Avellanar: Holiday apartment among forests and hiking trails

Avellanar bears a name that is believed to be connected with the local abundance of hazelnut trees. The inhabitants were known as “montesinos” because they spent a great deal of time in the mountains and looked after cherry, chestnut and hazelnut trees.

Nature, history and townscape

Avellanar is home to forests of conifers, chestnut trees and cherry trees. A walk through these forests is one of the possible activities. Avellanar has also preserved areas of great value featuring traditional vernacular architecture.

The Río Avellanar was formerly used to irrigate the fields and orchards of Avellanar; these have now largely been abandoned.

Hiking and trails

The Ruta de las Alquerías is a linear trail that begins at the Volvedero de Aldehuela and ends in the square of Pinofranqueado. For the most part, it follows the right bank of the Río Esperabán. The well-maintained trail, marked with white and yellow trail markers, can be used for walking or running. At 17.1 km long, the route is a one-way linear route for hiking or running on a dirt track.

At kilometre 8.6, the Ruta de las Alquerías reaches the Puente de Avellanar; this point lies halfway along the route. A natural pool is located there, about 2 km from Avellanar.

Cycling and comparing routes

Another type of route is the 59 km Valle del Esperabán – Memorial Pedro Vicente circular route for MTB on dirt tracks. The MTB route passes the Puente de Avellanar and runs along slopes at an altitude of 500 to 600 metres.

For planning your own day, the figures of 17.1 and 59 kilometres, the one-way route and the circular route can be clearly set out side by side. The activity types—hiking, running and MTB—as well as dirt tracks, the riverside course and altitude also provide different points of comparison. Reading the information more closely also reveals the difference between a route with named starting and ending points and a circular course. The trail markers, dirt track and altitude each describe separate features of the two routes.

Geographical location

Avellanar can be reached from Pinofranqueado via the CC-156 road; after about 7 km, you reach the turn-off for Avellanar. The final approximately 2 km to Avellanar follow a narrow, winding road.

The narrow streets of Avellanar are inaccessible to cars. Their layout was originally adapted to the only means of transport available at the time: transport by animals, especially mules, donkeys and burros.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Avellanar, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions represent different selection criteria. Depending on the length of the stay and the planned daily schedule, these details may be given different weight. The selection criteria can be considered separately from the location and route information and compared with one another.

Avellanar has problems with mobile phone coverage.

For the overview of the wider area: Pinofranqueado.