Valderejo Natural Park

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ROUTE DETAILS

Duration:*	5h
Accumulated Unevenness:	1033m
Type of route:	circular

Difficulty:	Easy
Distance:	20km

Observations about the route
During the route, there will be a sighting activity of the griffon vulture. If you wish, the route can be finished by eating at a typical restaurant in the area.

Route description, clothing and material

The Valderejo Natural Park, home to a great diversity of landscapes and ecosystems, is the smallest natural park but  stands out because its great beauty. The waters of the Purón River have eroded the mountains of this unique natural space with the passage of time, where the karstic action of the water on the limestone is perfectly shown. The river flows in a southerly direction in the Purón River gorge, the jewel of the Natural Park, until reaching the town of Burgalesa where it opens into the Ebro valley. An important Roman road passes through the gorge, which connects the Castilian plateau and the north of the Iberian Peninsula.

The Alavesa area is home to a wide valley whose sparse population and isolation has allowed for the conservation of a magnificent collection of flora and fauna. Crops and meadows are testament to the ancestral existence of a livestock and agricultural use. Vast forests grow on the mountain slopes. The most extensive are those formed by the Scots pine, although there are also beech and Holm oak, gall oak and other riparian-area trees such as willow and hazel.

Among the fauna of the park, the ones which stand out are the squirrels, wild cats, roe deer, wild boar and sometimes wolves. Among the birds the Egyptian vulture, the goshawk and the griffon vulture, is the colony of the latter the largest in the Basque Country.

Human beings have lived in this valley since ancient times, as seen by its cultural and architectural patrimony, which ranges from megalithic monuments (the tumulus of San Lorenzo, monolith of Mount Lerón) to churches and hermitages from different times. From Roman times there are remains of a road, and, in Ribera; for example, a church with Romanesque remains and medieval paintings is still standing.

Access to the park is via Lalastra where the Interpretation Centre of the Valderejo Natural Park is located, which is a starting point for the routes, or, from the Burgos town of Herrán. In La Lastra, there is a recreational area with an area for children and picnics. It is important to note that a restaurant and agro-tourism centre is at its heart, an ideal way to regain energy once we have finished our visit to the Park.

In addition to Lalastra, there are three other rural centres in Valderejo; Lahoz, Villamardones and Ribera. The last two were abandoned several decades ago. During the tour we will visit the interpretation centre of Lalastra, visit Ribera and its church, ascend the Santa Ana Peak and walk the path along the Purón River. We recommend a minimum physical level and adequate clothing.  You should  bring sunscreen, a rain jacket, warm clothing (thermal t-shirt, fleece jacket, feather jacket, gloves, hat), shoes suitable for the mountains and water bottle (the guide will advise you which  clothes to take, depending on the season).

Lunch-picnic: Snacks, chocolates, fruit, soft drinks, etc.