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His passions are his land and sport.
That is why David García, a neighbor and councilor of Candeleda, dreamed (and worked) for a long time with the idea of turning this municipality of Avila in the foothills of the
Sierra de Gredos
into a paradise of outdoor activities that combined doses of exercise, culture and gastronomy.
The project is called Candeleda-Gredos Natural Sports Park and it became a reality this spring.
It is not that until now it was not possible to walk endlessly through this amazing place two hours from Madrid, but now there are more reasons to make an active getaway to this beautiful and mighty valley of Tiétar, the southernmost part of the province. , already bordering Extremadura, a place full of
rivers and gorges
with ponds and natural pools.
The new park has been conceived with respect to the environment and rural development.
"We have not created facilities of any kind," explains David.
"What we have done is clean the trails and make small bridges to
open the mountain to hiking
and mountain biking. But we have not touched the natural environment. They are all mountain trails that you can travel all year round because here, despite the fame of Avila, we are not cold: we are at an altitude of 400 meters ".
Glorieta del Castillo, Candeleda.
The website www.candeleda-gredos.es collects all the information on the natural park with maps and recommendations. Thus, the visitor can check the existence or not of fountains along the way, the level of difficulty or places that are crossed during it. A total of 15 routes are detailed that can be done on foot and some also on horseback or by bike, both by road,
mountain bike
or downhill cycling.
There is no shortage of
gastro
tracks either
.
Apart from the famous paprika from La Vera, you have to try the figs from Gredos, the goat cheese or their tasty kids.
Not even the heritage treasures that are worth visiting, such as the
Castro del Raso,
one of the most notable Vetton sites in the center of the peninsula, at the top.
There are many possibilities, although we are left with these five plans:
The satin.
A walk down the gorge
It is very difficult to choose a single path, but an essential one is the
Fishermen's Route
.
It is a circular route of about 14 kilometers that runs for the most part along the banks of the
Garganta de Santa María
among a forest of pine, oak and prunus lusitanica.
In addition to the coolness of the water, several rope steps and a cute bridge over the Castañarejo stream enliven the walk.
On two wheels
If you are a
mountain bike
, it is worth going up to
El Nogal
to put yourself to the test and then descend through the famous Bajada del Guerrero.
The ascent is 17 km along a very simple track.
"The best are the views."
David has been doing this route since he was a child.
"You can see the whole area of La Vera on one side, the Montes de Toledo in the distance in the background and the Gredos massif at the back".
For those who prefer road bikes, the possibilities are almost endless, but a good recommendation to get to know the territory is to climb the
port of Los Serranillos
, one of the most famous and hardest in the Sierra de Gredos.
Adventure for the brave
The Tiétar river is dammed in the El Rosarito reservoir, a special protection area for birds (ZEPA).
This means that the number of boats is limited, but Vivetietar has permission to go on
canoe
rides for the whole family
, as well as initiation descents on the river and even whitewater for the more adventurous looking for an extra dose of adrenaline.
Another available activity is paragliding in the El Raso area, or
paramotor
flights
, a more relaxed option since it rises in a plain, that is, you do not need a ravine to start the flight.
The birds of Rosarito
As part of the Natura 2000 Network for its ecological value and of the ZEPA area of the Tiétar valley, Candeleda has four
hides
or observation points
for bird watching.
Papageno birding offers a comprehensive guide to what species can be spotted.
The great claim is, of course, the
black stork
, but also and the crane.
One of the
strategic
hides
is Las Tejoneras, located in a narrowing of the Rosarito reservoir.
Sunset in the Sierra de Gredos.
Watch the stars
There is no better finishing touch to a summer day than a starry night.
Since November 2020, the Gredos Regional Park has been
a Starlight Reserve,
a certificate granted by the Starlight Foundation that recognizes natural spaces where the quality of the sky remains practically intact.
It is therefore an ideal corner to gaze at the stars.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
How to get.
From Madrid on the A-5 towards Badajoz it takes two hours by car.
The same distance separates him from Cáceres.
Where to sleep.
Hotel Nabia.
Twelve rooms with a lot of charm for those who seek luxury in a rural key.
Rural Hotel El Camino.
With an organic garden, a 22,000 square meter garden and a spectacular saltwater pool.
Rural houses El Paso de las Cigüeñas.
On a farm on the shore of the Santa María gorge.
Also in the middle of nature and with several swimming pools.
More information
at www.candeleda-gredos.es
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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