To get to the start takes some effort, but the best way is via the A5. Leave at Junction 219 on the south side of the Miravete Tunnel and head on the EX-386 to Deleitosa. From there follow the signs a further 2km to the tiny village of Campllo de Deleitosa. Park near the bus stop and children’s play park. This is the start and finish of the walk.

1. N39º 42’ 14.33”  W05º 34’ 21.22”

With your back to the play park, walk to the left of the detached building in front of you and up Calle Pilar. At a Y junction keep left to say in Calle Pilar. Come to a small square with a crenellated tower. Keep left and walk up Calle Francisco Pizzaro. Keep left as you leave the village and start on a compacted earth track with trees and bushes on either side. The views to the left become extensive. Keep on this track as it rises gently. At a Y junction keep right. At a second Y junction take the right fork again.

2. N39º 41’ 51.29”  W05º 34’ 05.70”

Stay on the track as it becomes rough with small slate chips underfoot. Pass through an area of trees and cistus bushes to open out into a recently reforested area (there is an EU subsidy sign.) The track starts to ascend very steeply — in 700m gain 100m in height. This is the first hard bit. The view right, is of the village with the Sierra de Gredos behind — snow-topped for six months of the year. Take time to look around. At the top of the climb (photo 1) a tarmac lane is ahead. Turn left, before the lane, to take the wide earth track into an eucalyptus wood.

3. N39º 41’ 34.70º  W05º 34’ 34.75”

Reach a Y junction within a few metres and keep right. Keep on this track for 3.75km as it gently descends through the woods with views on the left over the Cuernacabras valley and the emerging views, ahead and right, of the Sierra de Deleitosa (photo 2) with soaring birds of prey above. Depending on the time of year there is a profusion of yellow broom, purple lavender, white cistus but above all else there is Spanish Heath in both pink and white. The deciduous trees that mark the course of the river, below, are pale green in Spring (photo 3) and orange-red in Autumn. The quiet is delicious. The track descends more sharply near the end to reach level with the river in a wide open meadow area with a ruined building on the right and very tall old deciduous trees on the left. This is a good picnic area and a chance to explore the river up close.

4. N39º 40’ 03.44”  W05º 33’ 04.17”

Retrace steps by 1.12km to a spot just after a huge rock is visible in the river below (photo 4). The GPS point is here:

5. N39º 40’ 33.64”  W05º 33.31.12”

Start to go down to the river going slightly diagonally to the left. A tiny path exists but at this stage the important thing is to get down without slipping. The descent is only 100m but take your time as it is not easy and is the second hard bit.

Additional points for this descent are:

N39º 40’ 35.77”  W05º 33’ 31.07”

N30º 40’ 37.18”  W05º 33’ 31.14”

Once at the bottom there is an old aqueduct that carried water to make hydro-electric power for the villages over sixty years ago. The aqueduct  is long abandoned and the route continues inside the aqueduct for the next 3.80km until its end alongside the ruined hydro-electric building by the river. However, the first architectural ruin is a millrace (photo 5 looking back towards the Sierra de Deleitosa) and along the way are other features of historical interest — but the natural beauty dominates. The walking inside the aqueduct is almost flat (photo 6) and there are many points at which to look back for views of the Sierra de Deleitosa and the birds above, look down at the river, look at falls of water on the high hills opposite and look at the flowers and vegetation on the valley slopes on the left (photos below). After passing through a giant split in the slate rock the scenery and views change slightly and the aqueduct stretches into the distance. Just after an impressive curve with arches (photo 7) that span a waterfall the aqueduct ends.

7. N39º 42’ 14.05”  W05º 33’ 23.31”

Now there is a wild walking stretch for 400m that follows a tiny goat trail along the side of the valley (top photo). Way ahead, on the river, can just be seen a small two-arched bridge. It is that bridge we are making for. Do not descend too closely to the river but keep straight on the trail until a stepping stone area over a waterfall is reached (photo 8). Cross the water with care. It’s easy and if I can do it after the highest rainfall for 66 years then it’s possible any year.

8. N39º 42’ 20.16”  W05º 33’ 35.96”

After the crossing comes the last hard bit. Pick up the trail as it continues sloping on the sloping side of the valley. Use your poles on the right to steady yourself. It’s not a long trail, 360m, but take time. On the hills opposite are several ruined buildings made of slate and a still-used goat track. When level with the bridge (photo 9) continue on the trail as it turns left and up. At a Y junction go right onto a wider track and continue going upwards.

9. N39º 42’ 31.35”  W05º 33’ 44.11”

Follow this track as it winds up through cistus, broom, lavender, asphodels and other flowers (photo 10) to make a right at a vague junction and then a decisive left into a more established track.

10. N39º 42’ 31.36”  W05º 34’ 10.92”

Follow the established track back into the village and the play park.

Photos: April and below photos of a few flowers taken on the day