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The Sierras of Extremadura

32 half and full-day walks in western Spain's hills

By Gisela Radant Wood

ISBN

9781852848484

Availability

Published

2 Oct 2017

Edition

First

Pages

224

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm

Weight

250g

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Guidebook to Extremadura, one of Spain's most unspoilt regions, comprising the provinces of Caceres and Badajoz. 32 mainly circular walks (6 to 19km) explore Sierras, rolling hills and oak forests criss-crossed by thousands of kilometres of ancient paths. Includes the Jerte Valley, the hill town of Montánchez, Guadalupe and Monesterio.

Seasons

September to June for the Northern and Central Sierras. There may be snow in December and January in the Northern Sierras. October to May is the best time for the Southern Sierras.

Centres

San Martín de Trevejo, Gata, La Garganta (Hervás), Jerte, Jarandilla de la Vera, Montánchez, Almoharín, Guadalupe, Mérida, Alange, Hornachos, Monesterio.

Difficulty

Everyone with a reasonable level of walking fitness can do these walks. All involve ascents and descents but these are walks and not mountain climbs. There is no grading system for the walks - some are very hard but all are achievable.

Must See

Northern Sierras: Pico Jálama, Pico Jañona, Puerto de Castilla, El Chorrituelo de Ovejuela (Extremadura's highest waterfall), La Muela, Cascadas Nogaleas, Los Pilones, Jaranda valley. Central Sierras: Montánchez castle, Cerro San Cristobal, Aljibe on the Sierra de Santa Cruz, Pico Venero, Guadalupe. Southern Sierras: cave paintings, Alange reservoir, Hornachos castle, Pico Tentudía, Tentudía Monastery, Pico Aguafría, Aguafría castle.

ISBN

9781852848484

Availability

Published

2 Oct 2017

Edition

First

Pages

224

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm

Weight

250g

Overview

Guidebook to one of Spain's most unspoilt regions, comprising the provinces of Caceres and Badajoz. 32 varied walks of between 6 and 20 km explore the sierras of the region and are suitable for any reasonably fit walker. The book covers The Northern Sierras/System Central (including the Sierra de Gata, Sierra de Bejar, Sierra de Gredos), The Central Sierras/Montes de Toledos, and the Southern Sierras (including the Sierra Morena).

There are detailed route descriptions for each walk, along with clear sketch maps, and information on terrain, refreshments, access and parking. There are also notes on natural and historical information and what to look out for along the way. Walks can be done from a number of bases in the area including San Martín de Trevejo, Gata, Hervas, Jerte, Jarandilla de la Vera, Montanchez, Guadalupe, Almoharin, Merida, Alange, Hornachos and Monesterio.

Lying west of Madrid and east of the Portuguese border, Extremadura is an unspoiled gem perfect for walkers, lovers of nature and seekers of peace. The region brings together rugged mountains, rolling hills, deep river valleys, huge forests and thousands of kilometres of paths, perfect for walking. Apart from its natural wonders and superb birdlife, Extremadura boasts a variety of heritage sites including castles, cave paintings and monasteries.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Geography and geology

Animals and birds

Flowers and plants

Human history

Getting there

Getting around

When to go

Bases and accommodation

Food and drink

Language

Money

Communications

What to take on a walk

Waymarking

Maps

Health and emergencies

Using this guide

The Northern Sierras: The Sistema Central

Sierra de Gata

Walk 1 San Martín de Trevejo and the Sierra de Eljas

Walk 2 Pico Jálama

Walk 3 Puerto de Castilla and Pico Jañona

Walk 4 Castillo de Almenara and the Sierra de las Jañonas

Walk 5 Robledillo de Gata and Ovejuela

Sierra de Béjar

Walk 6 La Garganta and El Nevero

Walk 7 La Muela and the forest track

Walk 8 The valley route to La Muela

Sierra de Gredos

Walk 9 Cascadas Nogaleas in the Montes de Tras la Sierra

Walk 10 Los Pilones and Puente Sacristán

Walk 11 Jerte to Puente Nuevo in the Sierra de Tormantos

Walk 12 Puente los Papúos in the Montes de Tras la Sierra

Walk 13 The Jaranda valley

Walk 14 Guijo de Santa Bárbara and El Trabuquete

The Central Sierras: The Montes de Toledo

Sierra de Montánchez

Walk 15 Arroyomolinos

Walk 16 Torre de Santa María to Montánchez

Walk 17 Torre de Santa María and the mills

Walk 18 The oak woods of Zarza de Montánchez

Walk 19 Almoharín and the Sierra de San Cristobal

Walk 20 The Sierra de los Alijares

Walk 21 The Sierra de Santa Cruz

Sierra del Campillo and the Sierra de Juncaldilla

Walk 22 Garganta de Cuernacabras

Sierra de Guadalupe

Walk 23 Garciaz and Pico Venero

Walk 24 Cabañas de Castillo to Navezuelas

Walk 25 Navezuelas to Guadalupe

Sierra de la Pela

Walk 26 Orellana de la Sierra

The Southern Sierras

Sierra de Peñas Blancas and Sierra de Juan Bueno

Walk 27 La Zarza

Sierra Grande de Hornachos

Walk 28 Hornachos

Sierra Morena

Walk 29 Cabeza la Vaca and the Sierra de Buitrera

Walk 30 Monasterio de Tentudía and Pico Tentudía

Walk 31 Forest circuit in the Sierra Tudía y Sus Faldas

Walk 32 Alto de Aguafría and the Sierra de Aguafría

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Link route summary table

Appendix C Additional waymarked routes in the area

Appendix D Useful contacts

Appendix E Glossary

Maps

Maps

The maps provided in this book should be all that you need to complete each walk. However, the relevant Instituto Geográfica Nacional (IGN) map is listed in the information given at the start of the walk. Maps can be purchased directly from IGN, or from other retailers such as Stanfords. See Appendix D for contact details.

