Out west – the Echo valley
The verdant Echo valley (also called ‘Hecho’) lies to the north-west of the historic city of Jaca in the region of Aragón, close to the border with Navarra. There are dozens of routes to choose from on waymarked trails, including the GR-11 trans-Pyrenean footpath. If...
Allepuz – Vuelta a Sollavientos
The ‘Vuelta a Sollavientos’ route is a cracker – and not too long, weighing in at 8km. As the ‘vuelta’ bit in the title suggests, it is a circular walk which comes back to Allepuz after dipping in and out of the Sollavientos valley/ravine that runs close to the...
Vuelta a Sollavientos – part 2
On the ‘Vuelta a Sollavientos’ route from Allepuz we had reached the river, blocking the path. At this point we look left. It appears to be an impenetrable wall of rock. But a waymark indicates that it isn’t. There is a natural passageway which goes through. So, bear...
Echo valley; conquer the castle
Like a famous mountain in the south of Spain named after a fortified structure, the Castillo d’Archer (Archer’s castle) looks impossible to climb from many angles. However, every castle has a gate, and – in the same way that the summit of Alcazaba (the...
Cataluña lake district
If you love lakes of the glacial variety then this is the place to visit. There are more than 200 of them packed in between peaks which soar up to nearly 3,000 metres. Looking at the map, there appears to be more water than land in some areas. Footpaths weave between...
Allepuz – the pillars of wisdom
Don’t let the headline confuse you. Because there are a lot more than seven. The stone pillars stretch across the landscape like some baffling expression of pagan worship. In the vast emptiness of Teruel they seem eerie and the first question that springs to...
A ski resort that became a village
Candanchú is officially a ski resort. But as it was inaugurated in 1928, it has become an established village over the last century and even has a small military base. It stands above the valley formed by the River Aragón and ice ages, with the historic city of Jaca...
Epsot – Peguera valley walk
This route on the GR-11.20 ascends the beautiful Peguera valley, following the tumbling Peguera river – which is really a lusty mountain stream – along forest trails which criss-cross the watercourse on wonderful wooden bridges. The suggested finish point is the...
Fortune favours Fortanete
Fortanete is in a favourable spot – and is just up the road from Allepuz, the most recently featured destination in Teruel. It’s an attractive village, as the photos show. Terracotta-tiled roofs sit atop ancient stone walls. In the central square the large...
Vall Fosca; a southern sojourn
Being able to park a car at 1,780 metres above sea level at the Sallente lake and hydroelectric station means that very high places can be reached on day walks from this spot at the head of the Fosca valley. And the highlighted route below allows the walker to view no...
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