High Teruel – Independent
Explore the sparsely populated Alto Teruel, a land of high plateaux and gorges, flower-filled pastures in spring and early summer, open sierras, ridges and pilgrim paths, with wonderfully picturesque and often dramatically situated little towns and villages.
Most of the area you walk through is comprised of a succession of hills (muelas), high plateaux (altiplanos) and gorges (hoces). A muela, the most dominant feature of the landscape, is a hill with a flat top, much like a table mountain (or a molar!), formed by selective erosion. They are usually between 800 and 1200 metres high, so there is a fair amount of ‘up and down’ on this route.
After a day of great walking, enjoy the hearty, robust cuisine of the region with specialities such as black truffles.
Duration: 8 days
Itinerary
Explore the small village of Iglesuela del Cid. Family-run 3* hotel with restaurant.
This quaint village has many finely preserved, Renaissance-style palaces from the 16th to 18th centuries when it flourished from the production of sheep wool. The ayuntamiento (municipal building) was once a fortified monastery of the Knights Templars and has some interesting architectural features.
Friendly, family run hotel with excellent restaurant
Cross open sierra and stony pastures with wide views to the town of Cantavieja, sited on a high outcrop of rock. (6.6 or 12.4 miles, 3.5 or 6.5 hours). Stylish 4* hotel with wonderful views.
A lively village perched on a limestone crag. The town occupies a natural defensive position, surrounded on three sides by deep gorges. Its medieval walls enclose a Baroque church (18th century), municipal buildings dating from the 15th century, a medieval castle, a beautiful 14th-century Templar church and a small but well-curated museum on the Carlist Wars of the 19th century.
Stylishly renovated hotel with wonderful views
Time for exploring Cantavieja, strolling along its porticoed Plaza de Cristo Rey and admiring the fine views. Optional short or long walk to nearby gorge and viewpoint (6.4 or 9.6 miles, 4.5 or 6.5 hours).
Stylishly renovated hotel with wonderful views
Cross the valley to a hermitage overlooking Cantavieja. Follow a ridge with extensive views across wild, empty country, before descending to the riverside village of Mirambel, a walled Templar town. (10.1 miles, 6 hours). Carefully restored boutique hotel in the historic centre.
This is a stunning, walled village with a number of extremely attractive buildings amid the cobbled streets, including several large houses, the 17th-century Iglesia de Santa Margarita and its splendid tower, and the 16th-century ayuntamiento (municipal buildings).
Casa Rural: Carefully restored boutique hotel in historic centre
An ancient path up from Mirambel leads to the tiny village of La Cuba (or, to shorten the route, take a lift with your Route Manager to La Cuba). Ascend through scrub forest then along a pilgrim track to the chapel of San Cristobal with fine views of your destination, Forcall. Forcall is noted for its fine town square and Renaissance porticos with two 16th-century palaces (14.7 miles, 7.5-8 hours). Brief transfer to your guesthouse in Todolella.
The name of this village comes from the word ‘horca’, meaning ‘pitchfork’, as it sits at the confluence of three rivers and is surrounded by three mountains. The town has an extensive porticoed central square and impressive Ayuntamiento (municipal buildings).
Friendly, family-run hotel with excellent restaurant.
After a short transfer back to Forcall, paths lead up to the top of one of the most famous muela (hills) in the Alto Maestrazgo, the Garumba. From here there are wonderful views of Morella, which you enter through one of the four medieval gates (10.7 miles, 5-6 hours). Stay in a 3* renovated manor house with fabulous views.
Morella’s position at the heart of the Maestrazgo mountain range is outstanding. The houses are draped around a cone-shaped rocky hill like a pink bib, topped by a massive castle. The town is encircled by a perfectly preserved ring of walls, built in the 14th-century to protect the citizens from the Moors. Besides its impressive defences, look out for the Basilica of Santa Maria la Mayor, the convent of St Francis (currently being restored) and the Gothic aqueduct.
Sensitively renovated manor house in central location with fabulous views
Explore the historic sights, perhaps using our optional city walk as a guide around the medieval streets, churches and museums enclosed within Morella’s 14-century walls. Optional walk to the picturesque village of Chiva. (4.2 miles, 2.5-3 hours).
Sensitively renovated manor house in central location with fabulous views
Trip Planner
Walking & Terrain
Walking: Moderate to challenging. The walk lengths vary from 2.5 hours to a maximum of 7.5 hours walking. Hours of walking, which may vary from individual to individual, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing, rests or siestas.
Terrain: The route lies along farm tracks, cart and drove roads (some rocky), and mountainous paths. There are a couple of vertiginous sections on the walk, but alternative routes are available for those with vertigo. Your Route Manager will be able to advise you on this. On certain days the paths cross may more rugged terrain – please make sure that your foot-wear provides sufficient ankle support.
