Walk Summary
Should have listened to the locals and saved myself a 60km drive, now got to drive a further 50km round to the other side of the mountain.
The guide suggested a circular route, however it's lack of orientation and other land marks made it difficult to transpose to the map. My plan was to gain the ridge from Tejadillas and follow it round over various summits and Collado del Chorro to Corocho de Rocigalgo then return by the same route. Now I have done this route I can see this was not one of the routes from the guide, but it worked for me providing 3 extra peaks to bag on way to main P600 summit, it is in fact named Caminho de la Arañosa.
Starting from covered parking just past information booth at 39.5748°N, 4.6601°W, following track to bridge over Arroyo de la Arañosa it looked like I would be following the guided route, however after the 2nd sign the guided route suggested straight on up Arroyo del Chorro, mine said turn right. Sticking with my route I followed the track to where it finished on the map and indeed disappeared on the ground at 39.5473°N, 4.6581°W.
The path promised on the map did not appear so I drifted left through oak woods and found a track that would take me round the NE side of both the 1248m and 1278m spot heights. Once again this track disappeared but this time with a combination of following occasional small piles of stones and checking map I found a route on to main ridge at 1265m saddle. Turning left here and following ridge line over relatively easy ground you eventually reach the first summit and trig pillar at Tejadillas.
It had taken 2½ hours to get this far, consuming nearly half of my water, from here you can see the next two summits and further round to the left, preceded by more descent than I would have liked, the main objective of the day - Corocho de Rocigalgo, still a long way to go.
Still open country with no discernible path, but still relatively straight forward to the next summit of Risco de Juan Antón.
A path then appears taking you past the highest point on the ridge and the nameless 1419m spot height. A short diversion off track to bag the summit then back on path and descent to Collado del Chorro, probably the furthest point you are likely to be from start point and also where you would appear if you followed the guide route up Arroyo del Chorro. 3½ hours after setting off and feeling effects of walking in heat, one redeeming feature was sign said Al Rocigalgo, 25mins. Well that depends on how fast you walk. Final ascent felt really hard work and seemed to go on for ever, but after 20 minutes I was at Mirador de Rocigalgo looking at summit 30m away, so maybe not as tired as I think.
Following summit rituals return to Mirador and sign giving choice of return via Ruta del Chorro or Ruta del Rocigalgo. Even though the latter was 11km, 3hrs 05mins as opposed to 9km, 2hrs 20mins I chose the longer option. From the map this route promised decent tracks whereas I did not want to go back the way I had ascended, though I now know I could have descended down Arroyo del Churro.
On the way down I spotted numbered red markers which initially I thought where distance markers, quickly discovering the first with No7 I thought I was on to a winner, but I later realised these numbers referred to points of interest on the guide map and the 11km finger post was in fact correct.
As it turned out there was a decent track all the way down and it only took me 2½ hours. For a more straight forward ascent I would recommend this route for anyone who just wants to bag the P600, maybe even making it a circular walk and descend down Arroyo del Churro.
Anyway after nearly 7 hours and over 21km with more than 1150m of ascent feeling shattered but well pleased, I was back at the van swallowing my last mouthful of water using what seemed to be my last ounce of energy. Amazing how you can husband your resources to complete the route. Just as well it was not 22km.
Walk Statistics
Peaks visited
Spain/Portugal 600m Prominence Peaks (168S - 185S&P - 2165E)
After Villuercas and Riscos Altos, Corocho de Rocigalgo is the third P600 that could be done from Camping El Mirador de Cabañeros, though at 121km and 2hrs 20mins Villuercas might be a bit of a stretch.
Corocho de Rocigalgo was also the second consecutive walk where the planned start point identified from the map turned out to be unsuitable. However this time I was told of a better alternative and even given another copy of Senderos Autoguiados (self-guided trail) by the helpful reception staff at campsite.
I had already seen this and discounted it because I thought my route from the NE using the Camino del Francés was better!
It certainly was shorter than the 21km of the self-guided trail, but on arriving at the planned start point at 39.5621°N, 4.5782°W NE of summit, it was obvious the track had not been used by a vehicle in many years and the caminho beyond the rusty gate, despite it's status of having a name, the amount of vegetation growing on the track suggested it may well quickly become a bushwhack in proportions of Riscos Altos that I did not want to repeat in a hurry.
