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Wooden bridge in Montfalco, province of Huesca / Montfalcó (Huesca)
This is one of the most photographed and most breathtaking routes in Spain. And, at the same time, one of the least known and promoted. The road goes from Montfalco to the Congost de Mont-Rebei, near Lleida / Congost de Mont-Rebei. The trip will take you all day. From the base in Montfalco, you can walk to the beginning of the path from the wooden bridges built into the mountain, it will take only half an hour. But to climb to a height of 83 meters on the wooden bridges hanging over the river Noguera Ribagorzana / Noguera Ribagorzana, the number of which is 291, will take at least three hours. Actually, it's not difficult, despite the fact that the bridges are attached to a sheer cliff. They are very stable and are located with a slight slope. But the views that open from them make tourists freeze in admiration for a long time, forgetting to get a camera to capture the breathtaking landscapes.
"Flower belt", province of Huesca / Faja de las Flores (Huesca)
Destination - Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. This is a rather difficult route, passing through the Ordesa valley along the Arasas / Arazas river. In about seven hours, you can overcome 15 km, while the elevation changes on the route reach 1,000 meters. The three-kilometer section of this route, called the "Flower Belt", is a kind of "balcony" with a width of 3 to 7 meters on a rock above the valley. It passes between vertical cliffs up to 1 km high. One of the most difficult sections of the path will have to be overcome, moving along a sheer cliff, using only pins driven into it. Yes, this is not an easy walk: you will have to use all your muscles, and before the trip it will be useful to work on your own sports form. However, the reward is worth it: the majestic landscapes of untouched nature, the harsh and at the same time eye-catching views of the rocks and the valley, the cleanest air, amazing energy and ringing silence - for the sake of all this, tourists come back here again and again.
Route Fregeneda - Vega Terrón, Salamanca Province / La Fregeneda-Vega Terrón, Salamanca
Fregeneda / La Fregeneda railway station is located between the rivers Duero / Duero and Agueda / Ágeda, almost on the border with Portugal. The route from it to the water mill in Vega Terrone is 17 kilometers. The road is extremely picturesque, and in some places also dangerous, since the tree from which some of the bridges are made is quite badly damaged. This journey is not recommended for tourists with poor vestibular apparatus. But the brave ones will be rewarded with the view of unforgettable landscapes. In addition, the road allows you to get acquainted with examples of engineering, albeit slightly outdated: during the journey, tourists pass through 20 man-made tunnels and 13 bridges. The river port of Vega Terrona has two 19th century mills that are not currently in use. There is also one new one, built in the 80-90s of the XX century. If you decide to undertake this trip, which will undoubtedly remain in your memory for a long time, arrange in advance to be picked up from Fregeneda, otherwise you will have to walk the same 17 kilometers in the opposite direction. It seems to us that one feat a day is enough.
Wooden bridges over the river Mao, province of Ourense / Río Mao (Orense)
This is perhaps the most beautiful route in the Ribeira Sacra / Ribeira Sacra region, in Galicia. The path along the wooden bridges is much easier here than in Montfalk - so much so that you can safely go with children. The route starts from the old power plant, known as the Light Factory / Fábrica da Luz, built at the beginning of the last century. The power plant provided electricity to the provincial capital and the city of Monforte / Monforte. The first 1.7 kilometers of the route pass just along the wooden bridges over the Mao River. The views are such that tourists often run out of camera memory cards long before the end of the 3.5-kilometer journey. The route ends in the town of Barchakoba / Barxacoba, from where you can return back.
Route "Ruta del Cares" between Leon and Asturias / Ruta del Cares, entre León y Asturias
This route, passing through the National Park of the Peaks of Europe / Picos de Europa, is well known both in Spain and abroad due to the magnificent landscapes that surround the tourist who embarked on this path. It also bears the name "God's Throat" / "Garganta Divina" - perhaps due to the fact that it passes right inside the rock. The path lasts just over 11 kilometers and is laid between the towns of Cain, province of León / Caín (León) and Poncebos, province of Asturias / Poncebos (Asturias). You can only walk this route, but in general, for lovers of long walks, it will not seem too difficult. 3-4 hours of travel, with very small height differences - this can be dealt with, especially for the sake of emotions and impressions from what you see, because you will have beautiful views of the mountain peaks, you will pass through the river, in the scalding cold waters of which the especially brave can swim. And if you are lucky, you will meet frisky mountain goats. The only thing to worry about is going back. Do not go again 11 kilometers, even if it is through amazingly beautiful nature! However, knowledgeable people say that at the final point you can use the services of a special mountain taxi.
