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ACCEDER

Montaña del Castillo y Pinares del Nevaral

Routes

2.5 hours

Recently, some hiking routes (PR-A 126 and 127) have been signposted in the mountains near the city of Jaén, specifically in the Periurbano del Neveral Park and Castillo de Santa Catalina, made up for the most part by a magnificent forest of Pinus halepensis and rocky areas. This route is sometimes used by athletes from the capital, for hiking, mountain biking, motorcycle trials, mountain races and climbing. This is an area of environmental value that offers resources for the practice of different activities.

Program

One of these routes begins just above the Barrio del Almendral, at the junction of the Ring Road with the ascent to the Castillo-Parador de Turismo. Towards the southern slope of the Cerro del Castillo de Santa Catalina, next to the road up to the Castillo-Hospital El Neveral, there is a narrow path that climbs between almond trees under the vertical walls that serve as foundations for the castle walls. The itinerary presented here has the possibility of being extended to other surrounding areas.

We will pass a water tank and after a while we will go into the pine forest until we come out at a road junction right next to the Caño Quebrado spring. From the back of the forest house in this source, a path continues parallel to the road. We follow it until we cross the track next to the El Neveral Recreational Zone. We continue along the path that goes up between the pine forest and the olive grove, with views of the Hospital de El Neveral, and we pass next to another water reservoir, until we reach an area clear of trees from where we will see a crossroads in a closed curve and we continue flattening and leaving the crossroads on the right and another on the left. We will connect with a track that, after a small climb that places us more than 1000 meters high, just below the Cerro de los Morteros, descends to the previous recreational area, culminating the circular section of this path and then continuing along the path already traveled to the Caño Quebrado fountain, at the junction with the access to the Castle.

Right next to this junction, in front of the Fountain, take a descending lane towards the north slope and towards the city of Jaén, which immediately becomes a path from which we will enjoy beautiful views of the city through the pines . We end in a small olive grove and cross the wall of Almohad origin (11th century). In this area, in the direction of the cliffs of Cruz del Castillo, crossing the wall through the existing gate, there are some cliffs that have traditionally been the school of Jaen climbers. For a final section of downhill track we will come out onto the Ring Road, now in the Magdalena neighborhood, again in the city of Jaén.

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