milestone

Cow drinking in River Pirón River in drinking Cow Occidental Soriana Real Cañada range mountain the of view Panoramic

drovers’ way is one of the most important in the country. country. the in important most the of one is way drovers’

leaving the ski resort of La Pinilla to the right before before right the to Pinilla La of resort ski the leaving

tible uses, such as public and environmental uses. This This uses. environmental and public as such uses, tible rrow bridge of Merinas, the Rancho de la Marquesa and and Marquesa la de Rancho the Merinas, of bridge rrow

Pyrenean oak and Scots pines from Villarejo to , Riaza, to Villarejo from pines Scots and oak Pyrenean

- compa other by complemented been and diminished - na The Hermoso. Collado to reservoir Alto Pontón

In this 18 km seventh stage, the trail runs across across runs trail the stage, seventh km 18 this In 7.

at the time. In current times, their use as cattle road has has road cattle as use their times, current In time. the at 3. This stage spans almost 20 km, from the dam of the the of dam the from km, 20 almost spans stage This

Stage 7. Villarejo-Riaza 7. Stage

due to the importance of these roads for the economy economy the for roads these of importance the to due Stage 3. Embalse del Pontón Alto – Hermoso Collado – Alto Pontón del Embalse 3. Stage

yal”) having been granted by King Alfonso XI of Castile Castile of XI Alfonso King by granted been having yal”) effort. The town of Villarejo marks the end of this stage. this of end the marks Villarejo of town The effort.

km, ends next to the dam of the Pontón Alto reservoir. Alto Pontón the of dam the to next ends km,

- (“ro “real” of mention the real”, “cañada called are they tures and the woods of Pyrenean oak are well worth the the worth well are oak Pyrenean of woods the and tures

enjoy its lush vegetation. This stage, which runs over 21 21 over runs which stage, This vegetation. lush its enjoy

roads, due to the fact that they are 75 m wide. In Spanish Spanish In wide. m 75 are they that fact the to due roads, - pas the highway, A-1 the of side other the at and, pine Scots

slope level across the Sierra de Guadarrama, allowing to to allowing Guadarrama, de Sierra the across level slope

portant among cattle roads are the type called drovers’ drovers’ called type the are roads cattle among portant runs above 21 km. The beautiful woods of Spanish juniper, juniper, Spanish of woods beautiful The km. 21 above runs

Pedrona, Pedriza, Fuentecillas,…). The trail runs at mid- at runs trail The Fuentecillas,…). Pedriza, Pedrona,

- im most The Governments. Regional by owned formally The hardest stage of the trail without a doubt, this section section this doubt, a without trail the of stage hardest The 6.

vers (Milanillos, Peces and Acebeda) and creeks(Viboras, creeks(Viboras, and Acebeda) and Peces (Milanillos, vers

titute imprescriptible, inalienable, unattachable goods, goods, unattachable inalienable, imprescriptible, titute

Stage 6. – Villarejo – Arcones 6. Stage

- ri several encounters path the Hereros, de Otero From 2.

- cons and road, Drovers’ on March, 23 of 3/95, Act by

Cañada Real Soriana Occidental drover’s road. drover’s Occidental Soriana Real Cañada Stage 2. -Embalse del Pontón Alto Alto Pontón del Herreros-Embalse de Otero 2. Stage

search for pastures. Today, all cattle roads are regulated regulated are roads cattle all Today, pastures. for search

la Mesta leave no doubt that the route runs along the the along runs route the that doubt no leave Mesta la

nishes when it reaches the Otero de Herreros Station. Herreros de Otero the reaches it when nishes road used for centuries by herds of Merino sheep in their their in sheep Merino of herds by centuries for used road

Descansadero de Gallegos and Descansadero Corral de de Corral Descansadero and Gallegos de Descansadero

- fi stage the level, mid-slope a at Quintanar del Sierra the The Cañada Real Soriana Occidental is a traditional cattle cattle traditional a is Occidental Soriana Real Cañada The

lestones such as the traditional resting area for herds of of herds for area resting traditional the as such lestones

Rafael, which is a main communication hub, and crossing crossing and hub, communication main a is which Rafael,

DROVERS’ WAY DROVERS’ - mi and pastures lush The Arcones. to Navafría from

After leaving behind the town of Los Ángeles de San San de Ángeles Los of town the behind leaving After

CAÑADA REAL SORIANA OCCIDENTAL OCCIDENTAL SORIANA REAL CAÑADA 5. This fifth stage, which runs a little over 14 km, takes takes km, 14 over little a runs which stage, fifth This

tracing it will follow across the entire province of . Segovia. of province entire the across follow will it tracing

Stage 5. Navafría – Arcones Arcones – Navafría 5. Stage the Cañada Real Soriana Occidental drover’s way, whose whose way, drover’s Occidental Soriana Real Cañada the

of the River Moros, the path crosses a gate and accesses accesses and gate a crosses path the Moros, River the of waters of the Cega River in the pretty village of Navafría. of village pretty the in River Cega the of waters to this Cañada Real Soriana Occidental Nature Trial. Nature Occidental Soriana Real Cañada this to

the town of . Before descending to the course course the to descending Before Espinar. El of town the road and which ends in the natural pool formed in the the in formed pool natural the in ends which and road square, and ends in , which is the perfect ending ending perfect the is which Ayllón, in ends and square,

