10 Essentials: what to see and do in Sierra de Gredos (Ávila)

Just two hours by car from Madrid, had barely visited the Sierra de Gredos.

It was on a recent excursion when I really had the opportunity to discover the tourist attraction of this regional park in the south of the province of Avila.

Specifically, during a escape three days in Sierra Norte de Gredos I have known this mountain region that maintains the essence of the rural world, with very small towns of just a few hundred inhabitants.

And that despite being so close to a big city like it is. Madrid.

Of course if you are from Madrid you will know Gredos, mountain range that you have surely visited at some time to do rural tourism,

In fact, it is well known that this mountain range is an ideal place for weekend getaways and long weekends, as well as for summer vacations.

The best things to see and do when visiting Sierra de Gredos

It is a mountain area whose highest peak, the almanzor, reaches 2.592 meters, something more than Peñalara in the hacksaw of Guadarrama.

In contrast to this Madrid mountain range, not long ago declared national park, you will not find a ski resort, which has undoubtedly helped preserve its characteristics as a nature enclave.

From the experience of my last visit, here are some tips on what to see and what activities to do in the Sierra Norte de Gredos.

Tourist Office at Casa del Parque de Hoyos del Espino 

In the so-called Park House, riding a Hawthorn Holes, Is the Interpretation Center of the Sierra de Gredos regional park, which in practice performs the functions of tourist office.

This building is visited by visitors who arrive to ask for information about what activities to do.

In the small exhibition that houses the stone building, through photos, information panels, models and some objects you have a first vision of the characteristics of this regional park.

So you can discover some curiosities about the Sierra de Gredos, as it does not have the qualification of national park for persisting hunting tradition.

And in this regard, the Mountain goat, TRUE icon, is the most appreciated trophy, since the excess of specimens encourages its hunting after the previous auction at astronomical prices of the pieces to be shot.

You will also know that in Gredos you find one of the glacial cirques best preserved in Europe

Regarding your stay, in the Park House They will guide you on the excursions to do, and about the numerous hiking trails availables.

Parador de Gredos, the first parador in Spain

The most traditional option to stay is Parador de Gredos, but even if you choose another hotel establishment, it is worth visiting because it is the first of hostels built in Spain.

Currently it is a three-star establishment that displays the characteristic rural decoration inside.

El origin of the Parador is found in the purpose of King Alfonso XIII, assiduous hunter of the Hispanic goat in Gredos, to have a Royal hunting refuge.

In this way, in 1928, the first establishment of the network of Tourism Paradores of Spain.

An important historical event occurred there, since in the so-called Hall of Silence: Speakers Hall, the last meetings took place that led to the definitive drafting of the current Spanish constitution.

In your visit to the hostel You can see said room, where in addition to a commemorative plaque, it shows a shelf with various objects related to said event.

Nature routes and mushroom hunting in Sierra de Gredos

Enjoying nature should be your main objective in a getaway to Gredos.

And what better than to do it accompanied by specialists.

In the Sierra there are numerous companies active tourism, a part of which they offer you guided routes.

On my last visit, which coincided with the mushroom season, I participated in a mycological route in which I was able to discover the reasons why the mycotourism generates so much interest.

But the offer of nature activities is very broad, including routes to see flowers in spring.

Where and how to do astronomical observation in Sierra de Gredos

I am passionate about astronomy, but I will tell you that until I visited Gredos I did not know that it is an area with the Dark Sky Starlight certification.

This means that it is an ideal place to do astronomical observation thanks to the visibility of the dark sky for a minimum of 250 days a year, and with ideal altitude and humidity conditions.

A reflection of this is that, for 15 years, in the hotel El Milano Real de Hawthorn Holes They have a small astronomical Observatory installed on the roof.

Initially for private use Paco, its owner, is currently also open to the enjoyment of the dark sky by guests and visitors in observation sessions.

Horse riding in Sierra de Gredos

To ride a horse It is one of the traditional activities in the Sierra and a good example of this is that Rafael González has been organizing for more than 30 years horseback riding in this area.

As I was able to see during my getaway, a Ride the Horse It is an ideal way to experience the rural environment and enjoy nature in Gredos.

There are two types of public that usually go to Gredos horseback riding.

On the one hand, expert riders who want to enjoy their horseback riding in these landscapes, who, for example, go on excursions to Avila boat.

And, on the other hand, newbies, like me, who are the most regular customers in summer.

Depending on your experience, you have three optional excursions: two hours; part time; or full day. Choose.

When and how to see piornos in flower in Sierra de Gredos

I discovered it a couple of years ago when I returned from Jerte Valley de see cherry blossoms.

For the area of port of Tornavacas The yellow-tinged landscapes caught my attention.

Now I know it's about the brooms in flower that in spring cover up to 65.000 hectares of the mountains of the Sierra de Gredos.

The piornos are lowland bushes that become a tourist attraction at that time.

En Gredos You have information about various areas and viewpoints from where to see the piornos in flower.

Go mountaineering in Gredos

In the absence of ski, Gredos It is an ideal place for the activity of mountaineering, and, specifically, the most demanding Mountain climbing.

One of the challenges is to climb the almanzor, which must be done with a guide because in the last section there is a risk of accident since it requires a small climb.

However, in the Sierra the most emblematic place for do mountaineering is in the peaks of the Galayos, where you climb from the south slope, specifically from the Guisando Park House.

How to do bird watching in Gredos

If you are fond of birding, here you have a good place to be able to spot birds, and with this intention foreign tourists arrive who have traveled to Spain to develop this activity.

In Gredos you can spot, among other birds, red kites, griffon vultures, black vultures, goshawks or short-toed eagles.

As a curiosity and as a reflection of the potential of ornithological tourism in these places, I tell you that in the Almanzor Hostel you find a hide.

Its owner, Luis Alfonso, a fan of ornithological photography, installed it a couple of years ago to facilitate the therapy. for your clients and visitors.

Gastronomy: what to eat and where in Sierra de Gredos

Of course, one of the attractions of your getaway must be tasting its gastronomy.

you will find the most typical dishes of the province of Ávila, As the crumbs, revolconas potatoes, boat beans or entrecôte or beef steak from Ávila.

But in addition to the more traditional dishes, which you can taste in places as interesting as the La Mira de Gredos restaurant, riding a Hawthorn Holes.

You will be surprised by the haute cuisine preparations of what was a typical bar in the same town.

At the cafe bar Drakar the Cook Roberto Jimenez offers its gastronomic proposals at very affordable prices, such as the boletus carpaccio, roasted sardine loins o candied artichoke and foie.

All this, if you prefer, accompanied by a Craft beer that is produced in one's own Sierra de Gredos.

Where to enjoy a spa in Gredos

Finally, I will tell you that in such a rural and nature environment you can also enjoy a spa.

En Hawthorn Holes, compared to the aforementioned hotel El Milano Real, Is the rural spa Aguas de Gredos, where you can do the hydrothermal circuit.

For this you have a jet pool or jacuzzi, Turkish bath and Roman baths, as well as a wide range of treatments, where massages are the main protagonists.

When are you going to do your getaway to Gredos?