Ruta de las Xanas, Asturias
The route passes through the gorge, located in the municipality of Santo Adriano / Santo Adriano near Oviedo. It can be considered the little brother of the "God's Throat" in the Peaks of Europe National Park, although many tourists who have visited both places find the "Ruta de Chanas" even more beautiful, although it is difficult to imagine how this is possible. However, it was this gorge that was declared a Natural Monument by the Government of Asturias in April 2002.
Chanas are popular characters in Asturian folklore. These are incredibly beautiful women who live in the river and comb their long blond hair, luring travelers. One must keep an eye out for the chanas, as many men were bewitched by their spell and died in the waters of the mountain river. Perhaps the reserved beauty of these places is also the result of magic, but, unlike the beautiful chanas, it does not pose any danger.
You can start the journey from any of the towns of Pedroveya / Pedroveya or Villanueva / Villanueva. The end of the route in Pedroveia is the fact that there is an excellent restaurant, famous for the exceptional taste of fabade (a traditional Asturian dish of beans and black pudding). And not far from Villanueva, the road merges with the beautiful Bear Path, along which you can walk along the fence that encloses the territory where Paca and Tola bears live. If you are lucky, you will see them during feeding. The entire route can be completed in 2-3 hours, but we advise you to take your time to enjoy the incredibly beautiful scenery, absorb the energy of this magical place, and if you're lucky, see a soaring eagle or hawk. The round trip is about 8 kilometers, and it is quite simple and suitable for travelers of all ages. You need to go along the path, located at an altitude of 80 meters above the river, in some places the road runs right inside the rock. Unforgettable impressions are guaranteed!
Canal Urdón, province of Cantabria / Canal de Urdón (Cantabria) 
Perhaps this is the most difficult route of those that we talk about. Amazing in terms of views, but physically very difficult, so we recommend only really prepared tourists to go along it, and certainly without children. The route begins in the town of Tresviso / Tresviso, from where you need to go down to the source of the Urdon River. A small hydroelectric power station was built on this river at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1913, an artificial waterfall was created to increase its power. The work, apparently, was carried out hard, because the builders had to build a road right in the rocks. We invite you to follow it. Almost all sections of the track running along the canal are fenced with wire to prevent possible falls. The most famous and beautiful part of the route is the Matallana gallery, which is a narrow passage carved right into the rock. Immediately behind the gallery there will be a tunnel, which is almost impossible to pass without a flashlight. After that, a rather steep uphill climb begins, which is somewhat facilitated by rope handrails stretched along the path. Having overcome the pass, you will begin the descent, which will lead you to the same power plant, from where it is not far to the village of Urdon. Here you can arrange a trip to the beginning of the journey. Or you can make the route circular, starting and ending it in Urdon.
Royal path, province of Malaga / Caminito del Rey (Málaga)
This road has long been considered the most dangerous for hiking in Spain. It has been closed for renovations for 15 years, but thanks to an investment of 5 million euros, the King's Trail is much safer than before and is ready to welcome tourists again after Easter 2015.
A hinged wooden bridge was built along the walls of the Gaitanes Gorge / Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, formed by the Guadalhorce / Guadalhorce River, which flows between the municipalities of Alora / Álora and Ardales / Ardales. At the beginning of the 20th century, this path was built to carry out maintenance work on the Gaitanejo / Gaitanejo and Chorro / El Chorro dams. The path got its name, apparently, after the King of Spain, Alfonso XIII, walked along it in May 1921 to arrive at the opening site of the Count of Guadalorsky / Conde de Guadalhorce dam.
Now the bridge attached to the sheer rock, the width of which does not exceed one meter, has been completely renovated, strengthened and does not pose a danger. Its reconstruction took place with the involvement of climbers and helicopters. You can start the 4-kilometer journey from either end of it: from Ardales or Alora. By the way, next to the latter is the small town of Chorro, which is also one of the main climbing centers in Europe. The most breathtaking views open at the very beginning of the gorge, so we advise you not to rush. Moreover, the entire route takes a little over three hours.