The following maps are useful for the walks in this book:

IGN 573 Gata 1:50,000 IGN 576 Cabezuela del Valle 1:50,000 IGN 681 Castañar de Ibor 1:50,000 IGN 706 Madroñera 1:50,000 IGN 707 Logrosán 1:50,000 IGN 730 Montánchez 1:50,000 IGN 803 Almendralejo 1:50,000 IGN 897 Monesterio 1:50,000 IGN 573-111 Eljas 1:25,000 IGN 599-II Jarandilla de la Vera 1:25,000 IGN 652-IV Campillo de Deleitosa 1:25,000 IGN 730-III Montánchez 1:25,000 IGN 830-111 Hornachos 1:25,000

A good road map for getting around Extremadura is Extremadura – Castilla-la Mancha – Madrid Michelin Regional Map 576.

Updates

June 2019

Route Updates

Walk 4 Pages 60-61
The directions are all still the same but there are now wooden bridges to cross the river at the three points formerly where stepping stones were used. The path is still evident but at various places the rough path has been laid with slate and occasionally there are wooden handrails. Once at the waterfall the route continues on paths and tracks that have not been 'improved'. Obviously, a small village such as Ovejuela relies on week-end and tourist walkers who start the walk in the village, go to see the waterfall and then return to the village for refreshments. This part of the walk is now more accessible.

Walk 10 & 11 Pages 84 & 89
A wooden bridge has been constructed over the ford. It is high enough to clear flood waters. Permutations of these walks are now possible all year round.

July 2018

There has been a recent programme of identifying and signposting local walks in the Sierra de Montánchez. These are waymarked in white and green but also have finger signposts at intervals. These signposts are new and so not referred to in walks 15 and 16 where one or two signposts and waymarks may cross the path of those walks.

Walk 15 Page 109

Park anywhere in the open area at the top of Calle Altozano. Walk straight towards the four antenna ahead on the concrete road to reach a Y-junction with the antenna and a small concrete lane to the right. Go left. Pass a turning on the left and take the one, right, a few paces further on. There is a new finger signpost at this junction with three options. Follow the one marked ‘SL-CC7 Ruta de las Atolladeras’. There is also a white and yellow cross on the wall on the left plus a white and green waymark. Walk on the rough track and follow it to pass the ruin of a mill on the left. Cross a small ford, the first of many, and continue as the track winds and narrows. Come to a small open space which is a vague crossroads but the main track continues ahead towards some double metal gates where the track bends right. On the right are views of the villages of Arroyomolinos and Alcuéscar behind. Reach a distinctive boulder on the left with a signpost opposite. Ignore a junction, left, and continue ahead. Come to a few outbuildings on both sides of the track with a wide space with multiple gateways. Here the track bends left. Just before a wide T-junction there is a white and green post with a waymark on the right but take the left track away from the village. After about 100m, up on the left, are three low stone crosses; difficult to see against the background of the sierra. Reach a signpost on the left, ‘Mirador de las Tres Cruces 25m’ and if you want to see the crosses make the small diversion at this point. Walk until a long, grey outbuilding is reached on the right and a red one is straight ahead. There is a junction. Turn left on to a wide track to put the red outbuilding on your right. There is a white and green waymark.

Continue the walk as directed …

Walk 17 Page 123

The ‘tiniest of paths’ referred to may be partly obscured by low-growing vegetation in the Summer months.

Reviews

A beautiful, but little-known, area of Spain

Cicerone guides have long been a source of reliable, indispensable information for many others and myself, and it continues here. Walking the Sierras of Extremadura delves into a beautiful, but little-known, area of Spain. Much of Extremadura is untouched and unspoiled due to its low-key nature, and this means that you can enjoy the rugged mountains, deep river valleys and pristine forests in relative solitude. To help you make the most of this blissful land, Walking the Sierras of Extremadura outlines 32 walks across five mountain ranges in the area. The walks range from just a few miles long, all the way up to 12 miles in length, and this Cicerone guide provides in-depth information about each one.

Adventure Travel magazine

Extremadura is a delightful area to visit and explore.

Extremadura is a delightful area to visit and explore. I know because I have enjoyed several walking holidays in the region. So Gisela Radant Wood’s book on Walking the Sierras of Extremadura is a very welcome addition to the somewhat limited guides (in English) on the region. I love her tempting introduction (’....snow-capped mountains which puncture the blue sky...’) and I vouch for its accuracy. This neat compact book contains 32 varied walks and the author shares her wealth of regional knowledge with plenty of useful additional information with the visitor. It is also well-illustrated making it a must-have for anyone who wants to maximise their experiences and enjoyment when exploring this delightfully unique and unspoilt part of Spain.

Robert

Downloads

The Sierras of Extremadura - GPX File

Gisela Radant Wood

Gisela Radant Wood is a walker, writer, photographer, avid reader and passionate about Extremadura. She has lived in the Sierra de Montánchez for the past 10 years, walking there on a regular basis. Home is a finca outside the village of Almoharín with a husband, a dog, seven sheep, occasional lambs, four hens and 150 olive trees. Ten years ago Gisela set up the website www.walkingextremadura.com and is actively involved in promoting the area as a walking paradise. This is her second book about walking in Extremadura. To her astonishment she has gained the reputation for knowing more about the best places to walk than the locals. Gisela loves the social side to walking with friends in the Almoharín walking group, but, really, prefers the quiet of walking alone in the countryside she loves.

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