This tremendously varied walk makes for a great full day's excursion. The first section is a longish up and down loop through pine forest with views of some of the park's most spectacular, craggy peaks. You later follow a wonderful mountain trail that cuts up from the Guadalquivir valley through a high pass before it winds its way down and around the Escribano peak to Cazorla. The path has wonderful up the Guadalquivir Valley and out across the sea of olive groves that stretches west from Cazorla. Unlike most walks in this book, you need transport to the beginning of the walk. But don't give the taxi fare another thought. The ride up into the park is alone memorable enough to justify the expense. You can easily make this into a shorter walk by beginning at El Puente de las Herrerias instead of in Vadillo Castril, thus cutting out the steep loop through the pine forest. If you do the whole route you have two steep climbs, one of almost 300m first thing and then the second longer climb of almost 400m up and past the Fuente del Oso.

The Route

This short version starts at El Puente de la Herrerias.

Coming from Valdillo, cross the bridge and turn immediately right down towards a bar. Cross a small bridge and pick up a path that heads up the hill from just behind a spring, to the left of the bar. Zigzag up the right hand side of the stream and reach a fork where you take the right hand option.

The path becomes wider and sandier and shortly you come to a market post where you have three choices. Go directly across onto the middle path that swings right and continues to climb, fairly gently, up to the group of forestry commission buildings of La Fuente del Oso (The Bear's Spring). Climb up past the buildings to the road (30 minutes).

At the road, turn right, cross over the bridge. But, be careful! You must swing immediately left across an open space and then go right onto a path that climbs up through the pines. At first you follow a line of pylons upwards. Over to your left is the Cerro de la Torquilla.

When you come to a fork, don't turn right (this path descends towards the road) but rather branch left and climb up through the pine forest towards El Collado del Oso. This is a stunning section of path and is very easy to follow. Soon there are marvellous views up the Guadalquivir valley, over to your right. Eventually you pass through El Puerto de los Arenales (1358m) (45 minutes). This would be a good picnic spot.

The panorama now completely changes. You are looking out across the endless olive groves that lie to the east of Cazorla.

The path winds steeply down through the pines on the eastern side of the pass. There is waymarking. The forest opens out and the path bears right and passes to the right of a small building.

The path continues to contour round the Escribano mountain and shortly the Templar's Castle of La Iruela comes into sight. After descending steeply down, the path drops to cross a (dry) streambed and - careful! - On a rock you'll see a red arrow pointing upwards (2hours 15 minutes).

Here swing right off the main path (a red GR cross suggests that you are going the wrong way but ignore it) and continue your descent.

As you approach the castle, keep close to the cliff on your left and follow a narrow path down that meets with the road by the swimming pool.

The last 20 metres are steep and loose. Turn left onto the road, pass beneath the castle (it is well worth a visit) then branch left again and head through the centre of the village. At the far end of the village, go straight across the road that leads from La Iruela to the Ermita de la Virgen de la Cabeza and drop steeply down to return to the square at the north end of Cazorla (3 hours).