IE-014 Sierra de Los Filabres riding route: Abla

IE-014 Sierra de Los Filabres is the first horse riding route to be approved by the Royal Spanish Equestrian Federation in all of Almería province. The route includes spectacular views of Abla and the River Nacimiento, which can be seen from the south face of Sierra de los Filabres. The section that runs through the town turns into an ethnological and cultural journey providing a glimpse into the authentic history of Abla and the Almeria Alpujarra region.

Since the Copper Age, the villages that arose in this region focused on agriculture, livestock and trade. They all left their mark on La Alpujarraregion, an area that has a remarkable historic legacy, ethnology, culture and heritage.

The town of Abla pertains to the Sierra Nevada Nature Reserve, boasting contrasting scenery that encompasses the green landscapes and high mountains of Sierra Nevada and Los Filabres, unspoilt beaches in the Cabo de Gata- Níjar Nature Reserve or the desert landscapes of Tabernas.

Route

After leaving the centre of Abla, we ride northward and cross the Nacimiento River. Continuing on, we cross the Camino Real - with El Serbal Equestrian Centre on our left, then ride through the Llanos de la Estación area. We now approach the railway line, where we can see the huge turbines of the wind farm supplying the electrical substation. After passing the Los Jarrales reservoir - this section has a high level of difficulty - we ride through the area around Los Olivillas and take the path southwards and return to the starting point, crossing the land near the Las Cañas, Las Lomillas and Los Jarrales hills. First, we can stop to enjoy spectacular views from the south face of Sierra de los Filabres, where we can see the natural corridor which is home to Abla and the Nacimiento River, below the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Finally, we reach the Los Llanos and take the route leading to the intersection with the path we used on our outbound journey. Our route ends in the centre of Abla, but we can also carry on to the shrine of Los Santos Mártires or even until our path joins the IE-019 riding route–of a high difficulty level–and follow this other route.

We can explore the route in both directions, but we recommend taking the route to Cerro de Santa Cruz for the outbound leg and the one near Cerro de los Jarrales for the return leg, as this second section has a steep slope so it is easier when going downhill.