Stage 21: Herrera del Duque - Puerto Peña

The Stage begins at Avenida de las Palmeras, a wide street with restaurants and a small urban park, an ideal location for getting some rest if one has just completed the previous Stage. It also features information panels on the main cultural values of the town and the region. There is also a street map to navigate through the town, as there no signs in the town centre.

Leaving the town behind, and travelling always along the road leading to the endpoint, the Stage ventures through an open oak (Quercus ilex) dehesa on grass, with a few, scattered farm buildings. Sierra de los Golondrinos dominates the landscape to the left. The higher reaches are covered with holm oak forests, and the lower sections with olive trees. Alone or in small groups, forming neither stands nor dehesas, the cork oak (Quercus suber) characterises the landscape. This first part of the route ventures through “Puerto Peña-Los Golondrinos” SCI (Site of Community Interest). Towards the end of the Stage, the route traverses through “Embalse de Orellana y Sierra de Pela” LIC and two namesake SPAs (Special Protection Area for Birds). It should also be noted that “Embalse de Orellana y Sierra de Pela” has been designated an Area of Regional Interest.

Before reaching Peloche, one can see García de Sola Reservoir to the right of the Trail. The mouth of Zarza Creek is situated a couple of kilometres before the town. From here, one can enjoy the beautiful view of the town in the distance, framed by the last foothills of Sierra de Peloche and Peña del Risco, on the opposite side of the reservoir.

There are several, wide natural river beaches in Pedroche, equipped with various facilities for public use. As in much of this Stage, the views of the reservoir from Peloche are dominated by Peña del Risco and Peloche Mountain Range, which towers behind the namesake town.

Past Peloche, the next place of interest is the Shrine of Virgen del Espino, where one can stop at a small rest area with a fountain. From here, the Stage runs along the banks of the reservoir.

There are two must-see places in the first half of the route along the reservoir. The first one is next to the “El Solitario” housing development; a few scattered houses immersed in vegetation that barely disrupt the landscape. This is where the Trail comes closest to Peña del Risco, with outstanding views of the reservoir. The second site of interest is located at the foot of Corchito Hill. A terrace next to the road, laid out as a car park enclosed by a stone wall to avoid the risk of falling, serves as a viewpoint. One can see Peña del Risco and Sierra del Manzano from a different perspective. This terrain affords an unbroken view of Sierra del Oro to the south, where this rock sits.

Dense woods of holm oak dominate the slopes around the reservoir, interspersed with rockrose (Cistus sp.) or heather (Erica sp.) thickets depending on the sun exposure. Of particular interest is the stretch at the foot of the south slope of Corchito Hill, where the Trail ventures through willows (Salix sp.), some of which are very tall.

Further on, the Trail drifts away from the reservoir, to the extent that it completely disappears behind Horbezuela Hill. The road continues along a wide, straight stretch, with an open holm oak dehesa to the left, overshadowed by Alguaciles Hill. Here appear the first stands of stone pine (Pinus pinea) on the summits, clearly distinguishable by the bright green of its foliage, lighter than the holm oak, scrub or willow.

Near the end, there are two bridges over which the road crosses a branch of the reservoir. The older bridge, with wooden benches on the deck, is exclusively pedestrian, thus avoiding having to share the road with motorised vehicles.

The Stage ends at Puerto Peña Beach, equipped with bathing facilities, a pier and a recreation centre with a cafeteria, toilets and picnic area.