Situation
Rodellar
Station
All year round. Without snow
Duration (approx.)
4h
Difficulty rating (M.I.D.E.)
M:3. I:2. D:2. E:3
Type of route
Circular
Elevation gain
+650 m
BTT
Yes (80% cycle-friendly; DT = Very difficult; DF = Very High)
Car combination
Yes
History and culture
Because of my profession, I often find myself travelling up to Otín or Nasarre, and even today, just as if it were the first time, a multitude of feelings well up inside me whenever I go. I like to imagine what this plateau must once have been like, with all its inhabited houses, the walls of sheepfolds and paths built up, the fields cultivated and livestock grazing, and the comings and goings of herdsmen, farmers and traders who came from Bara, Used, Letosa, Bagüeste, San Hipólito and other villages to make their way down to the foothills and sell their produce.
Today, all that remains are ruins and the herds of feral goats left behind by the last inhabitants, who often greet us by peering out from the balconies and windows of the crumbling houses where they seek shelter for the night.
If we add to this the names of various geological features (Cuca Bellosta, La Ciudadela, Peña los Moros, the Losa Mora Dolmen, the Mascún Ravine, the Andrebot Cave), the holm oak forests, the numerous legends and the prevailing silence, we will soon realise that we find ourselves in a place that is as beautiful as it is mysterious and enigmatic.
Legends
One of the many legends surrounding the Losa Mora Dolmen tells that the bodies of two lovers—a Moorish king and a beautiful Christian girl—lie buried beneath its stones. Her parents refused to consent to their courtship, so the two lovers fled to Nocito. Near the dolmen, they were caught by a Christian patrol, who killed them with arrows to the heart, and their bodies were buried in that very spot.
Another mysterious place is the Mascún Ravine; this name is believed to come from Arabic and means ‘place where spirits dwell’. When the Mascún River was in flood, in the dark, the roar of the water crashing against the rocks was such that it could be heard as far away as Otín. Some locals associated it with the cries of the spirits of the Muslims who had died on those cliffs.
Other legends speak of covens of witches from all over Guara, who gathered in the depths of the ravine, where there are countless caves, to perform their rituals.
ITINERARY
1- Rodellar
2- Mascún/El Delfín/Andrebot
3- Losa Mora Dolmen
4- Nasarre
5- Otín
6- Costera / Cuca Bellosta
7- Source of the Mascún / Rodellar
1- There is a small car park at the entrance to Rodellar. We will take this as the starting point for our route. Crossing through the village and passing through the square, we’ll reach some steps leading up to the Honguera neighbourhood. Continuing past this, we’ll come to a path that winds its way down to the River Mascún.
2- Our aim is to follow the river upstream, crossing it several times. Passing the spring and going under a natural arch known as ‘El Delfín’, we’ll reach a junction where, to our left, a path branches off and quickly leads us to the so-called Barranco de Andrebot. Warning! Do not follow the path that goes up the Mascún River.
3- The path immediately gains height, requiring us to climb a steep slope. We will come across a few paths on our left, which we will not take. After walking for a while, the path levels out, and shortly afterwards, on the right, we will find the Losa Mora Dolmen
4- At this very spot, several paths branch off. We will take the one furthest to the left, heading towards Nasarre. The well-marked path ends at a track just in front of the abandoned village of Nasarre.
5- In front of the church, a path leads towards Otín. When we reach Nasarre, this path is on our right. We will stay on it until we reach Otín, ignoring the various paths we come across and always continuing along the main one. (Signposted).
6- Once we reach Otín, we will turn right to descend to the lower houses. From here, the path back to Rodellar begins. We continue on a virtually flat stretch before descending steeply along the coastal path. On our left, we’ll see La Ciudadela and La Cuca Bellosta. When we reach the river, we’ll follow its banks down to the Andrebot junction. From here, all that remains is to climb up to Rodellar to complete the route.
Skip to content