Sierra Espuña walking routes, the PR-MU 64 starting and finishing in La Santa in Totana
A 7-kilometre walk or ride in the picturesque foothills of Sierra Espuña
The PR-MU 64 walking route in the south-western foothills of Sierra Espuña is described as being an easy 7.2-kilometre walk starting and finishing at the monastery of Santa Eulalia in the La Sierra district outside the town of Totana, and usually takes approximately 2 hours on foot and 45 minutes by bicycle.
It includes a total of 207 metres of climbs and descents, and along the way there is a chance to take a diversion on the PR-MU 65 route to the spectacular hilltop town of Aledo.
Signposting along most of the route is in white and yellow paint, although the first stretch of the path to Los Molejones is also part of the much longer GR-252 path, which is signposted in white and red.
The route
The PR-MU 64 route begins at the sanctuary and church of Santa Eulalia on a tarmacked surface and then leads upwards. To find the path, walk out of the main doorway of the sanctuary with the carpark behind, and then climb some steps located at the left-hand side of the gardens, and up through the top level of the gardens, past a water feature and onto an unsurfaced track, continuing past some rural rental properties.
Zig-zagging up the slope, the path reaches the Virgen Blanca viewing point after 380 metres, where there is a drinking water fountain. From here head further up to the electricity pylon, ignoring a small path which heads down to the right.
The path soon begins to head downhill again, at which point look out for a small path which leads through the pine trees to the left (distance 0.64 kilometres). Here cyclists will have to take a detour down to the road and then rejoin the route at the Arco de Aledo, from where the path goes up again to Los Molejones.
Walkers, meanwhile, can enjoy the views as they emerge from the pine grove at the Casa del Pocico and then pass an old olive tree. The path then heads diagonally up to the right to a group of almond trees (distance 1.11 km) and then further right to the Casa de El Zorro: here, take the right turn at the junction.
It is at the next junction that there is the option of heading to Aledo on the PR 65. But the La Santa route heads right and then down to the MU-502 road (distance 1.45 km). Here, head left towards the Arco de Aledo, and just before reaching it take the upwards path to the right to the Casa del Arco. Eventually, this leads to the Casa de los Molejones (distance 2.84 km, altitude 705 metres), opposite the peak of the Morrón de Espuña.
Here there are junctions with the paths to the Casa del Peñón, Campix and Tenganeras, and the GR 252 heads straight on towards Campix, but the PR 64 turns sharp right onto a downward path into the pine trees.
After 4 km there is a turning towards the Casa del Pocico, but at this point take the left fork and zig-zag down and cross the valley of the to the Barranco de La Santa: the road from La Santa to the Arco is visible ahead and to the right.
Follow the left bank of the Barranco de La Santa to a junction where the left turn leads to the forest house of Mortí, and head right and down to El Estrecho, joining the road up to La Santa. Both walkers and cyclists then need to take the unsurfaced track to the right – those on two wheels do so from the tarmac while walkers join it at the bridge – and this takes them up past the Casa de Hervás and the properties of La Cuesta, and then back to the El Grifo recreational area and La Santa.
Route names: La Santa - Virgen Blanca - Paraje del Zorro - Conex. 64.1 con Aledo - Arco de Aledo - Camino de los Molejones - Senda de la solana del Morro Largo- Barranco de la Samta - Casas de Hervás - Casas rurales del Grifo - La Santa
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