Stage 25: Orellana la Vieja - Valdivia

The area has a variety of contrasting landscapes: from low mountain ranges, with the highest peak reaching 600 m, to vast plains (most of the municipal district is a slate belt); meadows of great natural and ecological interest, and reservoirs and flooded areas, which bring great value and best characterise Orellana la Vieja. Indeed, its condition as an inland freshwater sea creates many opportunities for tourism.

 Angling is essential for the development of Orellana la Vieja, in particular pike (Esox lucius) and perch (Perca fluviatilis), Orellana Reservoir is an emblematic site for practicing this sport.

Additionally, this protected area that has been designated as “Embalse de Orellana y Sierra de Pela” SCI (Site of Community Importance) and SPA (Special Protection Area for Birds). The area and the municipal district plays host to a variety of bird species, including Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), European White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), European Marsh Harrier (Circus pygargus), Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), Great Bustard (Otis tarda), Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax), Eurasian Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus), Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis), Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) and European Roller (Coracias garrulus). Other species of great interest are the ocellated lizard (Lacerta lepida), garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) and common midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans).

There are also many buildings of historic value in the area, such as the 16th-century parish church of Inmaculada Concepción, built in Gothic and Mudejar style; the Convent of San Benito or Dominicas, an interesting 16th-century Renaissance building; and, the Altamirano Castle-Palace, which was originally a fortified house dating back to the 13th century.

The Stage first runs through the municipality of Orellana, along a path leading to La Coronada. It heads down this path until it turns onto a track to the left that traverses through quiet dehesas towards the Orellana Canal, and then along the River Guadiana. On the path to La Coronada, before the track to the left, is a signposted shortcut leading to the river, where it merges again with the Trail that heads to the Canal and the river. This shortcut is especially appealing in spring as it leads to a pond that is dry in summer.

On main path to Orellana Canal, the route heads to an intersection with a bridge that it crosses in the direction of the River Guadiana. Once on the banks, the Trail runs always parallel to the river for approximately four kilometres. From here, it drifts away, through a typical livestock dehesa, towards the BA-6348, which it reaches near Almendros Hill. This road heads towards Orellana's secondary canal.

Once the route reaches Orellana's secondary canal, it runs almost entirely along a paved track parallel to the canal. It ventures along gentle slopes with interesting views of the flood plains, next to aqueducts typical of this type of hydraulic works.

The route traverses through different areas, including Puercas de Acá and Puercas de Allá, Molino del Batán, Cortijo del Boticario, until it reaches a junction where the paved path ends to continue along a dirt track.

As the Trail draws closer to the town of Valdivia, the dehesa landscape gradually gives way to fruit orchards. The stretch shared by Sections 25 and 26 begins at the point where the road in and out of Valdivia begins. There is also a rest area with a beach on the left bank of the river. The traveller can to rest at the end of the Stage, or before starting a new one.