Stage 32: Mesas de Ibor - Higuera de Albalat
Description
Towards Valdecañas Reservoir and the Extremaduran "dehesa"
Leaving Mesas de Ibor behind, the Trail heads towards the hills and small valleys leading to Valdecañas Reservoir. Following the meanders of the River Tagus, the route traverses through the Extremaduran "dehesas" towards Higuera de Albalat.
This Stage leaves Mesas de Ibor behind via farm roads leading to several private farm estates confined by ancient stone walls. Further on, the path drifts away from the dirt roads onto a local road leading to Valdecañas Reservoir. The route runs parallel to the paved road during 6.5 km until it arrives near the reservoir and other hydraulic infrastructures, including the spillway. The Nature Trail offers an excellent view of Reservoir from here.
Leaving the reservoir behind, another paved road from the dam merges onto the local road. The Stage begins a gradual descent until it reaches a stone bridge known as Gorrilla. The "Embalse de Valdecañas" Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) through which the route has traversed until now ends here.
Further on, the path takes a sharp turn towards a steep concrete track leading to the village of Valdecañas, which is about 1.5 km away. The Trail is interrupted from here to the town of Higuera de Albalat, where this Stage ends. The town of Higuera offers the traveller numerous hiking trails, including a visit to La Norteña mine. The artistic and cultural heritage of the town and its surroundings is also interesting, in particular, the church of San Sebastián, whose impressive bell tower looms high in the centre of the town, and can be seen almost from the start of the Stage.
Sites of interest
Profile
MIDE (Method for the Information of Excursions)
Harshness of natural environment- 1. The environment is not risk-free
- 2. There are more than one risk factors
- 3. There are various risk factors
- 4. There are quite a lot of risk factors
- 5. There are many risk factors
Guidance along the route- 1. Well defined trails and crossings
- 2. There is a clearly marked trail and signage
- 3. Requires the identification of geographic features and cardinal points
- 4. Requires off-path navigation
- 5. The trail is interrupted by obstacles that have to be gone around
Route difficulty- 1. Walking on a flat surface
- 2. Trails with different types of path
- 3. Walking on stepped paths or irregular terrain
- 4. The use of hands or jumping over the terrain is necessary
- 5. The use of hands is required to progress
Amount of effort needed- 1. Up to 1 hour of continuous walking
- 2. Between 1 and 3 hours of continuous walking
- 3. Between 3 and 6 hours of continuous walking
- 4. Between 6 and 10 hours of actual walking
- 5. More than 10 hours of continuous walking
Featured
Further information
Church of San Sebastián
The church was built between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but underwent renovations in the eighteenth century. It is built with masonry and bricks, with granite ashlars in the window and door openings, and the bell tower moulding.
The single nave is divided into four Stages separated by semi-circular arches supported by back-to-back columns with a polygonal apse. The gabled roof was recently restored, and the domed apse speaks to its sixteenth century origin.
The main altar, located in the apse, holds a classical 17th century altarpiece. Another classical altarpiece can be found on the side of the Epistle. A remarkable two-stage bell tower rises outside the church.
Albalat Bridge
Located about ten kilometres from Higuera, the bridge, which is 127 m long and 38 m high, was built under King Charles I (16th century). It is formed by one semi-circular arch and one pointed arch.
Castil Oreja
The ruins of this castle stand on Castil Oreja Hill, in one of the larger meanders of Garganta Grande, near La Norteña mine and very close to Higuera. The only remains standing today are the foundation of a square tower or fort, built with irregular slate slabs, and the small settlement built amongst the cliffs, which appears to be Muslim in origin according to the pottery fragments found.
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