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Tiétar Valley and Sierra de Gredos Natural Park (ZEPA)
WEEKEND ROUTE
Ávila Province
INTERESTING SIGHTSEEING
- Sierra de Gredos Natural Park
- Rosarito Reservoir
- Castle Routes
- Arenas del Castillo Caves
- Castañar de Casillas
- Peña Torozo
- Valle del Tiétar (ZEPA and Community Relevant Site)
REPRESENTATIVE BIRDS
Water birds, river birds, forest birds and mountain birds
SCHEDULE
This route runs along the Ávila province, in the vicinity of Sierra de Gredos Natural Park.
The route starts specifically in Candeleda county, which is located between Rosarito Reservoir and the already mentioned park.
Rosarito Reservoir is fed by the Tiétar River and provides shelter to countless water bird species, which is why it was declared as a Special Bird Protection Area (ZEPA) and as a Community Relevant Site (LIC).
Day 1
On the first day of the ornithological trip of “Swam Environment of Rosarito at Candeleda,” you’ll observe various types of anatidae birds and cranes from a number of favorable locations as well as from an observatory. Moreover, you’ll be able to enjoy the spectacular views of Sierra de Gredos.
Afterwards, you can take a short route through an interesting oak grove area, where a creek provides a rather interesting forest animal diversity. At the place where the creek converges with the mouth of Tiétar river there is a number of huge, round-shaped rocks that catch the visitor’s attention. These rocks lie on the opposite edge of the river flow. In ornithological terms, this is a very important location because you’ll have the chance to observe black storks, a very vulnerable endangered species.
The trip continues towards Arenas de San Pedro, a town where you can visit las Cuevas del Águila (Eagle Caves). The clear limestone layered surface has created peculiar forms that have been shaped over the last three million years.
Day 2
You can start by paying a visit to the interesting Arenas de San Pedro castle. In fact, a good option would be to make a trip along all the imposing castles found in the area: Mombeltrán castle, La Adrada castle and the already mentioned Arenas de San Pedro castle.
Another option could be to take the four valleys route, going through the towns of Mombeltrán, Cuevas del Valle, Villarejo del Valle and San Esteban del Valle. In Cuevas del Valle you’ll be able to see the Roman roadway, still in pretty good shape, and continue on to Puerto del Pico, which lies at an altitude of 1391 meters above sea level. The trail leading to the top of Torozo peak provides an alpine habitat as well as a subalpine habitat for high mountain birds, such as the white-winged snowfinch, the winchat and the alpine accentor.
If you decide to go directly to Valle de Hiruelas, the road will take you all the way to the town of La Adrada. In addition to visiting the castle, you can make a trip through the pine and live oak groves that provide shelter to several species of forest birds, such as blue nuthatches, robins and great tits.
The edge of Casillas has an ornithological trail known as “El Castañar de Casillas.” This area has been classified as a ZEPA (Special Bird Protection Area ) and as a LIC (Community Relevant Site). The hundreds of birds that live here include several species of forest birds, such as treecreepers, jays and spotted woodpeckers.
Local Action Group: CEDER VALLE DEL TIETAR
