River Alcalá canyon route - part 3
LAST week on the River Alcalá canyon walk we had left the route to the river for a quick look at ‘El Castillo’ vantage point, an old tumbledown farmstead which occupies a privileged position on the edge of the canyon.
Manoeuvre round the back of the walls to get a wonderful view up the canyon, where you will soon be walking – and across to the rock escarpment above.
It is around 200 metres to return to the sign and rejoin the PR-TE 26 route to the Alcalá canyon.
Now it’s a downhill section which leads to the river bank. There is no bridge and it’s a make-shift crossing of the shallow river/stream on strategically-placed rocks.
The path now hugs the left bank of the narrow river, following it through the pine trees. The path is waymarked. It crosses a small section of boulders.
A great view of the limestone rock formations above emerges as the path leaves the river bank.
The path climbs to a sign, which points right to the Fuente Julianico (on the PR-TE 26). The true PR-TE 26 continues straight on, climbing up to the road which was utilised at the very start of the route. Once there, it’s a right turn to return to Alcalá de la Selva on this rural road.
At the time I didn’t know this – and headed for the Fuente Julianico, as it sounded like a lovely spot (with ‘fuente’ meaning natural spring).
The route I took was a pleasant one, reaching a wide track which ascended very gently to the road (although there was no sign of the spring!).
The problem with the option
I took is that it leads to a fence just before the road which has to be scaled.
It’s not too difficult but a sign on the other side reveals that you have emerged from private property, which is ‘forbidden to enter’.
The ‘true’ route is more direct heading more or less
straight up to the road. For both options, it’s a right turn at the road to walk back to Alcalá on the carriageway.
The route measures approximately 17km with around 300 metres of ascent – and takes between 6-7hrs.