Subbetica

Las Buitreras

Las Buitreras

Sendero entre olivares y almendros, vistas impresionantes desde miradores, y hogar de la mayor colonia de buitre leonado del parque natural.

TheLas Buitreras Traillinks Luque with Carcabuey. The trail first winds through a landscape of olive groves, which gradually give way to wild trees and shrubs such as broom, hawthorn, spurge, mastic and the occasional scattered holm oak. Further on, as we continue, we come across numerous almond trees which, if we walk the trail in February, will delight us with their white and pink blossoms. After a gentle descent, we reach theArroyo del Zurreón stream, whose banks have fostered the growth of ash, walnut and poplar trees, as well as small vegetable gardens. In this area stands theAlmendro del Sendero de las Buitreras, a tree listed by the Regional Ministry of the Environment due to its exceptional size. Continuing along the path, we enter rockier terrain, where the olive groves give way to scrubland dotted with a few tree-sized holm oaks. On this stretch, we can take a detour: the Marchaniega footpath, which leads to the Fuente del Espino spring via the Cortijo de la Osa. On this detour, we will encounter numerous gates that we must close behind us as we pass. It is a good time to rest after the climb whilst we take in, from the viewpoint on the left, the stunning views of theHoya de Priego, Zagrilla, Carcabuey, the Sierra de Albayate, the Sierra Gallinera and the Sierra Horconera; the latter is home to LaTiñosa, which at 1,570 m is the highest peak in the province of Córdoba. Continuing along our path, we will spot a huge limestone cliff to our right; this is the southern slope of the Abuchite. On its walls, known asLas Buitreras, rooks and red-billed choughs nest, as well as the largest colony of griffon vultures in the nature reserve. Following the path southwards, we reach the Cortijo de Bernabé. At this point, a 500-metre track takes us to the Bernabé spring, a spot of great beauty. The Bernabé stream has encouraged the growth of ash and poplar trees. The route ends near Carcabuey, a point from which it is also possible to start the trail in the opposite direction, towards Luque.