To visit the Royal Route, you will need to register on the website of the Government of Malaga. The trip itself can be taken on any day except Monday, only after sunrise and before sunset. And do not forget to take a helmet with you - its presence is a prerequisite for admission to the route.
Route Cahorros de Monachil, Province of Granada / Cahorros de Monachil (Granada) 
This route is very close to the Alhambra, just 15 minutes from the center of Granada. It runs along the Monachil River, which originates at the top of Mount Veleta / Veleta. It is its waters that miraculously make the landscape unique in its beauty. Part of the way, tourists go between the mountains, sometimes located quite close to each other, because of which the trail becomes very narrow. There is also a suspension bridge 63 meters long on the way. It was built about 100 years ago and was originally rope. Today you can not be afraid: for 40 years now it has been reconstructed and does not pose a danger. And still, walking along the suspension bridge - swaying and springing under your feet - is an additional pleasure, however, not without a slight hassle. By the way, if before stepping on the bridge, go a little under it, you can see a small beautiful waterfall. However, there will be several along the way.
In general, the route is not difficult, you have to go 9 kilometers. Its advantage is that it is looped, that is, you can return to the same place where the journey was started. The car, if you arrive on it, you need to leave in the parking lot on the El Purche / El Purche road, right from it a beautiful view of the river valley will already open. Soon after the start of the path, you will have to choose between two routes: the upper one (“Cahorros Altos”), which gives the opportunity to admire the river, mountains and valley from above, and the lower one (“Cahorros Bajos”). Whichever option you prefer, memories of the beauty of almost untouched nature will remain for a long time, and your friends will surely admire the photos you take.
For many years, hiking trails through nature reserves, natural parks, canyons and other natural landscapes have been very popular among tourists, designed to give the traveler enjoyment of landscapes and good physical training. Spain is a hiker's paradise. There are a lot of mountain ranges and natural parks here, while local authorities are very concerned about protecting nature and attracting local residents and arriving travelers to eco-tourism, and therefore, wherever possible, routes for comfortable walks are equipped. We have prepared for you the TOP10 hiking trails in Spain.
1. Route Ruta del Cares in Asturias
Without exaggeration, this is one of the most beautiful and most popular routes in the entire Picos de Europa National Park. It starts in the town of Poncebos in Asturias and ends in the village of Cain, which is already in the province of León. The route is not the easiest from a physical point of view, as it involves difficult climbs with a height difference of up to 1000 meters, but the effort is worth it. You will enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of the valley, overcome the mountain river and admire the amazing panoramas that suddenly open up from a height of up to 2000 m above sea level! The duration of the route is about 2.5 hours one way.
We have already talked about this route in one of the photo reports, once it was considered one of the most dangerous in the world! But, after the restoration, it became available not only to extreme people, but also to just lovers of “interesting to take a walk”. Once this road in the province of Malaga was used by builders to build the Conde del Guadalorce dam. After the completion of construction work, King Alphonse XIII walked along the path, after which it received the sonorous name “El camino del Rey” or “Royal Path”. Passing along narrow paths and suspension bridges at a height of 70 meters, you can admire the beautiful landscapes of the gorge. The total length of the trail itself is 4.8 km, but in the end it is necessary to overcome a much greater distance - about 7.7 km one way. On your way you will meet fragments of the old trail (before reconstruction) and it will become clear why this route was once considered one of the most dangerous in the world.
3. Camino de Santiago in northern Spain
Perhaps this is the most popular route of all those highlighted in our rating, because, in addition to the idea of \u200b\u200ba pleasant and picturesque walk, the passage of the Way of St. James carries a deep religious burden. There are many options for this route, all of them are of different lengths and with different starting points, but they all have one thing in common - the ultimate goal of travelers is the Santiago Cathedral in the city of Santiago de Compostella - the largest pilgrimage center in which the relics of St. James are kept. Pilgrims from different countries have been walking along these routes to Santiago de Cosmpostella since the Middle Ages. Undoubtedly, since those times, the routes have become more comfortable in terms of the amenities that have appeared: hotels, restaurants, information support centers. There is even a service for the delivery of your luggage from one overnight stay to another.
