High Teruel

What sort of weather can I expect?

Meteorological records for the area, taken over a period of more than 10 years, are represented in the Weather Chart provided with each itinerary. Teruel has a ‘continental mountain climate’ with mild-warm spring and autumn temperatures, which can vary dramatically in the course of a day. We advise bringing layered clothing and waterproofs.

what sort of walking can I expect?

This is an 8-day trip with walks offered on 6 days. 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. On certain days the paths cross may more rugged terrain – please make sure that your foot-wear provides sufficient ankle support.

The fitness level of this trip is Grade 3-4. The walking is reasonably challenging, though not technically difficult. Most of the area is comprised of a succession of hills ‘muelas’, high plateaux ‘altiplanos’ and gorges ‘hoces’. More specifically, a ‘muela’, the most dominant feature of the landscape, is hill with a flat top, much like a table mountain, formed by selective erosion. In this area ‘muelas’ are usually between 800 and 1200 metres high. As such there is a fair amount of ‘up and down’ on this route. The route lies along farm tracks, cart and drove roads (some rocky), and mountainous paths. There are no vertiginous walks.

What if I don't want to walk?

You don’t have to! You can get a lift with the Route Manager to the next hotel when your bags are moved on, or we can arrange taxis and advise you of local transport options to facilitate shortening the walks.

How do I get to the start of the route?

The destination airports for this route are Castellon de la Plana (Ryanair offers flights from Bristol and London Stansted), Valencia and Barcelona.

Teruel is not well-served by public transport.  Its remote, mountainous location and low population has led to a degree of isolation, to the extent that a campaign group called ‘Teruel  Existe!’ was founded in 1999 to lobby for improved transport links. These are improving, but slowly.

From Castellon de la Plana airport:

The easiest option is to take a taxi to Iglesuela (1 hr 15min, approx €90); or a bus that runs Monday – Saturday (not Sundays or public holidays) to Villafranca del Cid. Please note there is one bus per day from Castellon station, departing at 17:30, arriving 19:30 Villafranca del Cid. Then take a taxi (15 min, approx €10) to Iglesuela. 

From Valencia airport:

The easiest option is to take a taxi to the first hotel, costing approximately €180, journey time 2 hours. 

Alternatively, from Valencia airport, take the metro (red line 3 or green line 5) to the centre of Valencia, station Xàtiva. This station is directly opposite Valencia Nord, the city’s main train station.  There are regular departures from the airport to Xàtiva, journey time 22 minutes, €3.90. From Valencia Nord there are regular trains to Castello (Castellon) de la Plana (journey time 40 mins-1 hour, ~€8-€18), then take a taxi to Iglesuela (1 hr 15min, approx €90); or a bus that runs Monday – Saturday (not Sundays or public holidays) to Villafranca del Cid. Please note there is one bus per day from Castellon station, departing at 17:30, arriving 19:30 Villafranca del Cid. Then take a taxi (15 min, approx €10) to Iglesuela. 

From Barcelona airport:

You could take a taxi all the way (3-3.5 hours, approx ~ €350). Or you can travel to Vinaros via train from Barcelona Sants, then take a taxi to Iglesuela (1.5 hours, approx €105) for the rest of the journey. To get from the airport to Barcelona Sants: Either take the Aerobus from outside the airport (just outside the exit) which takes you to Sants Estació station (leaves every 15 mins and costs approx €3 - 4). Or take the train to Sants Estació from the RENFE station (leaves twice an hour and takes approx 20 mins, €2 - 3). From Barcelona Sants the journey to Vinaros takes 2 hours, cost €13 - €24.  See onward taxi prices above.

Returning to airports at the end of the trip:

For Castellon:

From Morella there is a bus service to Vilanova D`Alcolea 3 times per day (1.5 hours), from where you take a connecting 10-minute taxi journey (€12). Alternatively a taxi all the way will cost €120.

For Valencia and Barcelona:

From Morella there is a bus service to Vinaros with only two departures per day, Monday-Friday (not weekends or public holidays). Please refer to http://en.morellaturistica.com/apartados/como_llegar for up to date timings. A taxi to Vinaros from Morella costs ~ approx €95. From Vinaros train station there are regular connections to both Barcelona and Valencia, and onward to their respective airports.

Train timetables:

www.bahn.de

www.renfe.es

Very useful travel website: www.rome2rio.com

Taxi bookings

Please place your booking with the ATG office at least two weeks before departure. The cost of the taxi will be confirmed to you once the booking is secured. Payment of the taxi fare should be made locally, not to ATG. The driver will have your flight details and will be waiting in Arrivals with a sign showing your name or ATG.

• If you change your flight please notify us  so we can contact the taxi company to reschedule the taxi for you.

• If, on the day of departure, your flight is cancelled or you miss or change it, please immediately contact the ATG emergency number (number is provided in trip documentation) so we can contact the taxi company to reschedule or cancel the taxi for you.

• If your flight is delayed and you have arranged for the taxi to meet you at the destination airport, your taxi driver will wait for you.

