THE GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAIL - SPAIN
more photos | enquiry | availability check
Castilla province near Madrid is in the heart of Spain. This trail rides along the nature reserve of high peaks of the Sierra de la Demanda while not neglecting to visit the many historic and cultural highlights en route. There is much wildlife to be seen on this horse riding holiday in Spain: Wolves, deers, otters, royal eagle, falcon and a lot more. The horses are beautiful Pure Spanish, very responsive and a pleasure to ride. Overnight accommodation is in a variety of characterful small hotels and guest houses with shared bathroom on one or two nights. One night is spent in an ancient monastery.
SAMPLE ITINERARY - THE GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAIL
Day 1
QUINTANAR DE LA SIERRA
Arrival and transfer to first nights hotel. Here in Quintanar de la Sierra the itinerary of “The roots of Castilla" through the lands of the Cidfinishes and riders wishing to continue will be able to join us in this route. Dinner and lodging in Hotel Ramon II
Day 2
QUINTANAR DE LA SIERRA – NEILA
From Quintanar de la Sierra we climb with on a hilly track winding through dense pinewoods to Neila’s meeting. Depending on the weather we may be able to visit the spectacular string of glacial lagoons called – Laguna Negra. These are 10 000 years old and are excellent examples of the pwer of glaciers and their ability to erode and modify the landscape.
In Neila, the most important logging center of the region, there are noble houses and a Roman bridge. Dinner and lodging in Hotel Villa de Neila
Day 3
NEILA – MONTERRUBIO DE LA DEMANDA
Riding between inmense woods of pines, beeches and oaks we descend to Monterrubio de la Demanda to begin the green route along the old Mining Railroad. This is particularly impressive in autumn and the when the trees turn various shades of gold. Between the trees we can identify with some luck the wolf, beech, wild boar, otter, royal eagle, goshawk and falcon. In Monterrubio de la Demanda we can observe the church that represents one of the oldest works of the Romanesque Burgales. Dinner and lodging in Centro de Turismo Rural Virgen de la Vega
Day 4
MONTERRUBIO DE LA DEMANDA – PINEDA DE LA SIERRA
We begin our ride along the green route and across the valleys and trenches we go towards Barbadillo de Herreras, across the túnel Ferrerias and then on to Pineda , en route descending the pass El Manquillo. This green route or Natural way is built on the remnants of the railway that carried minerals from the mines of the Sierra de la Demanda to Pais Vasco’s Blust Furnace. The railroad was dismantled in the Civil War. Dinner and lodging in La Casona
Day 5
PINEDA DE LA SIERRA – ARLANZON
We leave Pineda, the town of beautiful country houses and immediately wride along the border the Arlanzon’s dam to get to Arlanzón. Depending on the season of the year, we may be able to visit the Sierra de Atapuerca’s prehistory sites> These were designated s protected by UNESCO in November 2000.
The Atapuerca’s archaeological site was found accidental at the tim of the construction of the mining railroad in 1902. This site has allowed us to improve our understanding of human evolution and determine a new human species, the Homo Antecessor. Tonight we overnight in a working monastry and dine with the monks. Dinner and lodging in hospedería del Monasterio Cisterciense de San Pedro de Cardeña
Day 6
ARLANZON – BURGOS (SAN PEDRO DE CARDEÑA’S MONASTERY)
We have finished the green route and we go to Burgos and then to San Pedro Cardeña’s Monastery where The Cid left his wife and daughter to walk into exile and fight the Moors. Today we may have the possibility to visit Burgos, the programme is open according season of the year and clients’ preferences. Dinner and lodging in hospederia del Monasterio Cisterciense de San Pedro de Cárdena
Day 7
SAN PEDRO CARDEÑA’S MONASTERY – COVARRUBIAS
We leave the Monastery by a Royal Road that The Cid used in his exile, and ride across the Castilian land towards Sierra de las Mamblas, crossing the Sierra and finishing in Covarrubias, the Fernan Gonzalez’s, Castillas’s founder and our hourses’ stable birthplace. At the end of the route we visit Covarrubias and finish with a marvellous dinner in a famous Covarrubias’s restaurant, a wonderful end to your horse riding holiday. Dinner and lodging in Hotel Rural Chindasvinto
Day 8
Departure and transfer to Madrid after breakfast.
The weight limit for this ride is 17 st/231 lb/105 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Return transfers from Madrid Barajas Airport, all accommodation, all meals, wine and beer with meals, all riding, luggage transfer, English speaking guide and excursions mentioned.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Drinks other than with meals, spirits, tips.
FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.
more photos | enquiry | availability check
