El Hornillo, one of the most flowery corners of our geography
the flowers wake up when the time pleases. That little uncertainty, which keeps us in suspense year after year, makes spring is so magical. In the stove , the cherry trees begin to fill with white petals between mid-March -how did this time happen- and early April.
Such is the beauty of this municipality of Avila during the flowering season that occupies one of the positions of the top 5 of the best places to practice hanami in the purest Spanish, published in the March issue of our magazine.
Flowering begins between mid-March and early April
Less than 300 inhabitants have the privilege of dawning every day in this corner of our geography, where currently the cherry trees are in charge of enhance the beauty of a landscape that is already sufficient on its own:
“Let yourself be dazzled by the beauty of the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park, where is it located the stove, It is an experience that must be lived. It is worth enjoying the peace that floods this natural enclave, the crystal clear waters that run through it and of the vibrant colors that stain the landscapes during the different seasons”, explains **Visitación Pérez Blázquez, mayor of El Hornillo. **
WHAT TO DO ON THE STOVE?
The Hornillo is part of the Commonwealth of Bajo Tiétar, to which the towns of **Arenas de San Pedro, Candeleda, Cuevas del Valle, El Arenal, El Hornillo, Guisando, Mombeltrán, Poyales del Hoyo, Villarejo del Valle, San Estaban del Valle and Santa Cruz del Valle also belong. **
When circumstances allow us, Visitation recommends us to take the main route that runs through El Hornillo, Guisando and El Arenal -municipalities that form the Commonwealth of Los Galayos and add up to a total of about 50,000 cherry trees- , either on foot or by bicycle, because the views that accompany it do not leave any passerby indifferent.
"Whoever comes, usually repeats"
On the other hand, for a few years, the La Risquera Cultural Association organized tours to see the flowering, being Javier Jara Garcia , one of his associates, who guided the visitors. Due to the current health crisis, it has had to be cancelled, but Visitación tells us what it consists of and encourages us to carry it out next year:
"Is usually stay at Playa Mayor, where the town hall is located, and walk to the bridge (one of the main entrances to the town). Once there, start the excursion through the route of Las Escarilluelas, parallel to the riverbed” , explains mayor of El Hornillo, to Traveler.es.
“The tour ends at the Mirador del Manco, one of the main entrances to El Hornillo if you come from El Arenal. From that point, on the heights, there are spectacular views of the town and plenty of cherry blossoms. Although making a spring getaway this year is not possible, We will be happy to welcome you at any time. Who comes, usually repeats”, points.
And it is that, although it has fallen until the last petal, we will always have the castle of Arenas de San Pedro or its Palacio de la Mosquera, the wonderful Eagle Caves, the Roman road of Cuevas del Valle, the Peak Port, a summer dip in the emerald water of the green puddle , in El Hornillo; or the Castro de Candeleda. Not forgetting the cherries, of course.
THE HARVEST: VARIETIES OF CHERRIES
According to Visitación, those who live in the town and dedicate themselves to harvesting can enjoy the early ones (Burlat, Bing, Van, California and Starking), seasonal ones (Ambrunés and Lapins) and the late ones (Picota, Francesa, Pico Colorado...), **which are usually the ones that sprout in areas closest to the mountains. **
Views from the Mirador del Manco
the collection of cherries from this area (which are especially sweet) it depends on the flowering, but, approximately, the early one is collected between mid-May and the first week of June, the seasonal one at the end of June and the late one until the end of July -these last two are the ones that reach our homes-.
“The one I have liked the most all my life is the Mollar cherry; you could eat as many as you wanted and they didn't hurt you. But that variety is for own consumption, since there are hardly any cherry trees of this class. So, without a doubt, I would recommend the star: Ambrunés, which is dark and very tasty”, Visitation account to Traveler.es.
ROUTES OF THE COMMUNITY OF LOS GALAYOS
Before starting to walk, you should write down the following technical stops to recharge your batteries: for a few beers, the El Cerezo bar, in El Hornillo; and to give a gastronomic tribute, the restaurants El Fogón de Gredos or El Tropezón in Guisando; and Lo Alto or Casa Tato in El Arenal. Here are the routes:
I. Route from the Nogal del Barranco to La Mira
Route that runs, on the banks of the Pelayos River, along a bridle path in its first three kilometers to the Apretura, which is the base of Los Galayos, passing through the Victory refuge towards Los Pelaos and La Mira. Duration: three and a half hours. Difficulty: High average.
Numerous routes immerse visitors in the spectacular surroundings
II. Route from El Arenal to the Port of El Arenal
Itinerary of five kilometers, which begins in the Col of the Centenera up to the geographic divide the two slopes of the Sierra de Gredos, by an old bridle path that constituted an important route of commercial exchange. Duration: three hours from Puerto de la Centenera. Difficulty: half.
III. Route from El Arenal to the Port of La Cabrilla
Route that begins in El Arenal and ends at the watershed between the southern and northern slopes of Gredos, with a length of four and a half kilometers; It is an old natural step between both slopes. Duration: three hours from Arenal and two hours from the Theme Center. Duration: High average.
IV. Route from the Platform of Domingo Fernando to Puerto del Peón
8 kilometer long route between pines and brooms, through an old cattle ravine that joined the two slopes in its traditional transhumance and through which you access the area of The Cave. Duration: 3 and a half hours. Difficulty: half.
The Ambrunés is the star cherry
**v. Bartola Pine Route **
Two-kilometre route that starts at Camp J.M. López Martínez and crosses the path of the Houses of the Barderas to Pino Bartolo on the banks of the Pelayos River. Duration: 3 hours. Difficulty: half.
Wonderful!
SAW. Ecological Route Commonwealth of the Galayos: Alto La Centenera-Los Giraldos-La Gallina-Nogal del Barranco
Route surrounded by pine forests, with a length of 16 kilometers, approximately, which runs along the southern slope from the Sierra de El Arenal, passing through the valleys and gorges of El Hornillo and Guisando to Los Galayos. Duration: nine hours. Difficulty: High average.