Description
The fields of Hernán Pelea - or Perea, as is often called in the many mapas - make up the most extensive altiplanicie in Spain: they have an average altitude of 1600-1700 meters and an extension of more than 5,000 hectares. This vast altiplano represents one of the largest and most original landscapes of the Natural Park, quite different from all others.
Its landscape is an exponent of karmic modeling. No one can say that he knows the Park in depth if he has not traveled the overwhelming plains of the Campos. The high mountain grazing is here the real protagonist; an activity that has, for centuries, allowed life in these remote territories, the homeland of the Segurean sheep.
They say that in Los Campos solitude is felt. There are no fewer people here than in the wooded areas of the Park, because it is common to find some shepherd. What happens is that the clear breadth that our eyes perceive makes us more aware of our small than in dense forest areas.
The real beginning of the Hernán Perea Campos is about 11 km from Don Domingo, after having passed the Cañada Hermosa shelter, first of the three shelters that support the mountaineers on this route. They were built by the ICONA in the 1970s and are located next to the main road, which is surrounded by light depressions, dolins and sour rocky cords of limestone origin.
The harsh weather conditions have created a very adapted vegetation of piorns, albar thorn and common juniper (rake). We will also find some sown pieces of cereal, and of course many herbaceous plants from which the livestock is fed.
If we make the way in winter, with the snow covering its unique orography, we have the feeling of crossing an Arctic landscape. We must be very well informed of the weather, because a strong snow can put us in serious trouble. Spring is the best time to visit the Campos, when conditions are less demanding, although a good advice for any time is not to abandon at any time the main road that crosses the altiplanicie from north to south.
We suggest:
- About 3.5 km from Don Domingo is the famous Pino Galapán, a 39-metre-high larix pine specimen in the area. A respectful visit to this "giant" in the Segura saw is required.
- Rapist birds fly this place majestically throughout the year. The prismatics will be of great use to you to try to distinguish the royal eagle, the leonate vulture or... maybe the broken bones? The muflons are very abundant.
- We must not forget that the beauty and grandiosity of the Campos is a major danger in certain times of the year. Winter, which here covers almost all autumn and part of spring, can be surprised by huge snowfalls that may eventually catch visitors, or leave them without the few visual references in the altiplanicie. In any case, in order to travel through these sites, you always have to use all-terrain vehicles, at least two cars, to provide support, as there is no telephone coverage. It is not advisable to stay in the winter months or in the twilight or night hours, and always to let third parties know that the tour begins.
From Santiago de la Espada we take the A-317 towards La Puebla de Don Fadrique. At 2.1 km, on the right, we find the JF-7091 road to La Matea. We take this road and follow it to the village of Don Domingo. The forest track towards Rambla Seca leads us to the fields of Hernán Perea.
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