The Sierras of Extremadura. Gisela Radant Wood
Language
Castilian Spanish is the language used in Extremadura, although you may well wonder if this is really the case when you’re in conversation with a local. The Extremeño dialect is difficult to follow and the ‘s’ at the end of many words disappears altogether. However, the people are friendly and patient and will wait happily while you try out your Spanish – although their answer may not be so slow. The words habla despacio (‘speak slowly’) are handy. Many people involved in tourism do speak some English, though.
Money
Spain’s currency is the Euro. Avoid high denomination notes when paying cash in village shops and bars. Credit and bank cards can be used in towns in major supermarket chains. Paradors and hospederías will accept card payment for accommodation but some casas rurales may want cash. ATMs are widespread but not in every small village, so plan ahead.
Communications
As a general principle, the bigger the town, the better the communications. Smaller villages nearly all have one public phone box and a post office (the latter often only open from 8.30am to 9.30am, Monday to Friday). Mobile phone coverage is widespread but this can fluctuate in mountainous regions – although in the author’s experience all the walks in this book seem to be covered. Internet coverage is available in most hotels and casas rurales, but if a daily connection is important to you, check before making a booking.
What to take on a walk
Everyone has favourite bits of kit they like to take on a walk, but a few items are common for an enjoyable – and safe – walking experience:
map, compass, GPS device, mobile phone, torch, knife
basic first aid kit; plasters, antiseptic cream, bandage
mosquito and insect repellent
camera, binoculars
hat, sunscreen and sunglasses (useful all year round)
waterproofs
appropriate footwear: should be able to cope with a mixture of terrains – granite can be slippery when wet and harder soles are not a good idea.
comfortable clothing made of natural fibres
walking poles (optional)
water: essential year-round – at least 1L per person
high-energy snacks: chocolate or dried fruits
Waymarking
Of the waymarking you’re likely to encounter on walks in this guide, ‘GR’ refers to Gran Recorrido, a long-distance footpath with numbered stages and white and red waymarks; ‘PR’ refers to Pequeño Recorrido, a short-distance footpath that is numbered and signed in white and yellow; and local routes are indicated by the letters ‘SL’, Sendero Local, with white and green waymarks.
Important routes may have their own fingerposts at junctions. Some routes have helpful hand-painted signs and arrows on walls or gates, while others simply have cairns – which are excellent indicators, especially on higher, wilder sierras.
In recent years there has been a huge improvement in waymarking, but many routes remain patchy or unsigned.
Signage comes in many forms in Extremadura
Maps
The maps provided in this book should be all that you need to complete each walk. However, the relevant Instituto Geográfica Nacional (IGN) map is listed in the information given at the start of the walk. Maps can be purchased directly from IGN, or from other retailers such as Stanfords. See Appendix D for contact details.
The following maps are useful for the walks in this book:
IGN 573 Gata 1:50,000
IGN 576 Cabezuela del Valle 1:50,000
IGN 681 Castañar de Ibor 1:50,000
IGN 706 Madroñera 1:50,000
IGN 707 Logrosán 1:50,000
IGN 730 Montánchez 1:50,000
IGN 803 Almendralejo 1:50,000
IGN 897 Monesterio 1:50,000
IGN 573-111 Eljas 1:25,000
IGN 599-II Jarandilla de la Vera 1:25,000
IGN 652-IV Campillo de Deleitosa 1:25,000
IGN 730-III Montánchez 1:25,000
IGN 830-111 Hornachos 1:25,000
A good road map for getting around Extremadura is Extremadura – Castilla-la Mancha – Madrid Michelin Regional Map 576.
Health and emergencies
There are no major health risks in Extremadura. There are non-venomous, timid snakes but you are unlikely ever to see one. There are also scorpions: do not move stones or rocks or put your hands in dry stone walls. If stung by a scorpion, do not panic – it is painful but not fatal. Go to a health centre for treatment to avoid infection. Wasp and bee stings are no more dangerous than at home.
None of the walks in this book are perilous, but anyone can have a fall or an accident. In case of emergency, call 112. If you know your GPS location simply give it to the call centre. Rescue from the higher peaks is by helicopter; for non-emergencies walk into a local health centre and you will be seen. Minor problems are treated free of charge at health centres but you should be prepared to show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). (British people can apply for an EHIC here: www.gov.uk/european-health-insurance-card; those from other EU countries should consult the relevant government website.) Pharmacies also deal with minor injuries.
Consider taking out general-purpose travel insurance that covers walking activities before you leave home.
DOS AND DON’TS
Never, ever light a fire in the countryside.
Take all your rubbish with you (but fruit peels and organic waste are fine to bury).
If you go through a closed gate, close it behind you. In general, leave gates as they are found.
If walking through an area grazed by cattle, just walk quietly and calmly. The cows will be used to walkers but may be protective when they have calves. There should be no bulls on any public paths. Do not walk with dogs.
Do not worry about farmers’ dogs. Aggressive dogs will be tethered; the rest will be bored looking after sheep. Never raise a stick to a dog as it will become confused. Just walk on calmly.
Using this guide
The 32 walks in this guide are grouped under three headings: the Northern Sierras, the Central Sierras and the Southern Sierras. Within each part the sub-sierras run from west to east. Each walk has its own information box with starting and finishing points, how to access these by car and where to park. (Information about travelling by bus in the region is given in the introduction under ‘Getting around’.) The information box also covers the distance of the walk, an estimated walking time, accumulated ascent and descent and a short description of the terrain encountered. The walks vary between 6km and 19km and all but two are circular. A table in Appendix A summarises the walks to help you choose.
Some walks can be linked together to form routes of up to 28km (see Appendix B for a table of linked walks). All involve some ascending and descending but not mountain climbing – they are all definitely walks!
Each walk is described in detail and is accompanied by a map at a scale of 1:50,000, which shows the route and significant landmarks or features.