STAGE: Villaharta - Alcaracejos

We leave Villaharta on an ascending regional road, which we soon leave, to continue along a comfortable dirt track through Mediterranean scrubland, holm oaks and olive groves, beginning a gentle descent towards the River Guadalbarbo.

After crossing the river, after about 2 km, we reach a wide track which we take to the left, following it for 4.5 km. After crossing a small bridge over the Arroyo del Lorito, we leave the track, turning off to the right onto a path between olive trees. A final ascent through the Sierra Morena mountain range begins, which is crossed next to the Puerto del Calatraveño pass. The vast plains of the Pedroches Valley appear in front of us. As we descend gently, we gradually leave the last foothills of the mountain range, giving way to a pasture-covered landscape. We continue along the Cañada Real Soriana, passing the Fuente de San Juan (a tap with drinking water for pilgrims). A descent of 1 km brings us to the course of the Cuzna River.

1.5 km from the river, at a crossroads at the height of a granite cross with unequal arms, we leave the Cañada Real and the GR-40 path, which continue to the right towards Pozoblanco. We turn left; between holm oaks and practically flat terrain, in 2 km we cross a local road and continue straight on until we reach a hermitage with a recreation area (‘Pozo de la Benita’). From here we continue to the left along a wide asphalted track which, for 5 km, will lead us to the town of Alcaracejos.