Castellar de la Frontera - nice loop from Venta Jarandilla via Embalse, Fuente Vieja and the Castle

Park on this section of open ground just before Venta Jarandilla

Venta Jarandilla

Leave the main road by this signboard and go into the trees

After a couple of minutes fork right and you soon meet the road. Cross the road and pick up the path; at the first little junction where the way is slightly unclear, fork LEFT and uphill - then the path is well-marked and easy to follow. Note that you will return on the signboarded route, coming UPHILL from the Fuente Vieja and then downhill on the "Calzada".

Go underneath this fallen tree

Look up and to the left to see a little cave

Cross the stream here, then fork right and uphill

Views of the castle in the distance

View of the town of Gaucin in the distance

TURN LEFT at the sign - after crossing a rocky arroyo, you reach an open area; turn left at this sign

Old burial site

Join track and turn left

Go around to the left of the gate and walk up the track past a building on the right

Meet a track and turn right at a white building

LEAVE the main track and go left through this gate

Pass to the right of this locked gate and continue downhill on the track

View of the reservoir (low water levels in January 2024)

Cross the rocky arroyo and then go right, with the reservoir on your right, until you see a solitary tree

View of embalse

At this solitary tree GO LEFT and uphill, following cairns

Cairn

La Fuente Vieja

(If you were doing this route in reverse you need to drop down to the fence here)

Reach the main road and turn right

Castle views

We had a beer in the little cafeteria but it was quite expensive at EUR 2 for a very small bottle - however there was a roaring log fire and it was a nice place to relax

Mirador view

Turn left here and follow the cobbled Roman road downhill

Mirador de la Calzada

Beautiful cobbled path

Cross the road with care and climb over the barrier on the other side to join the path from earlier in the walk