Km. 0
We start our route at the signposted car park next to the Fuenmayor kiosk-bar and the fountain. We’ll take the compacted dirt track that climbs gently. As we gain height, the view opens up over Torres and, in the distance, a string of peaks: Morrón, Aznaitín, Cerro de la Vieja, Castellar and Monteagudo. The atmosphere is cool and shady thanks to the proximity of the Fuenmayor spring, a cold and abundant source that has fed fountains and irrigation channels for centuries. The water rises from the limestone of the mountain range and emerges here, at an altitude of around 1,200 metres, defining the character of the place: shade, coolness and the murmur of a stream at any time of year. In the stony clearings and small rock outcrops dotting the hillside — slightly above the track and at the edges of the pine forest — the spiny cushions of the blue broom (Erinacea anthyllis) and the yellow bushes of the so-called fine broom (Echinospartum boissieri) appear in spring.
Km. 1,4
After a little over a kilometre along the main track, you come to a bend surrounded by lush vegetation: the foliage partly conceals the Zurreón Waterfall, whose presence is betrayed by the sound of rushing water. Amidst rocky outcrops and shade, the spring coats the limestone with travertine: light, porous crusts that form when the carbonate-rich water rises to the surface, loses its carbon dioxide and precipitates calcite onto mosses and small plants. It is a fragile surface: it is best to observe from the edge of the track and not to tread on the outcrops. The waterfall is intermittent; although the spring flows all year round, the cascade only appears after heavy rainfall and always carries little water; in cold winters it can freeze, forming a curtain of ice of great beauty. The route maintains a gentle gradient and, amidst the pine forest, the views of Torres and Aznaitín reappear, reminding us that we are walking along one of the classic ridges of the Sierra Mágina.
Km. 1,9
The compacted dirt track continues gently uphill to a clear crossroads. The right-hand branch climbs towards Puerto de la Mata and Mata Bejid Castle; this is a more challenging route that we’ll save for another day. We continue straight on, along the GR-7, heading east-southeast, through pine forest and limestone clearings. The path is easy to follow and well marked; to the left are clearings offering views of Torres and, further in the distance, the silhouette of Aznaitín. Here the path shares the route with the local livestock trails: in this section, traces of the Cordel del Zurreón can be seen, and further on, the continuation towards the Cordel de Guadahortuna, traditional routes across the foothills of Almadén.
Km. 2,2
Just 300 metres further on we reach Fuente Nita, a spring of fresh water nestled at the foot of the hillside, with its stone-built front, spout and basin that feeds into small pools beside the track. The setting is shady, with the pine forest providing shade and a limestone bank. Beside the spring, the shade of the open-crowned walnut tree invites you to pause: to the north, the hamlets of Torres and Aznaitín are framed against the distant backdrop of La Loma; to the south-west, the Almadén looms large, and the rastras or gleras—those tongues of loose stone that winter’s ice chips away from the slopes—peek out; and, behind the fountain, Cerro Cárceles frames the scene with a well-preserved hill, rich in the flora and fauna typical of mid-mountain limestone terrain. After a break, the main GR-7 trail is resumed heading east. After 600 m, a path appears on the left which is not taken: stay on the trail to continue skirting the natural balcony of Fuenmayor.
Km. 4,9
At a sharp right-hand bend, we leave the main GR-7 trail and take the Víbora stream path, which climbs up the ravine along the immediate slope, amongst Aleppo pines and limestone outcrops. The surface is earth and small stones, with sections of exposed roots; it is advisable to adjust your pace on the short steep sections. The surface is earth and small stones, with roots protruding onto the path; it is advisable to adjust your pace on the short steep sections and pay attention to the signposts indicating the change of route. At this point (a sharp right-hand bend), we leave the GR-7, leaving the track and entering the Víbora Stream path, which runs uphill through a reforested area of Aleppo pines.
Km. 5,8
The path continues up the ravine, winding its way through pine forests and small clearings of scrub, until it reaches the spring that gives the stream its name. It is a modest spring, nestled in the shade, and a good spot to catch your breath before the final push up to the pass. The gradient remains gentle, the ground uneven, and the air feels cool thanks to the proximity of the water.
Km. 6,4
We reach the top of the hill, a real turning point on the route. We pass a cattle enclosure on the left and begin the descent along a very stony and poorly defined path (at the fork in the path, take the right-hand branch), where the vegetation thins out and the terrain becomes more open. This section follows the marked livestock track from Cordel de la Sierra to Abrevadero del Espino. Reading the terrain is key: always follow the ridge line and the stone markers that mark the way.
Km. 7,4
From the ridge, a steeper descent begins towards the Las Hoyas area. The limestone appears in terraced sections and the terrain demands a sure footing; if you’re carrying walking poles, they’ll come in handy here. To the right lies the Caldera del Tío Lobo, an iconic hollow in these mountains that catches the eye with its enclosed shape. Also, to the right of the pass, a well-developed cornicabra oak forest stretches out. It is a landscape shaped by centuries of livestock farming—grazing, felling and fires—which favoured the cornicabra oak over the holm oak and the gall oak, and which in autumn tints the hillside with shades of red. Along the ridge line, before the terrain begins to descend, the ruins of the Chozo de Loma Vaquera can be seen, a reminder of the history of high-altitude livestock farming. With the valley now directly ahead, the path becomes less steep and leads to the plateaus of Las Hoyas, where the terrain levels out and the walk becomes comfortable once more.
Km. 8,8
Continue down the path until you reach the JA-3107. Cross with care and follow the marked route (livestock track) that crosses the olive grove on the other side. The route approaches the road again, guided by signposts and painted markings—with directional posts at junctions—which indicate the path between field boundaries and terraces.
Km. 9,2
Once again, the path leads to the road. Cross it with care and enter the wooded area of Las Hoyas, where the path becomes a narrow track again, winding its way through kermes oak and rockrose, until it joins a clear track that descends towards the valley floor. This track eventually leads back onto the JA-3107.
Km. 9,5
Last road crossing. On the other side, the livestock track from Cordel de la Sierra to Abrevadero del Espino rejoins the route, continuing through olive groves over a very gentle slope with firm, earthy ground. We follow the marked trail; the landscape opens up, heralding the next section of the route.
Km. 9,9
The livestock track from Cordel de la Sierra to Abrevadero del Espino winds its way through olive groves on a very gentle slope. The surface remains earthy, with some loose gravel in the gullies. As you approach a cross-track, the path turns sharply to the left to follow the track for a few metres before rejoining the path on the other side. The signposting helps to avoid any confusion: we always follow the livestock track.
Km. 10,5
The descent continues along the footpath until you reach the Albanchez de Mágina heliport, a clear landmark at the bottom of the valley. Here, the route joins the access road to the village and the walk comes to an end. It’s a gentle finish, with plenty of space to regroup and, if needed, top up your water supplies before heading into the village centre.
