Cacabelos - Quilós Nature Trail

The route begins in Cacabelos, next to the municipal park and the bridge over the River Cúa. The section of the French Way between Ponferrada and Villafranca del Bierzo passes over this very bridge. On the other side of the river, a river beach has been set up where it is possible to cool off and take part in water sports.

After crossing the road, the route starts along a path, between the river and the last houses in the village, paved with compressed concrete that looks like wood. A wrought-iron railing protects passers-by from falling, and the surrounding vegetation consists of a classic riverside woodland dominated by poplars (Populus spp.), alongside ash trees (Fraxinus sp.) and willows (Salix spp.).

After about 700 metres, the path turns right, away from the river, and leads to a tarmac-surfaced open area next to the swimming pool and sports facilities of Cacabelos. The route skirts along the esplanade and, before reaching the roundabout at the entrance to the town, crosses a road and a small wooden bridge over an irrigation channel.

From this point onwards, and for almost 1.7 km, the path follows a long straight stretch of tarmac road between the road from Cacabelos to Quilós, on the right, along an irrigation ditch on the left. Whilst a wooden railing prevents people from falling into the canal, a hedge consisting of grapevines (Vitis vinifera) acts as a barrier between the canal and the road.

This pleasant walk goes past a stand of various tree species planted to provide shade along the path: cork oaks (Quercus suber), small-leaved linden trees (Tilia cordata), holly (Ilex aquifolium), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), maple (Acer spp.), oak (Quercus sp.), Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis) and cedars (Cedrus atlantica), amongst other species, to provide shade along the path. On both sides of the road there is a succession of country houses and farmland (vineyards, other fruit trees such as cherry and fig trees, and pastureland), and it is common to see white stork (Ciconia ciconia) nests atop the telephone poles alongside the road.

Although this route is closed to motorised traffic, there are several access points to these houses and estates off the road along the way, and it crosses a water channel via a small wooden bridge. Just 500 metres after the bridge, the path curves slightly to the right and runs closer to the road until it reaches the roundabout leading to Quilós.

From this point onwards, and until its end, the route follows roads and streets shared with motorised traffic, so please exercise the necessary caution.

The entrance to Quilós is made via Santos Cascallana Avenue; occasionally, a small irrigation channel runs alongside the roadside verge, so be careful not to trip. The village of Quilós still boasts many of the area’s traditional buildings, which can be discovered by wandering through its streets towards the end of the route.

After passing through the town square, the route continues along Calle del Piñon until it reaches Calle de la Fragua, which turns left and ends at a roundabout with a stone column in its centre, next to the San Antonio Chapel, a small church built in the 20th century.