4. Yellow route in the natural reserve of Torcal de Antequera in Andalusia
Torcal Natural Park, famous for its unusually shaped limestone mountains and beautiful landscapes, is located just 35 km from Malaga. There are several hiking trails in the park, of which we recommend that you stop at the “Ruta amarilla” option. This trail, about 3 km long, goes around the entire park and gives you the opportunity to get acquainted with different biological zones that differ in the level of humidity and vegetation. In addition, the route includes several observation platforms, from where stunning panoramas of the district open up.
5. Trail to the Masca Gorge (El barranco de masca) on the island of Tenerife
This, one of the most picturesque hiking trails in Spain, is located on the island of Tenerife in the Canary archipelago. After walking several kilometers along the most picturesque gorge, travelers find themselves on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, where pirates once hid. Tourists have the opportunity to go through this route on their own, arriving at the place of its beginning by car. In this case, after reaching the goal - the coast of the ocean, it will be necessary in the same way to return back through the gorge to the parking place. Or use the services of local agencies that will deliver you to the launch site by bus and pick you up from the ocean by boat.
6. Route El Cañón de Riolobos in Castile and León
The deep and picturesque canyon, formed over the centuries along the Lobos River, is today a natural park. This is a real paradise for lovers of senderism! Travelers are offered several hiking routes, the most memorable of which, in our opinion, is the Torcon route. This is about 10 km of the way, during which you will enjoy the unforgettable landscapes of the canyon and the mountain river. A pleasant end to the route will be the Costalago observation deck.
7. Routes in the Natural Park of El Monasterio de Piedra in Aragon
The real pearl of the province of Aragon is the monastery of El Monasterio de la Piedra and the natural park surrounding it. Here you can take an unforgettable walk and admire the waterfalls. Perhaps this is an ideal place for lovers of nature in all its manifestations, which will appeal to all family members, young and old. The park has designated picnic areas as well as restaurants and a hotel for those wishing to extend their enjoyment.
8. Laguna Grande route in the Garajonay National Park on the island of La Gomera, Canaries
The distant Canarian island of La Gomera deserves special attention, because the island consists almost entirely of untouched natural landscapes. The special pride of the islanders is the Garajonay Natural Park. The park offers several routes that go around it from the south or from the north. The impression of being in the tropical jungle does not leave the traveler for a second, it seems that this is the scenery for the movie "Jurassic Park". And from the final point of the route, located on a hill, a beautiful view of the neighboring islands of the archipelago opens up.
9. Routes in the Gorbea Natural Park (Parque Natural del Gorbea) in the Basque Country
The Basque Country is famous for its abundance of greenery and beautiful nature, so it is not surprising that one of the best hiking trails is located here. We are talking about a walk through the Gorbea Natural Park. As in many similar parks, there are several route options for every taste. We recommend that you stop on the route Ubide-Gorbea-Ubide, for the passage of which it is necessary to partially use the car, since its length is about 32 km. On the way, there are rare representatives of flora, and sometimes fauna, because wild cats and deer have settled here.
10. Route along the river Borosa (Río Borosa) in Andalusia
Our rating is completed by the route through the natural park Sierra de Cazorla, in Jaen. This park is fraught with such beauty that no traveler expects to see. The length of the route is about 20 km, so you should stock up on patience and hardy shoes, but the zeal applied is worth it: gorgeous landscapes, picturesque waterfalls, breathtaking lagoons - these are far from all the beauties hidden in the greenery of the Sierra de Cazorla park.
Spain is a colorful and cheerful country that attracts the interest of not only those who love the sun, beaches and skiing activities. Spain, being one of the highest countries in Europe - the mountains here occupy most of the country, is interesting for its landscape and for those who love the hiking format of travel and are fond of mountain hiking and trekking.
The Canary Islands are a unique area of volcanic origin - there are more than six hundred volcanoes here, and the Teide volcano on the island of Tenerife is the highest point in the country. Its height is 3718m. Also here you can find absolutely unique vegetation, the representatives of which do not grow anywhere else except this island.
Documentation:
You need a Schengen visa to visit Spain. Also, for trekking in Tenerife, you need to obtain a special permit from the local authorities, so the acceptance of applications for participation in the hike stops 15 days before the start date of the event.
Each participant of the hike must be insured without fail! Since insurance is not included in the cost of the hike, you need to insure yourself before leaving. We strongly recommend not to save on insurance and choose a program that covers activities such as trekking and mountaineering, and also does not have a deductible for any type of evacuation if necessary.
