Trail of Las Buitreras (Vulture Eyries). Luque - Carcabuey - PR-A 62

The route through the mountains of Carcabuey and Luque enables visitors to enter a landscape formed out of limestone, a landscape offering a wide variety of nuances and certain places of exceptional interest both for the flora and for the fauna, with particular emphasis on the rocky walls of the vulture eyries which give their names to the trail. All this makes this trail, we can take in either direction, one of the most attractive and spectacular in the Sierras Subbéticas mountain ranges.

The La Buitreras Trail - PR-A 62 starts in the town of Luque, which is well worth close inspection before setting out on the trail. The route starts from the far west of the town, outside the municipal swimming pool. From there we follow the route of the unpaved CP-131 road which runs from Luque to Carcabuey.

The path first enters a landscape of olive groves, which gradually mingle with trees and wild shrubs like the broom, the common hawthorn, the daphne, the mastic and the occasional holm oak. As we progress we will come across numerous almond trees which will delight us with their white and pink blossom if we follow the trail in February.

After a short rest we come to the Arroyo del Zurreón stream,, on whose banks we find ash tress, walnut trees, poplars and a number of small vegetable gardens. In this area we find the species of almond tree called "Almendro del Sendero de las Buitreras", a tree listed by the Environment Department due to its exceptional dimensions. As we continue along the track we enter into a rockier terrain, where the olive trees are replaced by scrubland with a few holm oaks. On this stretch we can access an alternative to the route: the path of Marchaniega which takes us to La Fuente del Espino via the Cortijo del Oso. On this alternative route we will pass through a large number of gates which we must always close behind us.

After passing by the farmhouse of La Nava there is a turn-off to Zagrilla Alta, but the route is only marked with milestones (stones piled up in the shape of a pyramid). This area at the foot of the peak of El Esparragal (1,079 m) is covered by a dense forest of holm oaks.

As we climb we reach La Nava de Luque, where we find an example of karstic landscape in the heart of the mountains which overlooks the whole area: a polje or enclosed flat-floored depression Its origin lies principally in the geological structure and breakup of the limestone. It is surrounded by rugged walls, unlike the long, open valleys usually formed by a riverbed.

Now is a good time to take a rest after the ascent while, from the lookout point on the left, we enjoy stunning views of the Hoya de Priego, Zagrilla, Carcabuey, Sierra de Albayate, Sierra Gallinera and Sierra Horconera, in the latter we'll find the Tiñosa, which at 1,570 m is the highest peak in the province of Cordoba.

Following our route, we will see on our right an enormous right a limestone cliff which is the southern face of El Abuchite. Its walls, known as "Las Buitreras" (Vulture Eyries), are nesting grounds for jackdaws and red-billed choughs, as well as the largest colony of griffon vultures in the Nature Reserve.

Following the path southwards we reach the Cortijo de Bernabé. At this point a 500 m track enables us allows us to spring of Bernabé, a great beauty spot. The Arroyo de Bernabé stream has enabled the appearance of ash trees and poplars. The route ends near Carcabuey, next to the A-339 highway. At this point it is possible to start the route in the opposite direction, towards Luque.