Camping in Ávila: the Sierra de Gredos, city walls and the green Tiétar valley
The province of Ávila has two clearly distinct faces that make it especially attractive for those travelling with a tent, caravan or motorhome. On the one hand, the capital with its 11th-century medieval wall, the most complete and best preserved in Spain, which encircles the old town with eighty-eight towers and nine gates. On the other, the Sierra de Gredos, the westernmost massif of the Sistema Central, with peaks above 2,500 metres, glacial cirques, high mountain lakes such as the Laguna Grande de Gredos and a population of Iberian ibex that is the largest in Europe.
The Sierra de Gredos Regional Park offers hiking routes for all levels, from walks among oak and pine woods to ascents of Almanzor, the highest peak in the range at 2,592 metres. The area is especially busy in spring and autumn, when the colours of the forest and the temperature invite you to walk for hours. In summer, the attraction shifts to the Tiétar valley, on the southern slope of the sierra, where the Mediterranean microclimate, with cherry trees, olive trees and fig trees, contrasts with the aridity of the plateau to the north. The natural pools of the River Tiétar and its tributaries are a classic for families and young people looking for coolness without travelling far.
The villages of the Ávila sierra have a granite and slate charm that is best explored slowly. Arenas de San Pedro, El Barco de Ávila with its beans bearing their own designation, Candeleda and Piedrahíta are comfortable bases for excursions. The Iruelas valley, with black vultures soaring over the crags and its centuries-old pines, is a quiet nature reserve ideal for those looking to escape the noise. The monastery of Guisando, near El Tiemblo, and the Bulls of Guisando, Iberian stone sculptures beside the reservoir, are easy visits that surprise.
The campsites of Ávila are mainly found in the sierra and the Tiétar valley, with a high season running from Easter to October. The mountain climate can be cold at night even in summer, so it is a good idea to bring warm clothes even if you travel in August. The capital is less than two hours from Madrid by car, which makes it a regular weekend destination, especially in spring. Ávila's cuisine is a great reward: Ávila T-bone steak, stewed Barco beans, patatas revolconas with crackling and yemas de Santa Teresa, the city's most famous convent sweet, are a good reason to stay one more day.
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