Route · Castillejo-Sierra
PR-CU 26: Ruta de la fuente de la Herrería
PR-CU 26, Ruta de la fuente de la Herrería, is a circular short-distance trail of 17 km with 511 m of elevation gain and about 5 hours, of moderate difficulty, starting in Castillejo-Sierra. It climbs the Calera ravine to Calar del Sumidero, overlooking the Escabas valley and Poyatos, and descends along the Fuente de la Herrería stream.
- Code
- PR-CU 26
- Distance
- 17 km
- Elevation gain
- 511 m
- Time
- 5 h
- Layout
- Circular
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Walking time without travel or stops. Difficulty as graded by the official source. «Easy» does not mean accessible.
- PR-CU 26
- Castillejo-Sierra
- Escabas
Where to start
In Castillejo-Sierra, along the Fresneda de la Sierra road.
The route
It soon leaves the road to cross the valley fields along the old Poyatos cart road and climbs the Calera ravine to Fuente del Resquicio. The climb ends at Calar del Sumidero, the highest point, with the Escabas valley and Poyatos in view. It continues over the Las Cubas and Cañada Laite saddles to Prado de los Arroyos, the source of the village’s water, and descends a steep track along the Fuente de la Herrería stream, facing the ravine’s fissure.
The track reaches the Fuente de la Portera picnic area before crossing the dehesa, wood pasture, and returning among crops.
Difficulty and time
Circular, 17 km and 511 m of elevation gain, about 5 hours. Moderate difficulty.
Before you set out
Start early and take water: the village has very few facilities.
Official route · Federación de Deportes de Montaña de Castilla-La Mancha y Diputación de Cuenca (Senderos de Cuenca) (PR-CU 26). Description, track and notices on the official route page (in Spanish). Before you set out, check there for changes or closures.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point?
Calar del Sumidero, overlooking the Escabas and Poyatos.
How difficult is it?
Moderate: 17 km, 511 m of elevation gain and about 5 hours.
Carry on from here
Lands and landscapes
From here, follow the memory of the land
These readings connect Ruta de la fuente de la Herrería with the stories, the work and the villages around it.
Where it is
● Villages · ● Places · ━ Simplified official route
Location sketch. The map with paths and names loads as you scroll to it.
Reference villages: Castillejo-Sierra · Fresneda de la Sierra · Arcos de la Sierra · La Frontera.
Open the full map and its historical layers →Where the data on this page come from
- Name
- Federación de Deportes de Montaña de Castilla-La Mancha (FDMCM) / Senderos de Cuenca source consulted, 4 October 2026
- FDMCM · Diputación Provincial de Cuenca source consulted, 4 October 2026
- Federación de Deportes de Montaña de Castilla-La Mancha source consulted, 5 October 2026
- Municipality (INE code)
- Federación de Deportes de Montaña de Castilla-La Mancha (FDMCM) / Senderos de Cuenca source consulted, 4 October 2026
- FDMCM · Diputación Provincial de Cuenca source consulted, 4 October 2026
- Route data
- Federación de Deportes de Montaña de Castilla-La Mancha (FDMCM) / Senderos de Cuenca source consulted, 4 October 2026
- FDMCM · Diputación Provincial de Cuenca source consulted, 4 October 2026
- Federación de Deportes de Montaña de Castilla-La Mancha source consulted, 5 October 2026
«Source consulted»: the primary source has been read. «Reference located»: the source has been identified but not yet read. «Open question»: the figure needs confirmation.