You can travel around Spain in various ways: settle by the sea and go on excursions, move from city to city by car, or you can walk. At least partially. Almost all of Spain is covered with a network of hiking trails of various directions and complexity. Whether you choose the Flower Belt or the hike to St. James with a shell on your chest is up to you.
Camino de Santiago, or Way of Saint James
This is perhaps the oldest and largest hiking route in Spain. Legend and biblical stories say that the Apostle James went from Palestine to the territory of present-day Spain to preach the Christian faith. Upon returning to Palestine, Jacob was killed, and his body was sent by sea back to the Iberian Peninsula. After a storm that happened off the very coast of Galicia, the boat was raised from the abyss, all covered with shells. Therefore, the vieira shell, sewn onto clothes or tied to a staff, became the hallmark of all pilgrims going to the burial place of the saint.
In 899, by decree of King Alphonse III, a small church was built over the relics. Later, the huge Cathedral of Santiago de Compostella was erected in its place.
It is believed that the saint appeared more than once and helped the Spanish kings in battles with the Saracens. From the 12th to the 16th century, the place becomes a shrine along with Jerusalem and Rome, and the flow of pilgrims, including royalty, flows like a huge river. Along the way, infrastructure is growing along the road: monasteries, drinking establishments and hotels. However, plague, famine, and the growing strength of the Protestant doctrine stopped the flow of believers for many years. Only in the late 19th century, scientists discovered beautiful examples of medieval architecture in places far from civilization, and only from the 80s. In the 20th century, the pilgrimage began to revive again.
In fact, the road or simply Camino is a network of 15 pilgrimage routes, the end point of which is the city of Santiago de Compostella. The beginning of Camino takes in various cities of Spain, France and Portugal. Camino de Norte runs along the Atlantic coast, Camino Portuguese originates in Lisbon or Porto, Camino de Levanter in Valencia, Via de La Plata in Seville, Camino Catalan in Barcelona, the British sail by ferry to La Coruña and walk from there.
The most famous way - the French way, or Camino Frances - starts in the Pyrenean town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and passes through the largest cities of Northern Spain: Pamplona, Burgos and Leon. Its "official" length is 765 km, but due to the number of trails and branches, this figure can fluctuate plus or minus 50 km. The French route takes an average of 30-50 days. Beginners often choose the Portuguese route because of its shortness (250 km) and the opportunity to pass through two picturesque countries at once.
The meaning of hiking is not only religious. Even the pilgrim's Codex Calixtinus, compiled back in the 12th century, says that the meaning of a hike is not the end goal, but the road itself. It is important not only to go to the goal, stopping for the night in shelters, it is important who you met along the way and how you treated him. Perhaps someone needed help in word or deed in your face.
In ancient times, people walked on the stars, and even now the "grid" of Camino resembles the Milky Way. For the pilgrimage to be considered complete, it is not necessary to cover all 800 km. It is enough to walk 100 km, or travel 200 km by bike or horse. Many Spaniards do the route in small parts on weekends.
Documentary confirmation of the pilgrimage route is the Credencial del Peregrino, a temporary pilgrim's passport, where stamps are placed about visiting a cafe, tourist center or church.
Pilgrims move on foot, without a map, often alone. Travelers are indicated by yellow arrows and shells painted on the walls of houses, the sidewalk or special posts. Everyone decides how much to walk in a day and in which shelter (alberge) to stay.
Shelters are monastic, municipal, donativo (for a donation), private and, in fact, hotels. The latter are rarely popular in such a campaign, because they are expensive and do not correspond to the spirit of asceticism. However, for the elderly, the hotel is more suitable than the monastery room with 20 beds.
A night in a shelter costs from 5 to 12 euros, often including dinner and breakfast. In shelters with a donation system, dinner is prepared based on the money left by previous pilgrims.
In ancient times, a hat, a staff and a dried gourd for storing water were indispensable attributes of a pilgrim on this road. Not much has changed now: boots and a trekking stick, a backpack, replacement shoes and a supply of water - that's what distinguishes a walker in the Casino.
Having reached the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostella, he receives the Compostella, a certificate in Latin with the date of completion of the journey and the altar seal of the cathedral. Pilgrims visit the relics of the saint, and if they wish, a festive dinner awaits them.
