Cortes - Villaluenga - Cortes: 2 day walk, Day 2

Villaluenga town centre

Turn right near the roundabout, following the GR249.6 (red and white marker posts)

LEAVE the main track and fork right (at the top of the first climb, shortly after a quarry parking area. )

Fork left by the Via Pecuaria signboard

Climb up to the stone trough if the lower track is muddy.

It was muddy below so we climbed up slightly to the trough and then dropped down to the main route again.

Pass through the gate

Beautiful valley

Cross the gully here

Old wall and interesting square 'corral'

Climb over the 'stile'

Follow the obvious muddy path downhill from the stile and across a rocky arroyo. There may be loose dogs here as you pass nearby a farm. The farmer is very friendly and helpful. Go downhill towards the farm, cross briefly over the track just to the left of the farm, and follow the path straight ahead to a wide gate. The track on the other side of the gate will lead you into the Llano del Republicano.

Pass through the farmer's gate and go straight ahead on the obvious track

Pass through the right hand gate

Bottom of 'Sendero escalereta' (an exciting route for another day)

Animal pens

Rejoin the GR249.6 here, at the ottom of the Puerto de Libar rocky path. 2 hours exactly to here.

Red/white post

Signpost half-way up the climb

GR7 map board and gate

Pass through the gate

Pass through the gate

It took us one hour inbetween the two llanos - i.e. from the bottom of the Llano del Republicano to the Llano de Libar

When you arrive in the Llano de Libar, go right and then head diagonally across the open area, aiming for the huge right hand "triangle" shaped rock you can see ahead; when you get nearer to the triangle rock, start to aim for one solitary tree in the distance. The gate is just past the solitary tree and slightly to the left.

Pass through the gate

grassy area

Top of the climb!

rocky path just above Cortijo Edmundo

(Going the other way, make sure you go up a little higher to spot this cairn)

Cortijo Edmundo

Leave the wide track and go right here

Pass through the gate

Red/white marker post

Cortes col, go left on the main track, then immediately right by a red/white post

From here, depending on how your legs feel, you can either go down the driveable track or down the marked GR249.6 route which is a zig-zag rocky mule path. The driveable track is a little longer but easier on the knees. Today we went down the rocky mule path.

Rocky mule path is here

Fuente (drinking water running in February 2023)

Leave track here for the rocky mule path (or stay on the wider track)

Leave the main track and go left here by the signposts. We saw orchids here.