Alto de la Cabeza Trail (PRC-BU 77)

Introduction and description of the tour: At the foot of Alto de la Valdosa and La Cabeza, the highest points of the Peñas de Cervera, are the small towns of Ciruelos de Cervera and Briongos de Cervera. Las Peñas or Lomas de Cervera are the southernmost unit of the La Demanda mountain ranges, presenting a rocky relief with large limestone cliffs that are practically inaccessible, which has favored the development of a varied and abundant population of birds of prey. The route starts next to the church of Ciruelos de Cervera, along a path that runs between the stone walls of the local orchards, under the shade offered by the fruit trees. As the stone walls come to an end, a fork in the path comes up, and you must take the path to the right, which descends in search of the Hoz del Arroyo del Berro, a narrow gorge flanked by some stone cliffs on which grow holm oaks and junipers. The trail runs along the bottom of the Hoz, under the shelter of the rocks, among which the Cueva de Santiago hides or the Piedra la Yedra and the Risco del Tío Pocho stand out. The gorge opens quickly to give way to farmland and a poplar field next to which you must take a path that goes to the right, crossing the stream of Berro. Little by little, the path goes around the Valdegatón hill, leaving junipers and scrub on one side and cultivated land on the other, to end up giving a view straight on to the Alto de La Cabeza, and a little to the left to the Alto de Valdosa. The Alto de la Cabeza, with an altitude of 1,343 m, is the highest point in the Ribera del Duero. At the end of this path, turn right to take another that leads to the small town of Briongos de Cervera. But before arriving, you must not stop climbing up to a small viewpoint that is to the left of the path and that is conveniently signposted, from which you can enjoy exceptional panoramic views of the Peñas de Cervera. Once in Briongos there are two alternatives, the easiest and shortest is to return to Ciruelos de Cervera for an adult holm oak grove, but the most attractive is to enter the beautiful valley of Rebriongos or Esgueva, where junipers and pastures alternate in the landscape. The slopes of the Lomas de Cervera descend to the bottom of the valley, a place where fossils of oysters, cephalopods, algae or corals can be found, or in the Cueva de San García, which despite its small size houses obvious samples of rock art in its interior. Further on the valley opens up, forming a small circus where farmland seems to perch up the slopes. A small recreational area can be used as a stop before leaving the comfortable path that was used and beginning the ascent to the top of La Cabeza. The ascent, which without being complicated requires a little effort, is done by a narrow path between junipers. The views of the Ribera del Duero, and even of the Ayllón, Somosierra and Guadarrama mountains, which can be seen from above on clear days, reward the walk. The way back to Briongos de Cervera is done through the same place, and from here the Briongos path or the Silos path allow the return to Ciruelos de Cervera, the starting point of this spectacular route. Information source: Terranostrum.