Walking and Trekking in the Sierra Morena and Tentudia
Some of the walking tours that are available in the Sierra de Morena and Sierra de Tentudia near to the refuge. We can help with maps and route descriptions and supply a guide if required.
Walking and Trekking in the Sierra Morena and Tentudia
Arroyomolinos - Abismo-Puerto de los Ciegos- Arrroyomolinos
Type: leisure
Time: 3 hours
Distance: 7 km
Description:
We then go deep right into mediterranean forest traversing plentiful vegetable gardens all along the stream la Morera. Scenery is made of Holm Oaks, some of them with more than five hundred years old, Cork Oaks, and many fruit trees (granate, fig , orange trees,…). We will ascend through a forest track, becoming a humid and lush path, around Iberian pigs, sheep, goats , donkeys that appear and disappear joyfully until we reach the highest point in our trekking, Puerto de los Ciegos, near 1.000 m altitude. Throughout the way we encounter water sources. Panoramic views are astonishing from any point we are and very rich in biodiversity , we can highlight among other things centenary Oaks and Chestnuts trees.
Arroyomolinos de León-Abismo- Mirador-Arroyomolinos de León
Type: leisure
Time: 3 hours
Distance: 7 km
Description:
We start our trekking at sierra village Arroyomolinos de León, 600 m altitude. Once we reach the local picnic area we take a semi hidden path on the right hand side, it was the old route to go from Andalucia to Extremadura provinces. Yesteryear long donkey queues were formed loaded with olives on their way to the mill for making olive oil (almazara).
We go across a cultivated land (olive grove), and soon we restart the ascent surrounded by typical mediterranean vegetation (rockrose, thyme, rosemary,….). Arriving to Era de Garrido (over 900m altitude) views are spectacular, to the North, Badajoz province, the big unknown treasure, glimpsing in the distance village Calera de León, famous for its national historic monuments Monastery of Tentudia and Colegiata. A bit further we arrive to a viewpoint where we enjoy 360 degrees scenery of Sierra Morena range.
Cabeza la Vaca - la Pisa del Caballo-Era de Garrido -Cabeza la Vaca
Type: Moderate
Time: 5 hours
Distance: 12 km
Description:
Once we leave the village behind us we start going up through a lush path towards Sierra de las Buitreras (1.021m) where typical Sierra landscape (mediterranean forest) and Dehesa (holm oak, cork oak, amd clearing forest for cultivation), is mixed with millennial chestnust cultivation land.
Leyend goes that Santiago Apostle was passing through this sierra on horse back riding and when he reached this area his horse stepped on a rock of big dimension, and right from that moment water comes out constantly (la Pisá del Caballo). We will continue walking up surrounded by grapevines, fig trees and family livestock ranchs until highest point from our walk. (over 1.000m altitude)
Cabeza la Vaca- Barranco Martin Gil- río Ardila- Calera de León.
Type: Moderate
Time: 6 hours
Distance: 18 km
Description:
This route goes north towards Fuentes de Cantos, a town out of the Sierra that has always been in close contact with Cabeza la Vaca, trading wood for wheat. Our walk will go across Ardila river and we will be able to enjoy water ecosystem in the middle of big Dehesas. Half way we turn right and we rejoin another path to Calera de León. No big altitude but beautiful scenery.
Calera de León- Pinar de Calera- Monasterio de Tentudía- Arroyomolinos de León
Type: Challenging
Time: 8 hours
Distance: 20 km
Description:
We leave early morning Calera de León, famous for its Colegiata monument and traditional pastries, heading up south looking for the andalucian border, and following Los Lomitos old way we ascend to Tentudía Monastery (1.104m) after 10 km of tough walking. Legend says that during battle between moors and cristians, the latter expelled the moor army at dusk asking the Virgin to stop daylight from getting dark (deten tu día means stop the day). On our way down towards Arroyomolinos de León,we will follow the contraband route used during Dictatorship to transport wheat undeclared to spanish government. Natural richness again uncountable, highlighting Oak forest and bird watching (eagle and vulture).
The four thousands: Buitreras-Cerro Gordo-Bonales- Tentudía.
Type: Challenging
Time: 7 hours
Distance: 10 km
Description:
Although it is not Everest, it is quite popular to do the four 1000 m summits. There is a lot of going up and down and the route is very changing and dynamic. We will stop at several water sources, a lot of thingS to learn from small family vegetable gardens (huertas) always close to water fountains. In this route we will try to go across private land walking across forest without a following a track
Calera de León- Pinar de Calera- Monasterio de Tentudía- Arroyomoilonos de León
Type: Challenging
Time. 8 hours
Distance: 20km
Description: We leave early morning from Calera de León, famous for its Colegiata monument and traditional pastries, heading south looking for the andalucian border. We follow the old route of Los Lomitos as we ascend to Tentudía Monastery (1.104m). 10 km of tough walking. Legends abound here of battles between moors and cristians. On our way down towards Arroyomolinos de León, we will follow the contraband route used during teh dictatorship to transport undeclared wheat to the spanish government. Lots of natural surroundings and richness in this walk, highlighted by Oak forest and bird watching (eagles and vultures).
