• Region: Valencian Community
• Province: Castellón
• Declared a Natural Park: 2006
• Park surface area: 25,814 hectares
• Towns and villages: Pobla de Benifassá, Ballestar, Boixar, Coratxá, Fredes, Castell de Cabres, Rossell, Bel and Vallibona.

Points of interest

Located at the foot of the Massif de los Puertos de Tortosa-Beceite the wild and mountainous environment of the Tinença de Benifassá Natural Park is located in the extreme north of the province of Castellón, bordering the Catalan regions of the Ports of Tortosa and the Aragonese of La Matarraña.

The bio diversity and variety of natural habitats in this area such as freshwater, heathlands, temperate scrub, sclerophyllous scrub, herbaceous formations, peat bogs, rocky habitats and forest are a haven for wildlife.

The Bearded Vulture – Gypaetus barbatus – Quebrantahuesos is present in the Tinença de Benifassá Natural Park. Read more about them here: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/bearded-vulture-gypaetus-barbatus-quebrantahuesos/

Two heritage elements in the protected area are also well worth a mention. The first are the Cave Paintings from the Rossegadors Cave in La Pobla de Benifassà which are accessed by the CV105 road next to the Ulldecona reservoir dam. The paintings are located in a rock shelter of 10 meters long by 5 meters high and the images represent hunters in action, archers, goats, two deer and four big wild boars.

The second is the Royal Convent of Santa María de Benifasar which is one of the first founded in the Valencian Community.

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Flora

There are abundant forests of Aleppo pine, black pine and wild pine, evergreen oaks, Valencian oaks and riverside woodlands and these areas are specially protected as “floral micro-reserves” which give an extra layer of protection to threatened and endemic species such as the butterwort (Pinguicula dertosensis) or the sandwort (Arenaria conimbricensis).

Fauna

Given such a diversity of habitats, it is no surprise that the fauna of the park is abundant and quite rich in species. There are birds of prey nesting in the area such as golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicu), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and large colonies of griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus).

The Vulture Conservation Foundation are coordinating the reintroduction of the bearded vulture in this area.

Mammal species include Spanish Ibex (Capra pyrenaica). common genet (Genetta genetta), European wildcat (Felis silvestris), beech marten (Martes foina), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).

Places of special interest for birdwatching and wildlife observation

• Scavenger bird observatory – Mas de Boix rubbish tip! (yes, rubbish tip)
• Ballestar-Ulldecona Reservoir (head for the dam)
• Pallerols Sanctuary
• Fredes-Mas de Pixón-Solà d’en Brull-La Tenalla Forest House (La Tenalla)
• El Boixar Country House – La Roureda Country House

Information/Visitors Centers

P.N. de la Tinença de Benifassà (Centro de Interpretación) – C\ Trascasa, 2 El Ballestar – 12599 Castelló

In the Interpretation Center located in the town of El Ballestar you can obtain information on the natural and cultural values of the park, as well as guides and maps for walking routes and other activities such as bird watching, cycling etc

The official website for the Tinença de Benifassá Natural Park is here: http://parquesnaturales.gva.es/es/web/pn-tinenca-de-benifassa

The Castellón tourism website has a good amount of information in English here: https://turismodecastellon.com/en/que-hacer/naturaleza/parqueNatural/show/2

Ronda Today

Everything you need to know before you visit Ronda “The city of dreams” in Andalucia. https://www.rondatoday.com/

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Planning on visiting Cádiz? Tourist information. Monuments. Hotels. Activities. City guides: https://visitingcadiz.com/

The Caminito del Rey

Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/

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Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum! https://iberianatureforum.com/

• Region: Valencian Community
• Province: Valencia
• Declared a Natural Park: 2007
• Park surface area: 6,451 hectares
• Towns and villages: Chera, Sot de Chera

Points of interest

Straddling the Valencian regions of the Plain of Requena-Utiel and La Serranía, the beautiful environment of the Sot de Chera Natural Park has an abrupt and mountainous relief located inside a huge rift valley. It is surrounded by peaks of over 1000 meters including Pico Ropé and Morrón, which is a rocky outcropping that rises above the town of Sot de Chera. Part of the protected area (Sierra Negrete) is also included as an SCI (Place of Community Interest)

This is also the headquarters of the first geological park in the Valencian Community and this is the main reason for a visit to this area. Many examples of geologic structures that that are normally seen only in books can be found here such as strata, faults, folds, travertine formations and fossils. The geological structure of a rift valley is exemplarily represented and covers 70 square km showing geological structures and landforms that have developed during the last 150 million years.