However, not everyone is limited to this point. Those who are specially trained pass another 88 km to Cape Finisterre (Latin finis terrae - literally, the end of the earth), the westernmost point of Spain, where St. Jacob and where, according to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to him. Only every tenth pilgrim comes to Finisterre and always burns some piece of clothing in which he walked this long journey.
Mount Montserrat, Barcelona (Catalonia)
If you don't have a few free weeks, but have an ardent desire to make a walking pilgrimage or just a short hike in the mountain beauties, then it's worth taking a fresh look at the famous Montserrat monastery, which is located near Barcelona.
Montserrat is not only a monastery with a museum and a winery at an altitude of 720 meters. This is a rather bizarre mountain, which offers stunning views of the suburbs and neighboring cliffs. There are five official and many unofficial walking routes on the mountain.
The most famous: Path of prayers (Rosari Monumental de Montserrat), leading to the Holy Cave (Capella de la Santa Cova), where in the 9th century. found the first sculpture of Our Lady of Montserrat. The cave still holds a copy of the statue that stands in the abbey's cathedral. This Madonna can also be approached and touched, making a wish and avoiding the line that gathers in the main temple. Along the way, 15 sculptures from the early 20th century are placed, depicting scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin. During the descent, you will have stunning views of the neighboring rocks and territories.
Route length: 1.5 km one way. Travel time is 30-40 minutes one way. First, down a wide paved road to the Sant João funicular station (the path can be cut in half by riding a trolley from the entrance to the abbey). Then the road goes up to the cave. The "cave" is a small chapel, where it is quiet, cool and not overcrowded. The temple has a statue of the Virgin, a bronze sculpture of Christ and a special room for votives - items left as a gift to the Virgin for a fulfilled desire. As a votive, there are tablets with inscriptions, plaster prints of a baby’s leg or a motorcycle helmet asking you to pray for the health of the victim (in Spain, a scooter is a fairly popular form of transport, but, unfortunately, accidents with their participation are not uncommon).
Next, you need to make your way back to the monastery along the same road. Although the route is considered easy, an unprepared person should still be careful, have comfortable shoes and a supply of water. If you arrived at the monastery with an excursion group, then free time for a mini-hike will be in the very sun (13:00 - 14:00). Therefore, the last meters of the road from the habit may seem the longest in your life.
Also on the mountain there are routes 5-7 km long along narrower mountain paths up from the monastery to the chapel of St. Michael (Camí de Sant Miquel). You can climb to the cross of St. Michael (Creu de Sant Miquel) either by a short path or by the more difficult La Font Seca road leading to the observation deck past the cannons of the 19th century.
Camino de Ronda (Catalonia)
Camino de Ronda (Catalan Cami de Ronda) is a road that has been preserved since the end of the 18th century and originally stretched along the entire coast of Catalonia. The road was used both by the civilian guards to patrol the coastal borders and the sea territory, and by fishermen who moored in a storm far from their village. Pirates and smugglers made their way along this chimney.
Over time, the road became dilapidated, somewhere it was littered with stones, and eventually broke up into several parts. Now several stretches of length from 2 to 13 km in the Costa Brava have been restored and serve as hiking trails for pleasant walks.
- San Pol-S'Agaro: a beautiful path under the pine trees along the rocky seashore. Travel time - 1 hour. It is also suitable for cyclists, ramps for wheelchairs are equipped in some places. The road is marked with green arrows GR-92.
-Roc de San Gaileta - Platja Llarga: 2.5 km wide walking path with viewing platforms and the opportunity to go down to the sea and swim. Two thirds of the way is an asphalt sea promenade, the last third is a wooden flooring. Along the way, you can see beautiful houses and an old church.
- Vilanova-Sitges: 7 km earthen trail with white and red signs and several options for passing. You can keep a little deeper or go along the sea. The last path is more beautiful, but at times it goes along the edge of a cliff and through small hills. It is positioned as simple, for walking with children, however, it is not recommended to take very small children and strollers here. Comfortable trekking shoes are more than desirable.
Today, the Camino de Ronda is also part of the GR'92 (Grand Recorrer) - a huge 561 km hiking trail that stretches along the entire Mediterranean coast from Portbou to Tarifa, passing through Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia and Andalusia. And with the desire and appropriate preparation, you can go through this long path in its entirety.