1. This stage, which runs over 13 km, starts by leaving behind behind leaving by starts km, 13 over runs which stage, This Soriana Occidental drover’s way runs towards the N-110 N-110 the towards runs way drover’s Occidental Soriana ce of Segovia thanks, among other things, to its arcaded arcaded its to things, other among thanks, Segovia of ce

A short stage just under 10 km where the Cañada Real Real Cañada the where km 10 under just stage short A 4. Stage 1. El Espinar-Otero de Herreros Herreros de Espinar-Otero El 1. Stage - provin the of villages stunning most the of one Riaza,

mild slope, which almost always goes down. It starts in in starts It down. goes always almost which slope, mild Stage 4. Collado Hermoso-Navafría Hermoso-Navafría Collado 4. Stage Espinar near the Colada de la Soledad. Soledad. la de Colada the near Espinar

reward for past efforts, since this stage consist on a a on consist stage this since efforts, past for reward

the River Gudillos until it turns towards the town of El El of town the towards turns it until Gudillos River the llage of is well worth a visit. a worth well is Sotosalbos of llage

being over 24 km long, but at the same time is a good good a is time same the at but long, km 24 over being

the town of El Espinar. The way runs along the course of of course the along runs way The Espinar. El of town the - vi pretty the to visit a Hermoso, Collado in stage the of

8. The last stage of this Nature trail is also the longest, longest, the also is trail Nature this of stage last The

neighbourhood where the train station is located, and and located, is station train the where neighbourhood humance tradition in the area. Before reaching the end end the reaching Before area. the in tradition humance

Stage 8. Riaza-Ayllón Riaza-Ayllón 8. Stage 7-km stage that joins Estación de El Espinar, the small small the Espinar, El de Estación joins that stage 7-km 0. - trans century-old a of tokens are herds, for area resting

reaching its final point in Riaza. in point final its reaching Espinar Espinar-El El de Estación 0: Stage the The Descansadero de , a traditional traditional a Torrecaballeros, de Descansadero The the

OCCIDENTAL .

CAÑADA REAL SORIANA SORIANA REAL CAÑADA

NATURE TRAIL NATURE

PENINSULAR CENTER PENINSULAR SECTOR

SECTOR PENINSULAR CENTER Guide to the Nature Trails of

Since 1993 the Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment’s Nature Trails Program aims to res- tore former transport infrastructures such as railway tracks, cattle trails and traditional routes, for public use and REMINISCING TRANSHUMANCE BY THE enjoyment. MOUNTAIN RANGES OF SEGOVIA These routes take us to the countryside to discover the bio- diversity and beauty of our precious natural heritage, and discover the villages, sights, traditions and people that are This Nature Trail covers almost 150 km divided in 8 stages, part of the unique cultural landscape of our country. preceded by a short “zero stage”. This Nature Trail runs We invite you to visit them and offer you the keys to enjoy along the better part of the Cañada Real Soriana Occidental the trip. In this brochure you will find a brief description of drover’s way across the , from West to the Cañada Real Occidental Oriental Nature Trail and the East, from the El Espinar Station to the town of Ayllón. map for the journey, along with recommendations to make Although it may be covered on foot, virtually all the route the most of this experience. We only ask one thing of you: is perfect for mountain bikes; the only drawback are some do not forget to leave everything as you found it. The con- NATURE TRAIL steep sections, where prudence is advised. servation of these pathways is also your responsibility. DL: In their trip, the travellers will visit towns such as El Espinar, CAÑADA REAL Otero de Herreros, Sotosalbos, Collado Hermoso, Navafría, TELEPHONES OF INTEREST: Arcones, Villarejo, Riaza and Ayllón, and a large part of • Dirección General del Medio Natural de la Junta de Castilla y León: 0034 983 419 936/ 0034 983 419 935 SORIANA the route is made across the Sierra Norte de Guadarrama • Servicio Territorial de Medio Ambiente Natural Park. de Segovia: 0034 921 417 384 NIPO: OCCIDENTAL

El Espinar to Ayllón [Segovia] MIDE Hoja1 de 17

Mapa VI.17.1 Harshness of natural environment2 Upward gradient 2382 m Guidande along the route 2 Downward gradient 2604 m 8 Route difficulty 2 ROUTE LENGHT 148,70 km Amount of effort needed 5 TIME 39 h 25 min

town point of interest

El Espinar station Ayllón

Otero de Herreros Collado Hermoso Arcones Villarejo 1500 El Espinar Pontón Alto Navafría Riaza reservoir 1300

1100 Camino Natural de los hayedos y robledales de Riaza 900 7 700 (m)(01Km) 0 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 148,7

Camino Natural Vía Verde del Valle del Eresma 6

5 4

Camino Natural de la Cañada Real Soriana Occidental 

Camino Natural del Eresma 3 Camino Natural deCamino la Cañada Natural Real Soriana Occidental Camino Natural del Valle del Lozoya

2

1

0 Camino Natural de Campo Azálvaro

Feature of natural SECTOR NATURE TRAIL Starting point interest PENINSULAR CENTER CAÑADA REAL SORIANA End of trail Natural/National Park Nature OCCIDENTAL Trails Informative panel