The area has also become famous as a starlight destination. The Starlight Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2009 to promote the protection of the night sky and the development of “astrotourism” and there is an ever growing list of starlight destinations in Spain to visit.

The Sot River is 12 km long and passes through Sot de Chera from west to east, through the area of Las Fuentes, La Canal and the natural pool known as “Charco Gruñidor” until it becomes a tributary of the Turia River.

Don’t miss the Buseo reservoir, the Hoz ravine, the Garita caves and the Xera castle

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Information/Visitors Centers

Both the towns have of Chera and Sot de Chera have interpretation centres that can provide you with information about the area and it’s fauna and flora but the obligatory place to visit here is the Museo y Centro de interpretación Parque Geológico de Chera located on the street called San Isidro, 20 in the town of Chera. In addition to being the starting point for the various footpaths and other itineraries, this museum has an outstanding collection of fossils, minerals, models and a series of explanatory panels about the geological park. Website here (in Spanish) http://www.encherate.com/parquegeo/index.php

The official website for the Sot de Chera Natural Park is here: https://parquesnaturales.gva.es/es/web/pn-chera-sot-de-chera

The Caminito del Rey

Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/

Wildside Holidays – Spain

Take a trip on the Wildside! Discover the wildlife and nature of Spain, its Natural and National Parks and find the top wildlife, activity and walking holiday companies.

Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum!

Discover the Iberia Nature Forum – Environment, geography, nature, landscape, climate, culture, history, rural tourism and travel.

• Region: Valencian Community
• Province: Castellón and Valencia
• Declared a Natural Park: 2002
• Park surface area: 18,000 hectares
• Towns and villages: Albalat de Taronchers, Alcublas, Algimia de Alfara, Estivella, Gátova, Gilet, Liria, Marines, Náquera, Olocau, El Puig, Puzol, Sagunto, Serra, Torres Torres, Segart, la Villa de Altura, Segorbe.

Points of interest

The Sierra Calderona Natural Park (in Valencian Parc natural de la Serra Calderona) is located between the provinces of Castellón and Valencia and is part of a mountain range of around 60,000 hectares that separates the basins of the Palancia rivers to the north and Turia to the south. Due to its proximity to the city of Valencia, about 20 km, it is considered the main “green lung” of this densly populated area.

The area has also become famous as a starlight destination. The Starlight Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2009 to promote the protection of the night sky and the development of “astrotourism” and there is an ever growing list of starlight destinations in Spain to visit.

Serra Castle & Sierra Calderona Private Tour

Experience the enchanting Serra Castle in a whole new light during a private sunset hiking excursion, complete with hotel transportation. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of Sierra Calderona Natural Park, the Turia Valley, and the orchards of Tóixima and Ría as you follow your knowledgeable guide on this unforgettable journey through history and nature.

The Sierra Calderona is an area where numerous electrical storms occur and it is considered the area with the highest number of electrical discharges per square meter in Spain. It is not uncommon for wildfires to start due to lightning strikes.

• Region: Valencian Community
• Province: Valencia
• Declared a Natural Park: 2007
• Park surface area: 6,390 hectares
• Towns and villages: Puebla de San Miguel

Points of interest

The Puebla de San Miguel Natural Park is located in the Rincón de Ademuz region on the western foothills of the Sierra de Javalambre and holds very particular woodland habitats, such as juniper, holm oaks and the largest stand of yew trees in the province of Valencia.

There are abundant fossil remains in the area including dinosaurs and marine species from the Cretaceous period whilst the town of Puebla de San Miguel has an excellent ethnographic museum.

Within the natural park is the Alto de Las Barracas, also called Cerro Calderón, which at 1837 meters is the highest peak in the Valencian Community and also Pico Gavilán at 1747 meters.

One of the most interesting places in the park is the “Mirar Bueno” viewpoint which has spectacular views of the landscapes in the region.

The Sabinar de las Blancas has been declared a Micro – Reserve of Flora due to the presence of 100 year old juniper trees.

The area has also become famous as a starlight destination. The Starlight Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2009 to promote the protection of the night sky and the development of “astrotourism” and there is an ever growing list of starlight destinations in Spain to visit.

The Puebla has just 70 inhabitants and limited sevices such as shops and bars/restaurants so make sure you have everything you may need with you such as water and food etc.

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