All ATG trips include facilities and options so that you can arrange to walk as much or as little as you like – or not at all - and your Route Manager will be able to advise you on public transport or taxi options.
Walking & Terrain
Walking: Moderate to challenging. The walk lengths vary from 2.5 hours to a maximum of 7.5 hours walking. Hours of walking, which may vary from individual to individual, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing, rests or siestas.
Terrain: The route lies along farm tracks, cart and drove roads (some rocky), and mountainous paths. There are a couple of vertiginous sections on the walk, but alternative routes are available for those with vertigo. Your Route Manager will be able to advise you on this. On certain days the paths cross may more rugged terrain – please make sure that your foot-wear provides sufficient ankle support.
All ATG trips include facilities and options so that you can arrange to walk as much or as little as you like – or not at all - and your Route Manager will be able to advise you on public transport or taxi options.
Additional activities available locally
This is a wonderful area offering some additional local experiences:
Extend your stay in Iglesuela to visit picturesque Vilafranca del Cid by taxi, to explore the town and local dry stone museum which showcases the traditional construction technique of the area followed by a walk back to Iglesuela (1 hr).
On the free day in Morella, free guided tours are available to visit cave paintings 6km outside Morella and additional walking available.
Additional activities/taxis are paid for locally and can be booked via your Route Manager who will contact you 2 weeks prior to departure.
Your Personal ATG Route Manager
I was born in Morella, a small, medieval village at the end of your route, and have lived here my whole life. It’s a joy to help others discover everything that I know and love about this little-known region. Everyone is taken aback by the dramatic landscapes, the silence and the authentic feel of the towns and villages they pass through.
“The support of the team and Olga made the trip seamless with no stress.”
“Olga was amazing. She was always available, responded promptly and helped us with a late itinerary change to avoid some bad weather.”
Route Book
The ATG Route Book is a detailed, day-to-day guide. The book anticipates your needs with easy-to-follow instructions, maps, plans and other information that will guide you to discover the best that the area has to offer and is the key to the success of an independent holiday with us.
Walking App
Your Route Manager can provide you with a link to download an app to your smartphone. This app provides the GPS track for your route on your phone. You can use this digital support to find your position and navigate the route, even without an internet connection or mobile phone reception.
Accommodation & Meals
You can expect each hotel to be one of the most characteristic, comfortable and best located for travellers on foot, with the character and sometimes the standard varying from place to place. In more remote areas hotels may be of a generally lower standard in relation to their ‘star ratings’. Much of this itinerary is ‘off the beaten tourist track’ so expect something different on occasions – and we think you may be delighted!
Single travellers are accommodated in double rooms for single occupancy for a supplemental charge.
Breakfast is included and there are suggestions in the Route Book about where to buy provisions for a picnic lunch, as well as restaurant recommendations. Dining options often include a choice of restaurants that can be pre-booked for you by your Route Manager.
Food & Wine
Food in this region is hearty, robust and accessible, based on simple meats like roast and cured ham (jamon serrano) and stews. Sauces made from peppers, garlic and nuts such as almonds and hazelnuts are often used to garnish fish or meat. Wild mushrooms also feature strongly, especially black truffles. Portions tend to be ‘generous’ (huge) but welcoming after a day’s walk. The best wines in the area come from the Cariñena demarcation further north but the Somontano from Teruel is also well received. There are also some light, refreshing wines from Valencia which complement the seafood further along the route. The Route Book contains a section on the cuisine and wines of the region, and a list of recommended restaurants en route.
Flora & Fauna
The climate here is Mediterranean with a regular dry period during the summer, resulting in vegetation that can survive with very little water. Look out for griffon vultures and other birds of prey. Mammals you might spot include the Spanish ibex, wild goats and boar, civet cats and, very rarely, genets. Our Route Book provides further detail while apps such as ‘LeafSnap’, ‘Flora Incognita’ and child-friendly ‘Seek by iNaturalist’ can identify the wildlife en route.
Travel Arrangements
Travel arrangements, including flights, for ATG Independent Footloose trips should be made independently.
Outward travel to Iglesuela del Cid: From any of the airports listed above, the easiest option is to take a taxi direct from the airport to the hotel. Castellon airport is the closest to Iglesuela (approx. 1hr 15) while Barcelona is the furthest (3-3.5 hrs). There are also cheaper options by train from Barcelona and Valencia, and by bus from Castellon, although neither arrive directly into Iglesuela so you will need to jump in a taxi for the last leg of the journey.
