Posts in category: Trails Ambroz

A delightful bike trail that follows the same route as the annual cycling tour that is part of the Magical Autumn festival in the Ambroz Valley.

This trail follows the same route as the annual cycling tour that is part of the Magical Autumn festival in the Ambroz Valley. It starts in Hervás and passes through Gargantilla, Segura de Toro and Casas del Monte, before returning to Hervás on an extensive and fascinating journey that takes you through the Ambroz forests.

The route known as the “Heidi Trail” snakes around the Sierra de Hervás, reaching an average elevation of around 1,100 metres. This trail offers impressive panoramic views of the Ambroz Valley and the vast mountain range that stretches towards Portugal from northern Cáceres. There are three clearly defined parts of the trail: an initial ascent that goes for approximately 11 kilometres, followed by a section that continues along the Heidi trail, and finally a descent that goes for approximately 10 kilometres.

This trail crosses the upper part of the Ambroz Valley at its highest elevations. It starts in Hervás and climbs towards La Garganta along the road that connects the two towns. The ascent continues towards the pine forests on the slopes Pico de la Muela, where it completes a loop. It begins to descend towards La Garganta and from there follows the Camino de Arrieros until it reaches Baños de Montemayor.

The trail goes from Baños de Montemayor to Abadía, passing through Aldeanueva del Camino.

The journey begins near the Baños de Montemayor sports complex and heads towards the Baños Reservoir, hugging its right bank.

It crosses the reservoir dam and the N-630 motorway, sharing the space with the MTB 7 trail up to this point. From there it heads towards Aldeanueva del Camino, exploring paths that wind through oak forests.

The trail continues towards Abadía, the end of the itinerary, sharing the space with the GR-10 trail along the way.

This technically challenging loop trail begins and ends in Segura de Toro. The trail begins with an ascent to Collado del Ombligo, followed by a descent along a path through the Garganta Grande that leads to “El Picute”, which dates back to the time of the Vettones.

The trail starts in Casas del Monte and ends in Jarilla, passing by the “Piedras Labradas” archaeological site which offers panoramic views. There is an initial descent that leads to a swimming hole, followed by an easy ride winding through orchards.

We get to Jarilla after passing through an iron gate and navigating a short distance. From here, we ascend along a dirt trail with some steep areas and loose stones. As we gain altitude, the landscape becomes more impressive, with centenary oak trees.

Finally, we reach the Piedras Labradas pass, where we find the ruins of a Roman temple surrounded by granite formations. This historic site radiates the essence of the ancient civilisations that considered it sacred. It is believed to have been the site of a Vettone settlement.

The journey begins in Baños de Montemayor near the sport centre. A considerable part of the trail is shared with MTB Route 4 until it reaches the N-630 motorway, where the two routes diverge. The trail continues through the area known as “Romanilla”, en route to Hervás. On the way to Hervás, the trail crosses the iconic “Fuente Chiquita” bridge and passes through the impressive Jewish Quarter, a must-see for its beauty and historical relevance.

The journey sets off from Abadía and runs along the old cattle routes and service roads that cross the Ambroz Valley. We follow the Western Soriano Drovers’ Road and the Royal Drovers’ Road to the point where they intersect, where we come upon the Convento de la Bien Parada. In ancient times this was the place where the friars used to collect tithes.

This route takes us on a tranquil ride through the flatter part of the Ambroz Valley, treating us to breathtaking panoramic views of the majestic mountain ranges that surround us.