Huéznar Rail Trail

The route commences near the 10th century Almoravid castle in Constantina. After leaving the village follow a quiet road for several kilometeres through chestnut and olive groves and dehesa. The path descends into the lush valley of the Rivera de Huéznar and links up with the rail trail. En route we can stop to cool off in the lovely waters of the river, or have a cool drink and a good lunch on the terrace of the Batán de las Monjas, check out the waterfalls on the river, see the source of the river and even swim at the "beach" in the little white village of San Nicolás del Puerto.

From San Nicolás the rail trail deviates away from the valley of the Huéznar through holm oak meadows to the marvellous karst topography of the Cerro de Hierro, or the Iron Hill. This limestone hill is rich in iron and was exploited from pre-Roman times until the 20th Century. A Scottish company operated the mine from 1895 to 1946 and they left their mark on the architecture of the nearby village, witha distinctive church and the so-called "Houses of the English" which were the engineers houses. Cerro de Hierro is also home to the endangered black stork.

The route continues to a pass where there is a fabulous lookout with marvellous views south and east. On the downhill ride back into Constantina we can see the ice pits where in times past ice was collected in winter and stored to supply Seville with ice over the long hot summers.