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| Area Recreativa Las Becerras, 3km to required car park |
About an hour later I was leaving the CM4155 and joining the Camino de las Becerras. Only a dirt track but in much better condition than others I have driven on with national road signs and even more encouraging was the car park sign at Area Recreativa Las Becerras after 2km. A sign for another car park pointed the way I needed to be 3km away, where I found an information booth, covered parking and a locked gate indicating time to start walking.
At 2pm it was about the hottest part of the day, not the best time to be setting off but at least there was plenty of daylight to complete the 6½ hours suggested time, plus I had 5l of water in my backpack.
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| Turn right at 2nd sign to gain ridge. Straight on is up Arroyo del Chorro |
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| Tejadillas 1397m spot height and trig pillar |
It had taken 2½ hours to get this far, consuming nearly half of my water, from here you can see the next two summits and further round to the left, preceded by more descent than I would have liked, the main objective of the day - Corocho de Rocigalgo, still a long way to go.
Still open country with no discernible path, but still relatively straight forward to the next summit of Risco de Juan Antón.
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| Finger post at Collado del Chorro, summit 25mins away. |
Following summit rituals return to Mirador and sign giving choice of return via Ruta del Chorro or Ruta del Rocigalgo. Even though the latter was 11km, 3hrs 05mins as opposed to 9km, 2hrs 20mins I chose the longer option. From the map this route promised decent tracks whereas I did not want to go back the way I had ascended, though I now know I could have descended down Arroyo del Churro.
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| Numbers refer to POI's on Senderos Autoguiados |
As it turned out there was a decent track all the way down and it only took me 2½ hours. For a more straight forward ascent I would recommend this route for anyone who just wants to bag the P600, maybe even making it a circular walk and descend down Arroyo del Churro.
Anyway after nearly 7 hours and over 21km with more than 1150m of ascent feeling shattered but well pleased, I was back at the van swallowing my last mouthful of water using what seemed to be my last ounce of energy. Amazing how you can husband your resources to complete the route. Just as well it was not 22km.
Walk Statistics
Walk Date - 24 June 2019
Walkers - Steve Smith
Walkers - Steve Smith
Accommodation - Camping El Mirador de Cabañeros, Horcajo de los Montes
Start Point - Information boards and covered parking 5km from CV-4155 along Camino de las Becerras (39.57478°N, 4.66011°W)
Start Time - 13:55
Finish Point - Information boards and covered parking 5km from CV-4155 along Camino de las Becerras (39.57478°N, 4.66011°W)
Finish Time- 20:47
Total Duration - 6hrs 52mins
Overall Average pace - 1.91mph
Total Distance Walked - 13.12 miles
Total Height Ascended - 1158.00metres
Overall Average pace - 1.91mph
Total Distance Walked - 13.12 miles
Total Height Ascended - 1158.00metres
Spain/Portugal 600m Prominence Peaks (168S - 185S&P - 2165E)
Corocho de Rocigalgo (60S - 62S&P - 91E)
Spain/Portugal 300m - 599m Prominence Peaks (1000+)
NONE
Spain/Portugal 150m - 299m Prominence Peaks (3000+)
NONE
Spain Autonomous Community High Points (19)
NONE
Spain Province High Points (52)
Corocho de Rocigalgo (11)
S: Spain
P: Portugal
E:Europe
P: Portugal
E:Europe
June
17th Serra de São Mamede
18th Villuercas
19th Riscos Altos
24th Corocho de Rocigalgo
27th Riscos del Amor
18th Villuercas
19th Riscos Altos
24th Corocho de Rocigalgo
27th Riscos del Amor
July
05th Umbrìa y Castellòn
11th Morades - Sierra De La Hiruela High Point
13th Pico de Almanzor
15th Pico Jálama
16th Canchal de la Ceja & Torreón del Calvitero
18th La Hastiala
18th La Hastiala
Route
Map of route to follow
More Photographs
Full set of captioned photos providing journal and description of key parts of ascent, descent and summit photographs.
Route map, Statistics and other route info to follow.
Route map, Statistics and other route info to follow.
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| Senderos autoguiados - Senda del macizo del Rocigalgo. Self guided trails - Path of the Rocigalgo massif https://www.reservasparquesnacionales.es/real/parquesnac/admin/documentos/Folleto5-Rocigalgo.pdf |
