Stage 6: Andaluz - Gormaz

Starting from the bridge on the River Andaluz, in the namesake town, the route heads south along the SO-102, toward a gallery of trees that line the river.

The route turns right along a forest track known as Camino de Andaluz, then reaches the Roman bridge over the River Duero, well worth a visit. Hundreds of Spanish junipers (Juniperus thurifera) blanket the steep, limestone cliffs to the right, whose slopes ease down to the fertile flood plains of the River Duero used for agriculture. The wood of Spanish junipers, locally known as "enebros", are very fragrant and rotproof. It is traditionally used to make quality furniture.

The landscape is interspersed with maritime or cluster pinewoods (Pinus pinaster), whose trunks show huge resin tapping scars.

The Trail continues until Canturrial Refuge, a small stone cottage with tables and benches arranged around a stone fireplace. It is undoubtedly a good place to rest and recover. The typical landscape of this area consists of fields of cereal dotted with sunflower fields next to pinewoods. The route heads through woodland towards the road to Tajuelo. Here it turns left and continues for about 300 metres, running parallel to the road along a sandy firewall. It then turns to the right again onto a path leading into a dense pinewood.

A few metres further on, there is a recreational area with many tables, barbecues, a fountain and a refuge. Another opportunity to stop and rest.

The route continues through the pinewood, similar to others in the area, which grow on alluvial sands from river runoff. This type of soil severely limits the flora to species that can survive on sandy soils, including the rockrose (Cistus ladanifer).

Some pine trees have a round ball of pine needles, called "witch's broom", caused by a fungus that results in the abnormal growth of cells, resulting in the overgrowth of the acicular system.

A huge stone pine (Pinus pinea), well worth contemplating, stands at the edge of the pinewood, next to the road and near the edge of the farmlands.

The route arrives near at Bayubas de Abajo, where it follows the road until it reaches the village. The route traverses through the town and leaves through the southern Stage, following the River Bayubas. The landscape here is a true mosaic of agricultural lands, farmed poplar (Populus sp.) and forests in which Spanish junipers, maritime pines and rockrose coexist.

After crossing the River Bayubas, continuing along it, the route reaches a fork, where it heads along the right branch. Not far away, in a small pine stand, is Canterillo Recreational Area, equipped with barbecues, tables and a fountain. Spanish junipers and rockrose slowly take over the landscape.

The route reaches the SO-116, crosses to the opposite side with caution. It continues along Roza de la Aguilera forest track that heads towards the small La Hoz Gorge, flanked by rocky, limestone cliffs on which only the Spanish junipers can survive.

Derelict livestock pens and folds, where herds were kept at night, can be seen on the opposite side; silent witnesses of the downfall of traditional farming practices.

The route traverses through a maritime pine forest, in which one can see the holes made by the Great Spotted Woodpecker in some dried-out tree for foraging or nesting.

The route turns 90º to the right at a farmed poplar plantation, heading back into the pinewood along the road to Berlangas de Duero. It traverses through a low-density pinewood, with large trees, covered with rockrose thickets. The largest and best trees, known as "parent trees", have been left to repopulate an area that has been logged for timber.

Further on, the route turns sharply to the left, and traverses through an area with few pine trees. The GR-86 trail that shared this stretch of route continues straight ahead.

The road winds through various pine forests that were tapped for resin in the past. For a short while, the route runs parallel to a disused railroad overgrown with vegetation. Further on, it crosses the tracks to leave the pinewood behind and venture into farmland.

The last stretch is graced with the beautiful silhouette of the Caliphal Fortress of Gormaz on the horizon, located on a large promontory from where it dominates the surroundings. The fortress can be used to calculate the remaining distance of this Stage.

One can easily encounter roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boars (Sus scrofa), which seek shelter and food in the forest.

The route traverses through fields to meet an old acquaintance, the River Duero, whose banks, populated with a variety of trees, shrubs and aquatic species, have been designated as a Site of Community Importance and Special Area of Conservation within the Natura 2000 network. The route turns right and follows the river to Gormaz.

In the middle of a meander, the Trail drifts away from the river, turns right and ventures into irrigated and rain-fed farmland until it reaches a few farms. Here, it turns left and continues through a Spanish juniper forest and farmland, with the fortress straight ahead. The route continues to Fuentes Grandes Recreational Area, located next to the River Duero, with many tables and benches on grass. This is a wonderful to stop and watch the river flow, and drink the spring water that comes from the ground.

Barely 1.5 kilometres away is the small town of Gormaz, located under the watchful eye of the ruins of the Caliphal fortress, and the endpoint of this Stage.