Why Here?

• Unique environment: discover real Spain, through an insight into rural lifestyle and world heritage cities.
• Experienced guide: At home with the customs, natural history and culture of central Spain yet fluent in English.
• Bird watching: An impressive variety of species can be seen
• Dramatic scenery. Variety of landscapes and wildlife.
• Comfortable accommodation in a traditional Castilian house.
• Excellent value.

Piedrahita is situated in the Corneja Valley, on the north side of the Sierra de Gredos Mountains. Gredos is part of the Sistema Central, a chain of mountains that cuts across the centre of Spain running in a Northeast to Southwest direction. The central area of the Sierra de Gredos forms Gredos Regional Park.

The Corneja valley is very accessible, on the national road N110, less than two hours from Madrid and very strategically located. In half an hour's drive you can reach either the core of the Gredos regional park and its glacial valleys or go down to the olive groves of the Extremadura plains. The options in between are endless. There are high peaks for the mountain enthusiast, but there are also plenty of walking and trekking routes which avoid excessive climbing and which are suitable for walkers of all abilities.

Your guide, Puri Almansa, was born in the University town of Salamanca, where she graduated in Biology. She achieved a master's degree in tree ecophysiology in that university, and then travelled to the Isle of Man to work in environmental impact assessments in marine habitats. She is completely fluent in English and Spanish. In the early nineties she learnt to fly paragliders, and she has been involved with every aspect of the sport ever since. She has spent the last 14 years exploring every corner of this region, both from the air and on land, and knows its landscape and wildlife very well. She now wants to try and show that there is more to Spain than sun and beaches: a beautiful rugged inner core which is not in the tourist´s brochures abroad.

Your accommodation in Piedrahita is in our own guest house, on the edge of the original mediaeval village. Known as "Potter´s house", it’s curving façade faces southeast to southwest, with views of the mountain. The ground floor exterior is build of rough hewn granite stones, and the first floor a deep red colour with the four original, elaborate, iron balconies. In January of 2008 Piedrahita was declared an area of special historical interest because of its history and monuments. Our house is now listed as a building of significant historical interest by the regional government.

You can find more details about the house, including a virtual tour, at:

http://www.flypiedrahita.com/walking/accommodation/accommodation.php

If you are just looking for acommodation, the whole house can be rented for any period of time from october to april. The prices are: 308€ / weekend and 630€ for one week.

Standard Guided Walking Week