Sierra de Gredos: horseshoe tracks

Leaving the city behind and becoming one with nature. To discover spectacular landscapes, crossing through dells and migratory transhumance routes, observing protected species such as the ibex or golden eagle close up is an unforgettable experience, and unbeatable if the experience takes place while riding a horse. An adventure to be shared with the whole family in the Sierra de Gredos.

A made-to-measure itinerary

Once at Hoyos, there will be guides waiting for us to take us along the equestrian route. For more than 25 years these pure-bred horses have served as vehicles for lovers of rural tourism, allowing us to enjoy the Sierra from a totally different perspective. 

We can choose from an endless number of routes. The most skilled horsemen and women will have the possibility of travelling along the Cañadas Reales (sheep and cattle drover's roads) that cross through Soria, Cáceres, Zamora and Salamanca. We could even travel right up to Galicia by departing from Puebla de Sanabria and galloping along the Way of St James. This is a long circuit, lasting over a week, including camping and nights under the stars.

However, if we do not have this much time available or if we are beginners just starting to learn how to ride, then we can choose a two-hour or a half-day route, which even includes a small break to rest. 

A feasible suggestion

Our choice is the Hoyos to Navacepeda track. This trail, about 8 kilometres long, follows the banks of the Tormes River through luxuriant pine forests and foothills that are crossed by the migratory herds. 

However, the excursion also has its historic content. Downriver we cross two ancient Roman Roads: the Leonese, which used to reach Mérida, and the Roman Silver Road, which joins Seville to Astorga. Both these routes are currently included in the Mozarabic Way of St. James. Remnants of this history encounter us along our way; on top of the horse we can see a cobblestoned path and a bridge that, despite being unlisted, could indeed correspond to traces of the Roman civilization.

Upon arrival at Navacepeda a mandatory stop is in order to recover our energy levels before returning to Hoyos. Once again following the banks of the Tormes River, although in the opposite direction this time, we cross through fabulous forests of centuries-old oak trees. 

The heart of Gredos

To take this equestrian route in the autumn time includes an added value, because it is in this season when the first snows start to appear, covering Pico Almanzor, the highest summit (2592 m) in this mountain range that stretches across the provinces of Madrid, Cáceres, Ávila and Toledo. From here we can look over the entire eastern area of the mountain range and the Sierra de Gredos National Reserve. 

Altogether, discovering the sierra on horseback allows us to revel in a unique landscape which combines towering mountains, glaciers, ravines, gorges, forests and rivers, and which is inhabited by an important collection of wild fauna.