Vias Verdes del Carrilet, or "green roads" of Girona (Catalonia)
From the beginning of the 90s. In Spain, 7.5 thousand km of railroad tracks were left idle. The government decided to rebuild part of the roads into cycling and hiking trails, and by 2011 there were 2,000 km of "green roads". There are practically no elevation differences on the routes, so a flat road makes it possible for people to travel even with minimal physical fitness. The roads in the Girona area are especially beautiful. Here you can choose one of four routes:
- Olot Girona, 54 km through the Garoccia volcanic valley and the narrow streets of the ancient cities of Catalonia,
- Girona-Sant Feliu de Guixols, 40 km of a gentle slope along the valley to the sea,
- Via verde del Hierro y del Carbon(Ripoll - Ogassa 12 km), literally "the road of iron and coal",
-Via verde del Tren Petit, or “small train road” (Palomos – Parafruzle), 6 km along the oldest steam locomotive road.
Route Fregeneda - Vega Terrón (Castilla and León)
Fregened route - Vega Terron another result of the Green Roads project.
Fregeneda railway station is located between two rivers almost on the border with Portugal. From the station to the water mill in Vega Terrone, 17 kilometers of a very scenic path. This route is a kind of open-air museum of engineering art. Tourists pass through 20 man-made tunnels and 13 wooden bridges. However, some of them are very dilapidated. This journey is not recommended for tourists with poor vestibular apparatus. The end point of the journey is the river port of Vega Terron. Here you can see two old mills from the 19th century, which are not currently in use, and one new one, built in the 80-90s of the XX century. It is worth taking care of the return trip in advance.
Text: Alla Anikina
A little about trekking in Spain or what to do in the mountains of the province of Castellón. Having carefully studied the guidebook "50 tracks in Spain", bought in a local decathlon a couple of years earlier, I concluded that the most promising mountainous areas can be found somewhere in the area of \u200b\u200bAndorra and the northern provinces in general, and in the east of the country there is only sand and Nordic walking . But Andorra is far away, and if you often visit the beach, you can become a roach, and I decided to look around the area for something of interest for short walks up.
The most accessible mountains are located near Benicassim on the territory of the National Park "Desert and Palma - already a forest" (Natural Area Les Palmas Desert), where the CV-147 automobile serpentine leads to a mark of 400m, on which there are more road cyclists than cars . On the territory of the park there are ancient ruins of a castle and a chapel, a functioning monastery (obviously female, otherwise why put so much asphalt on such a height), olive plantations, restaurants with views, and, of course, mountains. In the bulk, the mountains are similar to the Khibiny, i.e. low (up to 800m) and flat so that primers lead up to the cellular stations. But among them there was an interesting ridge with two pronounced peaks, unlike anything else around. If you drive along the route E-15 "Mediterraneo Motorway" north to Barcelona, then these rocks stand out clearly from the rest of the fells. On the maps, these are peaks under the general name of the Needles of Santa Agloeda (Agujas de Santa Agueda), but we simply called them "feathers".
To get there, I had to get up at 6 am. Mainly due to the fact that I wanted to go for freshness, and not immediately to the sauna. There are at least three different trails from the coast to the ridge, but I climbed the CV-147 as far as possible by car, i.e. in fact to the bottom.
The ascent "from the side of the road" starts at 330m, the peak of the ridge closest to the road is only 538m, it's a kilometer to stomp, although at first the 500m trail with a smooth climb winds among tenacious and biting thorn bushes, and then climbing stairs with high steps begins. In fact, there are no difficulties, except for going to the very top: there is a 10m rope, behind which a half-meter-wide gap-corridor leads literally through the top to the eastern slope. Everything is simple.
1. This is what the ridge looks like from the east. If you wish, you can arrange an interesting trip for 6 hours from Benicassim to Oropesa. 
2. The path to the top is not difficult to find. I used the OruxMaps application with the topo4u layer, it clearly traces the trails of at least this area (the trails are marked not with numbers, but with difficulty categories). The tour in the photo is one such, basically the trail is marked with small pyramids of two or three stones and a bunch of marks of various colors and shapes (Wikipedia generally says that making marks or signs with paint or other indelible materials is prohibited here). I came across at least four different marks on the path, already going along the ridge, which does not prevent this path from being successfully lost, bypassing all sorts of ambushes. 
