When to come
March, April, May and early June should be the best times to visit if you are a lover of wild flowers. The long lazy Extremeño Spring sees the countryside carpeted with hundreds of wild flowers varieties. March can start cool but by June it can be hot. There may be rain in March and April but, as in the Autumn, it clears all too quickly for the farmer’s liking! May and June are optimum times for many breeding birds.
July and August are hot. Rain is rare. The grass dries up to a scorched yellow, but the green of the forests and olive groves indicate that the the countryside is just sleeping ... not dead. The best times to go out are early morning, late afternoon and evening. The middle part of the day can be very hot indeed. If you enjoy walking in the heat make sure you take plenty of water and a hat. Use sunscreen.
September, October and November are glorious months with the full range of Autumn hues making the Sierras a dazzle and blaze of colour. September days can still be hot, but even the middle part of the day in November is warm by British standards. Evenings are cool going into cold by the end of November. There is a chance of rain in October and November. This usually clears away quickly to reveal a sky of the same unbelievable blue.
December, January and February can be cold but if you enjoy walking with an extra jumper then this might be the time for you. Snow is not usual, but when it falls it is a pretty sparkling sprinkle on the mountain peaks rather than a major problem. Many northern birds visit at this time of year. Wild flowers bloom from late January and early February.
Walking in Extremadura takes in everything from mountains and valleys to meadows and forests, from rivers and lakes to dry dehesa and rocky slopes. Walking here can be on any surface from granite paved footpaths dating back to Roman times to soft grass in a water-fed meadow. Appropriate footwear is essential. I discovered that boots with inflexible soles are not ideal here, because they cannot cope with small rocks. It’s like walking with two planks of wood on the feet. Better, by far, are boots with some ‘give’ in the sole. Two pairs of thin socks are better than one thick pair and a spare pair in the rucksack is always a good idea. Water is essential year-round. A high energy snack like nuts, chocolate or dried fruits for longer walks. Binoculars, map (the best maps here are the Mapa Topográfico Nacional de España 1:25.000 1 cm. = 250 m. available from Cartex in Cáceres), compass, GPS, camera, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, usual stuff.
One thing that you must carry is a stick, known here as a ‘palo’. They are for helping both going up and down mountains. They measure the depth of streams, fords, giant puddles and even rivers on occasion. They hold back brambles, branches and other vegetation while going past. They are effective to threaten (but never to hit) aggressive barking dogs. They are useful to hold out to, and pull up, fellow walkers who just can’t get up one bit of the mountain. They are great for flicking the odd snake (not dangerous just alarming) out of the way. Palos are also pretty good for resting on and catching your breath while admiring the view.
No site on walking in Extremadura could fail to mention the Via de la Plata. It is the ancient pilgrimage route to the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. It starts in Seville, Andalucia. There is also a route from Granada which joins the Via de la Plata in Mérida. The route actually goes back to Roman times. It covers 1000 kilometres, 300 of which pass through the length of Extremadura. While it attracts fewer pilgrims than the northern route, starting in France, it is gaining in popularity. 9000 pilgrims walked the route last year. It’s a tough, beautiful, contemplative experience. A few books in English describe the route.
Walking here is special. That’s Extremadura. Special.
Top photo: Walking from Tornavacas to Jarandilla with Tornavacas in the background in November
March, April, May and early June should be the best times to visit if you are a lover of wild flowers. The long lazy Extremeño Spring sees the countryside carpeted with hundreds of wild flowers varieties. March can start cool but by June it can be hot. There may be rain in March and April but, as in the Autumn, it clears all too quickly for the farmer’s liking! May and June are optimum times for many breeding birds.
July and August are hot. Rain is rare. The grass dries up to a scorched yellow, but the green of the forests and olive groves indicate that the the countryside is just sleeping ... not dead. The best times to go out are early morning, late afternoon and evening. The middle part of the day can be very hot indeed. If you enjoy walking in the heat make sure you take plenty of water and a hat. Use sunscreen.
September, October and November are glorious months with the full range of Autumn hues making the Sierras a dazzle and blaze of colour. September days can still be hot, but even the middle part of the day in November is warm by British standards. Evenings are cool going into cold by the end of November. There is a chance of rain in October and November. This usually clears away quickly to reveal a sky of the same unbelievable blue.
December, January and February can be cold but if you enjoy walking with an extra jumper then this might be the time for you. Snow is not usual, but when it falls it is a pretty sparkling sprinkle on the mountain peaks rather than a major problem. Many northern birds visit at this time of year. Wild flowers bloom from late January and early February.
Walking in Extremadura takes in everything from mountains and valleys to meadows and forests, from rivers and lakes to dry dehesa and rocky slopes. Walking here can be on any surface from granite paved footpaths dating back to Roman times to soft grass in a water-fed meadow. Appropriate footwear is essential. I discovered that boots with inflexible soles are not ideal here, because they cannot cope with small rocks. It’s like walking with two planks of wood on the feet. Better, by far, are boots with some ‘give’ in the sole. Two pairs of thin socks are better than one thick pair and a spare pair in the rucksack is always a good idea. Water is essential year-round. A high energy snack like nuts, chocolate or dried fruits for longer walks. Binoculars, map (the best maps here are the Mapa Topográfico Nacional de España 1:25.000 1 cm. = 250 m. available from Cartex in Cáceres), compass, GPS, camera, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, usual stuff.
One thing that you must carry is a stick, known here as a ‘palo’. They are for helping both going up and down mountains. They measure the depth of streams, fords, giant puddles and even rivers on occasion. They hold back brambles, branches and other vegetation while going past. They are effective to threaten (but never to hit) aggressive barking dogs. They are useful to hold out to, and pull up, fellow walkers who just can’t get up one bit of the mountain. They are great for flicking the odd snake (not dangerous just alarming) out of the way. Palos are also pretty good for resting on and catching your breath while admiring the view.
No site on walking in Extremadura could fail to mention the Via de la Plata. It is the ancient pilgrimage route to the tomb of St James in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. It starts in Seville, Andalucia. There is also a route from Granada which joins the Via de la Plata in Mérida. The route actually goes back to Roman times. It covers 1000 kilometres, 300 of which pass through the length of Extremadura. While it attracts fewer pilgrims than the northern route, starting in France, it is gaining in popularity. 9000 pilgrims walked the route last year. It’s a tough, beautiful, contemplative experience. A few books in English describe the route.
Walking here is special. That’s Extremadura. Special.
Top photo: Walking from Tornavacas to Jarandilla with Tornavacas in the background in November