La Covatilla - Plataforma de Candelario

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Bryological interest of this route.
In the first part of the route we will follow a path that climbs gently up to the Collado Bonal, more than 2,300 m a.s.l. On the granite blocks and walls grow interesting species such as Andreaea heinemannii, Grimmia ramondii, G. montana and Racomitrium macounii subsp. macounii, Scapania compacta, Barbilophozia hatcheri and Marsupella funcki. We will also find peat bogs where Sphagnum teres, S. subsecundum, Aulacomnium palustre, Straminergon stramineum and Sarmenthypnum exannulatum predominate, as well as springs, streams and damp meadows of Nardus stricta with abundant Philonotis tomentella, P. seriata, Polytrichastrum alpinum, Calypogeia fissa, C. azurea, Nardia scalaris, Solenostoma sphaerocarpa, Scapania undulata, Cephalozia bicuspidata and Chilosciphus polyanthos. In areas near the divide exposed to the north, there are chionophilous communities dominated by Kiaeria starkei, Hymenoloma crispulum and Lescuraea patens.
The second part of the route goes through the main divide of the Sierra de Béjar (western Sierra de Gredos), at an average altitude of almost 2,400 m a.s.l. The profile here is very flat and rounded, highly insolated, and consequently this section is poor in bryophytes, although we will find the common Polytrichum juniperinum, Ceratodon purpureus together with Didymodon acutus and D. luridum. This divide leads us to the headwaters of the glacial cirques of El Trampal and Hoyo Malillo which are exceptional bryologically. There are interesting chionophilous and saxicolous communities, with runoffs colonized by Andreaea nivalis, A. frigida, A. alpestris, A. heinemannii, Kiaeria starkei, Hymenoloma crispulum, Bartramia ityphylla, Bryum muehlenbeckii, Grimmia caespiticia, G. torquata, Brachythecium plumosum, Racomitrium affine, R. macounii subsp. alpinum, Lescuraea saxicola, L. patens, Ditrichum heteromallum, Rhizomnium magnifolium, Sanionia uncinata, Pohlia wahlenbergii var. glacialis, P. drumondii and P. cruda, among others. The liverworts are represented mainly by Diplophyllum taxifolium, Plagiochila porelloides, Porella cordeana, Pseudolophozia sudetica, Lophozia ventricosa, Solenostoma obovatum and Cephaloziella divaricata var. scabra.
The last part of the route goes through the so-called trail of Hoyamoros, which links the highest areas of the mountain range with 'Plataforma de Candelario', also called 'El Travieso'. Along this path, in addition to several of the species cited above, we will find beautiful populations of Jungermannia exsertifolia subsp. cordifolia.