3. Early morning over the Miravet valley. The sun heats only the eastern slope and it is very comfortable in the shade. 
4. Natural Desierto de las Palmas, the Aguja del Salando ridge, and the height following it - with the ruins of the Montornes castle, for which they mainly go to this park de natural. Agglomeration at the horizon - the district center of Castellón de la Plana (city, municipality, administrative center of the province). 
5. At the top, the views are everywhere you spit - a continuous song. Time half past seven, it took 40 minutes to rise. I sit and look around the surroundings, for example, the resort town of Benicassim: continuous beaches, villas, hotels. The glittering puddles, on closer examination, turned out to be tangerine plantations, we will make a raid on them later. 
6. In the foreground, the stone is the peak itself: it is impossible to climb it without equipment. There is not so much climbing on a smooth stone, but the opportunity to capitally fly 15 meters and then transit along the slope with 12 photos. 
7. And since you can’t climb to the top, then all the “conquerors” are drawn where the hands reached. And I thought this nice tradition is only with us. 
8. The entire eastern side of the Santa Agueda Ridge is overgrown with mountain pine, which adds the aroma of "Needles" to the atmosphere. The whole ridge is marked on the wiki as a microreserve, where various endemics grow and therefore it is forbidden "to develop a climbing activity into a microreserve zone, unless specifically allowed for scientific or conservation". Most likely, mountaineering means drilling new routes, and not staggering back and forth along the paths. 
9. You won’t get bored with a bed of dry needles: in some places they lie in a thick carpet, which under your feet begins to leave down the rock. But in the crevices you can find secluded shelves for a tent (not big, but you can stick a tent like marmot eos1), where even a rug is not needed. True, in the light of a specially protected status, it is quite likely that they can get slapped for an overnight stay. 
10. Sister rock of the Krasnoyarsk pillars. 
11. In addition to pines, endemic fan palm grows on the peaks. 
12. I dragged two huge cones from the mountain, the largest was 22cm. "Especially for scientific or conservation." 
13. The summit of Agujas de Santa Agueda is western, I climbed around it for an hour (photo 4-13), after which I went along the ridge to the next one. The eastern slope of the mountain is mainly asphalt-like slabs with a steepness of up to 45°. 
14. There are many grottoes and small caves under the peaks, but I would not stay in them for a long time, since fresh layers of broken slate lay under my feet. 
15. The trail along the ridge naturally leads not along the edge, but along the plates of the eastern slope. Since the marks are partially erased, and the tours are not everywhere, in some places it is not readable and you either have to look for it, or jump a lot and climb small walls. 
16. At some point, I just went and climbed up the slab to look around cleanly. While climbing, he sweated three times, counted six eyes leading to the very edge and slipped a couple of times on the needles (at least go with a broom), but still got to the rib. 
17. Panorama of Agujas de Santa Agueda and the valleys. 
18. "Language" of the plate, on which the lugs were led. Perhaps a route from a steep slope was punched into the tongue, when this was not yet forbidden. In the background is the eastern peak, which I didn’t have enough time for (and I was too lazy to go to this massif from below, because you’ll climb “on the forehead”). Well, something must be left for the future. 
19. Neighboring rock and western peak, which seems to be reachable by hand, but in fact it is half an hour of a brisk pace. 
20. 
21. Glory photo! 
22. With the glory photo it turned out classic: I climbed, but I only jumped back with the prospect of getting stuck. I had to look for a route through the steep western slope, where there is more microrelief due to weathering and ledges through which one could reach the eastern plates. Wriggled pretty well. 
23. The main discomfort of the day for me was the lack of water. The nearest water is only in the valley, either in the form of restaurants, or in the form of springs, the quality of which I did not check (the closest one is near the "farm" from the 3rd photo, on the map the springs appear as Font). I took only 0.5, but it felt like I had to carry three times as much, because. the sun and humidity began to squeeze me as soon as I stepped out from under the shadow of the mountain. 
24. Miravet Valley. The bright illuminated rock on the right is the ruins of the castle of the same name, we also go there a day later. 
25. Back to the car, I returned the same way, without going to the top, it took an hour. In total, I spent 3.5 hours on the mountain, taking into account meditations and photos, walked 5.1 km with a climb of 500 m. 
27. Stone-remnant on the trail just below the eastern summit. 
28. The road along the Miravet valley is marked on the map as a dirt road without a number. They don't know grief! 
29. Those same tangerine groves from the edge of the 5th photo. 