Return travel from Morella: Take a bus or taxi from Morella to Vinaros train station for regular onward trains to Barcelona or Valencia airports. For Castellon airport, take the bus from Morella to Vilanova d’Alcolea, and then an onward taxi to the airport.
Trip Options & Prices
Overview
This 8 day independent walking tour in Teruel starts in village of Iglesuela del Cid and includes 4 days walking plus 2 optional walks. Stay in picturesque villages and discover the culture of this sparsely populated lesser known area of Spain where you will find great walking and an abundance of wildlife.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Iglesuela del Cid
Day 2: Iglesuela del Cid to Cantavieja
Day 3: Cantavieja - free Day
Day 4: Cantavieja to Mirambel
Day 5: Mirambel to Forcall
Day 6: Forcall to Morella
Day 7: Morella - free day
Day 8: Departure
Prices (per person)
Frequently Asked Questions
On each route there is an ATG Route Manager, who is there to take care of all the practicalities and ensure the success of your trip. Route Managers have all been ATG-trained, speak English and the language of the country fluently, and live in the local area. Your Route Manager will make contact with you a couple of weeks prior to departure (usually by email) and will then meet you at the start of your trip and will be available during your trip to move your luggage from hotel to hotel, provide local information, make restaurant reservations and do everything possible to ensure that you derive maximum enjoyment from your holiday.
Please let us know about any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance so that our Route Manager can ensure that you are catered for during your holiday. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our trips and the Route Manager can discuss your requirements in more detail with you at the start of your trip.
The walks are graded according to difficulty but you can walk as much or as little as you like.
Easy: walking along well-established paths and tracks with some short ascents/descents. These trips are suitable for most people who enjoy occasional exercise.
Easy to Moderate: walking along well-established paths and tracks. Occasional loose (gravel) surfaces. Ascents/descents up to 1 hour. These trips are suitable for most people who have a reasonable level of fitness.
Moderate: walking along a variety of paths and tracks. Occasional uneven areas. Ascents/descents 1-2 hours. These trips are suitable for those who have a reasonable to good level of fitness.
Moderate to Challenging: walking along varied paths and surfaces, occasionally challenging, with ascents/descents of 2-3 hours. These trips are suitable for more experienced walkers who have a good level of fitness.
If you are planning to take an Independent trip as a single traveller, we would ask you to consider the potential dangers of walking alone before making a booking and if necessary discuss this with our Sales team.
Single travellers will be booked into a double room which will carry a single occupancy supplement.
Flights are not included in the price of your ATG holiday and should be booked independently.
The trips in our Independent programme make ideal family holidays for those with children who are old enough (and keen enough!) to enjoy a walking holiday or young enough to be carried in a backpack.
You would need to consider costs for lunches (either a picnic style lunch or lunch in a café as you prefer) and evening meals. Where an evening meal is included at a hotel this is indicated on the trip page. For evening meals not included, the route book provides restaurant recommendations to suit a wide range of budgets. You would also need to factor in any entrance fees to museums, churches, galleries and other sightseeing costs, items of a personal nature, shopping expenditure and transport if you choose to not to walk on some days.
Tourist Tax
This tax is charged per guest per night and the rate is determined by the local council based on the star rating of the accommodation. The rate usually varies from €2 up to €5 per person per night, although the rate can be higher in major cities. This tax is not included in the price of your holiday but where applicable will be payable direct to your hotel in cash.
We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension hotel booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.
ATG does not provide any form of insurance cover. However, it is a condition of booking that you have fully comprehensive insurance cover, including:
Cancellation/curtailment up to the cost of the holiday (preferably including flights)
Medical emergencies and repatriation
Travel delay / missed departure
Lost or stolen personal belongings
Personal liability
Legal expenses
Natural Disasters
Although most credit card companies offer travel insurance as something that is included when paying the balance with the card, it may be advisable to check that the cover offered is what you expect it to be. Very few companies include cancellation and curtailment or medical expenses. Whatever the insurance policy you have taken out, please read the documentation carefully. Please ensure also that you take it with you on your trip and refer to it in the case of any claim or emergency.
Yes, please click here for what to bring. A packing checklist is also included with your booking confirmation.
Sustainability
ATG was founded on principles of conservation and sustainable development. It was the first company to win the tourism industry’s two top awards: Tourism for Tomorrow (UK) and the World Legacy Award (National Geographic and Conservation International USA) and also the first to have an accredited Environmental Management System.
Everyone who walks with ATG contributes to the ATG Trust, which funds projects that benefit local communities in the regions visited. By supporting these initiatives, ATG promotes sustainable tourism. Past projects have included heritage restoration projects, environmental conservation and educational projects.
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