• If you are delayed and you have arranged for a taxi to meet you at a non airport location (e.g. train station) it is essential that you contact your Route Manager or call the ATG emergency
line to notify us at the earliest possible moment, so we can contact the taxi company to re-schedule or cancel the taxi for you.

• Please note that failure to advise ATG that you cannot meet the taxi booked for you, may result in the taxi costs being passed back to you.

Important: Taxi prices quoted apply to the local firm used regularly by ATG – and are guaranteed only if you book through the office in advance. If you get a taxi off a taxi rank please ask the driver to confirm the price for the journey before departing.

Where can I park my car if I drive to the route?

You can park on the street outside the first hotel free of charge; or you can park at the Cardenal Ram hotel in Morella for €15 per day. Please book this in advance with the office.

What should I bring?

Bring whatever clothes and footwear you find most comfortable for everyday wear, and a change or two for the evenings. On this trip there is no need to dress up. For walking we recommend lightweight walking boots with firm ankle support (make sure you wear them in before the trip!), a small daypack for your lightweight waterproof clothing, camera, fleece etc. You should bring layers as temperatures can vary dramatically during the course the day. An increasing number of people bring telescopic walking poles, which are recommended for this trip. For a comprehensive packing list click here .

What sort of food can I expect?

Food in the region has a very strong, independent identity, although if one was forced to ally it to one area of Spain, it would probably be closest to Catalán cuisine as it benefits from its proximity to the sea and the Ebro delta, which adds rice and sea-food into the gastronomic equation as well as being a first rate area for game, sheep, goats and pig. A very noticeable feature of the area is the pride and inventiveness in cuisine. Specialities include jamon Serrano ( cured and thinly sliced 'mountain ham'), and chilindron (spicy tomato & vegetable) sauce; to game, stuffed peppers, fish and tender roast lamb, served with cochifrito: an onion, garlic and paprika sauce .

Wines

Teruel is not known for refined wines, however it produces some very drinkable table wines - strong, basic and 'interesting'! More sophisticated wines are from the nearby Rioja and Penedas regions. 

Several of the independent routes pass through well-known wine producing regions, with opportunities for wine tasting along the route. If you are particularly interested in wine you may like to consider...

• Classic Alsace

• Provence: Vaucluse & the Lubéron

• Siena to Florence

• Southern Tuscany

• Ancient Volcanic Landscapes

• Tuscany & Siena

• Tuscan Hills

• Roman Roads to Orvieto

• Etruscan Lanes to Orvieto

• Umbria & Assisi

• Sintra & the Portuguese Coast

Breakfast

Most of the hotels we use offer a buffet-style breakfast with a wide range of both hot and cold choices. 4- and 5-star hotels almost always offer ‘cooked’ breakfast. Occasionally, in more remote areas, or in some 2 or 3-star hotels, breakfast can be a decidedly more ‘contenental’ affair – i.e. bread, croissant, juice, coffee.

Lunch

The ATG Route Booklets and our ‘Sustainable Shopping Guides’ are filled with information about markets and shops in which to buy your lunch. From seasonal fruits, local cheeses, cured hams and freshly baked breads, you are limited only by what you can carry in your pack!

Dinner

On some routes, usually where there is no other restaurant within walking distance, half-board accommodation is included (see ‘what is included’ for this trip). In other areas where there is a selection of restaurants, ATG includes a list of recommendations in your ATG Route Booklet. Some restaurants are recommended because they have provided meals that have been regularly enjoyed by ATG clients; other restaurants are renowned internationally (e.g., within the Guide Michelin).

Restaurant bookings

Your Route Manager will be delighted to book restaurants for you if required, ensuring the places you eat at are...

•Your first choice

•The highest standard

• The best value

...and you are not disappointed by finding the restaurant full.

What if I have a dietary restriction or food allergy?

When you book, let us know about any restrictions. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our routes due to the wide variety of shops and restaurants available. Your Route Manager will provide you with advice and recommendations at your briefing.

What should I bring to wear in the evening?

Bring whatever you feel comfortable wearing. There is no need to dress up on this route.

Do the hotels have WIFI, hair dryers, laundry service?

Most have WIFI, all have hair dryers, only the last hotel offers laundry service.

How much should I budget for items not included?

You can get an idea of transport costs in the ‘getting there’ section of
the trip page. For lunches, costs will depend on whether you choose to buy picnic items or eat in bars/restaurants. Dinners: some are included (see ‘what’s included’). For evening meals not included, the route book provides restaurant recommendations to suit a wide range of budgets. Entrance fees to museums, churches, galleries and other sightseeing costs will vary considerably depending on how much you want to see and how old you are (!). Over 60s enjoy significantly reduced prices at many attractions, so it is worth carrying (safely) some form of identification showing your age. Other costs are items of a personal nature, shopping expenditure and transport if you choose to limit your walking with public transport or taxis.

What if I want to extend my trip?

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 booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.

Where can I find general FAQs?

For FAQs relating to the Company and general trip questions, click here