6 December 2011
We returned to walking the GR142 this week after a couple of weeks off due to holidays. The next section of the route was from Busquista to Nieles. There are no buses linking the villages up on this section so we had to do a there and back walk.
We parked the car some 2.5 km outside of Busquister, where the path crosses the road, and started by walking back to Busquister, which was at the other side of the valley, and a near 200 metre vertical drop down one side to the Rio Trevelez and a climb out again up to the village. The climb up into the village was the reason for doing the walk this way round, I did not fancy the steep climb after another hard days walk. Better to get it over with whilst we were still fresh.
We went back to bar were we had stopped last time but, instead of beer, this time it was for hot chocolate, it was still cold in the shade. We were now back at the point where we had finished off on the 17 of November.
Setting off again we retraced our steps back down into the gorge, you will notice I did mention retrace our steps, it was like a whole new walk for Plym who claimed she had never been on the path before. Arriving back at the car, now hot and sweaty after the climb, we were able to shed the warm clothing we had needed when we had set off . Mike, who has taken to carrying a thermometer on the walk, was saying the the temperature had risen to 16 degrees, perfect for walking. The route now follows the road towards Castáras for about 500 metres before picking up another track heading straight down hill to the charming village of Notáez. So isolated, it has only one foreigner living there, an Irish man called Eddey. The walk was like being on a big dipper as the path now headed back up the hillside to the village of Castáras where we stopped for lunch. The next village along the route is Nieles, unfortunately there is no footpath so you have to walk by the side of the road, only 2 cars passed us, so it was not really a problem. We came across an unusual sight in this corner of of Spain of an old chimney winding its way up the hillside, further investigation revealed that they used to mine Corderoite here and from this mineral they were able to extract Mercury.
Arriving in Nieles it was like stepping back into history, with the very narrow streets and small village house with the animal sheds underneath. It was time to turn around and head back to the car, we kept to the road most of the way to save us having to climb up and down the hillside.
We stopped off in Torvizcon on the way back for a look at Santa Claus and a beer, he must have been having harsh words with his Elf, because he was not in a jovial mood. So we did not wish him Merry Christmas.
A very good walk as far as Castáras, a shame about the road section afterwards.
On the walk Graham, Mike, Kees, Plym, Ray and myself.
Distance on GR142 11.77 km, ascent 1116 metres, total distance 20.8 km.
Total on GR142 41.57, Total walked 69.8 km. Total ascent 3577 metres.
We returned to walking the GR142 this week after a couple of weeks off due to holidays. The next section of the route was from Busquista to Nieles. There are no buses linking the villages up on this section so we had to do a there and back walk.
We parked the car some 2.5 km outside of Busquister, where the path crosses the road, and started by walking back to Busquister, which was at the other side of the valley, and a near 200 metre vertical drop down one side to the Rio Trevelez and a climb out again up to the village. The climb up into the village was the reason for doing the walk this way round, I did not fancy the steep climb after another hard days walk. Better to get it over with whilst we were still fresh.
We went back to bar were we had stopped last time but, instead of beer, this time it was for hot chocolate, it was still cold in the shade. We were now back at the point where we had finished off on the 17 of November.
Setting off again we retraced our steps back down into the gorge, you will notice I did mention retrace our steps, it was like a whole new walk for Plym who claimed she had never been on the path before. Arriving back at the car, now hot and sweaty after the climb, we were able to shed the warm clothing we had needed when we had set off . Mike, who has taken to carrying a thermometer on the walk, was saying the the temperature had risen to 16 degrees, perfect for walking. The route now follows the road towards Castáras for about 500 metres before picking up another track heading straight down hill to the charming village of Notáez. So isolated, it has only one foreigner living there, an Irish man called Eddey. The walk was like being on a big dipper as the path now headed back up the hillside to the village of Castáras where we stopped for lunch. The next village along the route is Nieles, unfortunately there is no footpath so you have to walk by the side of the road, only 2 cars passed us, so it was not really a problem. We came across an unusual sight in this corner of of Spain of an old chimney winding its way up the hillside, further investigation revealed that they used to mine Corderoite here and from this mineral they were able to extract Mercury.
Arriving in Nieles it was like stepping back into history, with the very narrow streets and small village house with the animal sheds underneath. It was time to turn around and head back to the car, we kept to the road most of the way to save us having to climb up and down the hillside.
We stopped off in Torvizcon on the way back for a look at Santa Claus and a beer, he must have been having harsh words with his Elf, because he was not in a jovial mood. So we did not wish him Merry Christmas.
A very good walk as far as Castáras, a shame about the road section afterwards.
On the walk Graham, Mike, Kees, Plym, Ray and myself.
Distance on GR142 11.77 km, ascent 1116 metres, total distance 20.8 km.
Total on GR142 41.57, Total walked 69.8 km. Total ascent 3577 metres.
