El Hornillo: Cherry Terraces and Trails Along the Río Cantos

El Hornillo lies in the Valle del Tiétar, on the southern slope of the Sierra de Gredos. Pine forests surround the town, along with terraced orchards of cherry, chestnut, walnut and other fruit trees. The gorge beside El Hornillo is dotted with pools. The town is one of the municipalities in the Sierra de Gredos Regional Park. The park also includes lagoons, cirques, gorges, rock formations and moraines shaped by glacial erosion. The terraced cultural landscape and the park’s broader mountain terrain meet in the surrounding area.

Riverside Trails and Routes Toward the Sierra de Gredos

The trails around El Hornillo lead through a variety of landscapes: the Senda de las Escarilluelas runs parallel to the Río Cantos, while the Prado de Mingo Fernando route leads from El Hornillo to Puerto del Peón and provides access to the peaks of the Sierra de Gredos. The water of the Río Cantos is considered crystal clear. The Piscina Natural en el Río Cantos is located on its bank.

The Senda de las Escarilluelas is considered an easy trail and takes about 40 minutes. It starts at the Piscina Natural. The bathing area can also be reached with a short walk through the streets of El Hornillo. After about ten minutes on the trail, you reach Charco de la Tabla, which is considered easily accessible for swimming. The route also includes a wooden zigzag bridge over the river, where poplar trees provide shade.

Another starting point is Reguero Hornillo: this is where the PR-AV 18 Senda del Puerto del Peón begins, at kilometer 6 of the road from Hoyos del Espino to the access platform for the Circo de Gredos. From El Hornillo, you can reach Plataforma Domingo Fernando via the La Francisca forest track. You can park at the platform and begin the ascent to Puerto del Peón.

Townscape and History

Wooden arcades have been preserved in El Hornillo’s main square. In the nearby neighborhoods, traditional houses combine stone, wood and clay, with balconies filled with flowers. In some houses, a separate ground-floor area was used as a stable for horses, mules and donkeys. The buildings illustrate different aspects of the town’s traditional character—from the arcades in the square to the materials and former uses of the homes.

From 1393 to 1732, El Hornillo was part of the territory of Arenas de San Pedro; in 1732, it was granted the title of villa. The Rollo de Jurisdicción El Hornillo represents the judicial autonomy obtained in the 18th century under King Fernando VI. It was moved to Puente Nuevo, the entrance to El Hornillo. The Fuentes y pilones are also part of the town’s history: built in the early 20th century, they supplied residents with water for cooking, drinking and washing before homes had running water.

Cherry Blossom in the Valle del Tiétar

In the province of Ávila, El Hornillo is one of the municipalities where cherry production is concentrated. Cherry blossom trails connect El Hornillo, El Arenal and Guisando, offering walks among flowering cherry trees. A travel guide updated on December 4, 2023, places the hanami experience around early April and mentions approximately 50,000 cherry trees, which bloom for about two weeks. The timing of the bloom varies from year to year.

Stargazing Near the Town

The Mirador Estelar de La Risquera is very close to El Hornillo and is a place to gaze at the night sky. It has a star chart, a tripod fixed to a stone for mounting a telescope, and wooden benches. Alongside the riverside trails and routes toward the Sierra, stargazing offers another way to connect with the natural surroundings of the town.

Discover more destinations: Muñico, Arenas De San Pedro, Hoyorredondo, Santo Tomé De Zabarcos, Hoyocasero, Pradosegar, Nava Del Barco, Tolbaños

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