Route along the source of the Gato River

It features particularly scenic areas due to the rich ecosystem preserved at the confluence of the Cuzna and Gato rivers, both declared areas of community interest. To get here, take the road from Villanueva to Obejo, and at km 9, turn right onto the Pista del Moralejo (or the road from Pozoblanco to the Campiña). Follow this path for 3 km, and at the intersection with the third road on the left, the Camino del Judío, head southwest (left as you walk). Continue along this path for 1.5 km until you reach the source of the Gato River, at the confluence of the Guadalcazar and Polisar streams. 

The route begins in the landscape of fenced fields and pastures typical of the Saliega. The route continues along the river bank, and shortly after it joins the Judío stream, remains of old bismuth mines can be seen. We are at the "slate line," where the granitic batholith meets the sedimentary materials (slates), resulting in a change in the landscape, which is much more abrupt and rugged in the slate area than in the saline region from which we started. The flora that remains is a sample of the original vegetation before human activity, with representatives of Mediterranean scrubland such as strawberry trees, dogwoods, buckthorns, mastic trees, and wild privets still thriving along the rugged banks of the Gato River. The river flows south, and we continue until we reach its confluence with the Rongil stream, from where we retrace our steps to return to the starting point. Route details: Distance: 10 km (round trip). Difficulty: Medium-High. Recommended seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. Activity: Hiking. Key features: Holm oak dehesa, Gato River, Bismuth mines, Loma de la Pizarra, Mediterranean scrubland, Stone enclosures. Starting location: Villanueva de Cordoba.