El Hornillo: Nature, Cherry Blossoms and Trails along the Río Cantos

El Hornillo lies in the Valle del Tiétar on the southern slopes of the Sierra de Gredos. Pine forests and terraced plantations of cherry, chestnut and walnut trees, along with other fruit trees, surround the town.

Nature

El Hornillo is one of the municipalities within the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park. The regional park comprises lagoons, cirques, gorges, rock formations and moraine deposits shaped by glacial erosion. In the gorge beside El Hornillo, there are numerous pools with crystal-clear water.

Other places: La Angostura, Lancharejo, El Arenal, San Esteban Del Valle, Narrillos de San Leonardo, Santo Tomé De Zabarcos, Barajas, Fresnedilla

Culture and History

The main square of El Hornillo retains its wooden arcades. Traditional houses in the nearby neighbourhoods combine stone, wood and adobe and have balconies filled with flowers. Some traditional houses used separate areas on the ground floor as stables for horses, mules and donkeys.

From 1393 to 1732, El Hornillo belonged to the territory of Arenas de San Pedro; in 1732, the town was granted the title of villa. The Rollo de Jurisdicción El Hornillo represents the judicial autonomy obtained from King Fernando VI in the 18th century. The historic monument was moved to the Puente Nuevo, the entrance to El Hornillo.

The Fuentes y pilones in El Hornillo were built at the beginning of the 20th century. They supplied residents with water for cooking, drinking and washing before homes had running water. In El Hornillo, San Marcos is associated with a local tradition of blessing the fields.

Trails and Water

The Prado de Mingo Fernando route runs from El Hornillo to the Puerto del Peón and provides access to the peaks of the Sierra de Gredos. Reguero Hornillo is the starting point of the Senda del Puerto del Peón PR-AV 18 at kilometre 6 of the road from Hoyos del Espino to the access platform for the Circo de Gredos.

The PR-AV 18 Senda del Puerto del Peón can be hiked year-round; in winter, sections may be dangerous because of snow, snowstorms or fog. The Plataforma Domingo Fernando can be reached from El Hornillo via the La Francisca forest track. At the Plataforma Domingo Fernando, you can park your vehicle and begin the ascent to the Puerto del Peón.

The Refugio de Domingo Fernando is an unstaffed mountain shelter in the area of the same name in El Hornillo, beside the Río Cantos and surrounded by maritime pine trees. The Piscina Natural en el Río Cantos is located on the Río Cantos, whose water is considered crystal clear. The Senda de las Escarilluelas is an easy trail running parallel to the Río Cantos and taking about 40 minutes.

The Senda de las Escarilluelas begins at the Piscina Natural; the bathing area can be reached after a short walk through the streets of El Hornillo. The Charco de la Tabla can be reached via the Senda de las Escarilluelas after about 10 minutes on foot and is considered easily accessible for swimming. The trail includes a wooden zigzag bridge over the river, located beneath shade-providing poplar trees. The different trail lengths help you plan your stages.

Regional Highlights

El Hornillo is one of the municipalities in the province of Ávila where cherry production is concentrated. The cherry blossom in the Valle del Tiétar connects El Hornillo, El Arenal and Guisando through trails where you can walk among flowering cherry trees. The Hanami experience in El Hornillo takes place in the Valle del Tiétar around the beginning of April, when nearly 50,000 cherry trees bloom there for approximately two weeks.

The Mirador Estelar de La Risquera in El Hornillo is a place to spend a night under the starry sky and lies very close to the town. The viewpoint has a star map, a tripod secured to a stone for setting up a telescope and wooden benches.

To the higher-level travel overview: Avila.