to meet up in his beloved Montecorto for a few beers. Alas, that will now never happen!
Although I didn't really know him well, I liked Guy a lot. He had the same passion for the Serrania de Ronda that I have, he was lively and entertaining, liked a drink and was an all-round-good-guy/bloke. I am gutted by his passing.
Guy wrote ten books, which are all still in print.
His website is still active: Walking books – Guy Hunter Watts
DEP, Guy.
The following report appeared on 15 May 2023 in The Olive Press
FINAL WALK: Iconic Andalucia expat author dies in road accident near Ronda - Olive Press News Spain (theolivepress.es)
Guy Hunter-Watts memorial mass in his beloved village of Montecorto
Friday 19 May 2023
By Paul Whitelock
Montecorto (pop. 582) [Photo: Facebook]
Nearly 200 mourners turned up to say goodbye to their friend and neighbour Guy Hunter-Watts, who passed away last Sunday following a cycling accident.
The small church in Montecorto was inundated with family members and friends from the UK, Spanish locals, and a diaspora of foreign expatriate residents from Austria, Britain, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, and even Angola. A hundred were seated and a similar number stood at the back and in the doorway.
Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen - before the mass [Photo: Paul Whitelock]
The service was a gentle and celebratory affair, tinged with sadness, in a mixture of Spanish and English with English hymns and Spanish prayers and the short sermon from the priest.
Guy, or Guillermo, as he was known to his Spanish friends and neighbours in Montercorto and neighbouring El Gastor, was clearly a popular man. Fluent in Spanish, he was described as an adventurer and romantic who enjoyed the company of others, especially on his walks through the high sierras.
There were a number of warm eulogies from family and close friends, which were translated as required. Guy's sister, Mandy, read an extract from Corinthians, and Nick, Tiki, Leyla, Seamus and Manfred made fitting tributes to their friend.
After the committal, Guy's coffin was carried from the church by four of Guy's special pals, while close friend Marcus Myers and his wife Carmen played and sang an acoustic version of "In My Life" by The Beatles.
At the later "wake" in Restaurante El Tropezon, just outside the village, the assembled mourners were treated to drinks and tapas while they reacquainted themselves with old friends, made new contacts, and lamented the premature death of their friend Guy Hunter-Watts. He was just 64.
A favourite photo of Guy Hunter-Watts. RIP
© Paul Whitelock