The Mine to Cobreces Circular Loop

Park in the car park opposite the cheese factory (Fabrica de Quesos). The cheese is made by the monks at the abbey.

(S/E) Leave the car park heading east, walk past the Ermita de San Roque and continue to the junction with the road to Novales. Take the road on the right towards Novales and walk alongside the Abbey of Santa María de Viaceli.
Walk past the Church of San Pedro, then continue towards the town centre (Barrio el Pino).

(1) Turn right and head uphill alongside the Convent of San José; at its western end, turn left. At the next junction, take a sharp right-hand bend and head uphill to the Church of Santa Ana (Barrio Santa Ana). Continue along the small tarmac road.

Take the path on the left, passing a cowshed on your right; at the next junction, take the path leading down to the left. Stay on the main path until you reach the CA-256 road, first turn left then right and begin the climb along the path opposite.

(2) After a less steep section, follow the path on the right, then take the first left. Ignore all side paths (eucalyptus timber skid trails). Reach the top of the climb and turn left, heading due east. Reach a marked path labelled “Ruta de las Minas”.

(3) Head down the small path on the right, reach a track and follow it uphill.

(4) Caution: there is a deep chasm very close to the track. Carry on and you will soon reach a junction with another track.

(5) Follow the path down to the right to reach the mine shaft (Pozo Peña Montero). Continue along the old mining track, pass through two tunnels and carry on until you reach a junction with a small tarmac road.

(6) Cross the road and carry on straight ahead along a fairly flat path to reach Casas de la Mina.

(7) Turn left, passing the miners’ houses (Casas de la Mina). Go through a gate and leave it in the position you found it. Continue the ascent along the track, ignoring all side paths. You will reach the open-cast mining area. Warning: it is very dangerous to venture into this area.

(8) Continue along the main track. Pass the old powder magazine.

(9) Continue due north. At the inverted Y-junction, keep left, then at the next junction, turn left again. You will reach the highest point of this walk.

(10) Begin the descent to the left, staying on the main track. After the hairpin bend to the right, you’ll reach a crossroads with a footpath. Take the left-hand path and, further on, you’ll come to another track.

(11) Turn left to reach the junction above the first tunnel you passed through on the way up.

(6) Continue straight on, staying on the wide track at all times. When you reach the first junction, stay on the track to the left to reach a second junction very close by.

(12) Begin the descent along the track on the right, ignoring all the logging tracks. You will reach the C-256 road.

(13) Follow it to the right until the next bend.

(14) Head down the path on the left and continue to the fountain in Barrio San Damil. Take the steps up to the road.

(15) Turn right, ignore all the streets on the right, and continue until you reach a Y-junction. Follow the road on the right, pass a small car park and turn left; as you do so, take a moment to admire the little castle (Torre de Villegas). Reach the CA-131 road, turn right to reach the car park (S/E).

Take a torch with you – it’ll come in handy when going through the tunnels.
Take plenty of water with you; there are no drinking fountains outside the village.