House for 7 people in National Park of Gredos

The accommodation

Semi-detached house in San Martín del Pimpollar, fully equipped, has a plot surrounded by a mountain stream that gives it a very unique character, creating a perfect space for days off. The house has a high level of equipment, a garden area with barbecue and Nordic Jacuzzi (with hot water, perfect for night baths after excursions). High mountain area perfect for hiking, bathing in mountain rivers, bike routes, on horseback ... 6km from the "Parador de Gredos". Ideal area for mountain routes through Gredos, horseback riding, bird watching, , cycling routes and gastronomic tourism

Setting

San Martín del Pimpollar is a very small village on the northern face of Gredos at an altitude of 1,300 m, with around 160 registered inhabitants. It has a local bakery, 2 bars and little more commercial activity. It is 6km from the "Parador de Gredos", 7km from Navarredonda de Gredos and 9km from Hoyos del Espino, which is the epicenter of tourism in the area. The road that leads to the Gredos platform starts from Hoyos del Espino, the starting point of the most classic hiking routes in the area, such as the route to the Laguna Grande or the ascent to Almanzor. Both in Navarredonda and Hoyos there are multiple shops to stock up on, as well as hospitality businesses that offer a sufficient proposal in terms of options for gastronomic plans. The area offers a wide range of activities, from the mere disconnection in quiet environments, such as bathing in the streams and natural mountain rivers that abound in the area, passing through many routes (, cycling, fishing (mountain streams, rivers Tormes and Alberche very close), bird watching (activity with high interest in the area, with specialized companies we can put you in contact with, some of hide), horse riding as well as enjoy the multiple gastronomic offer in nearby establishments (Gredos's power of tourist attraction has led to the development of an intense hospitality activity in the area). Likewise, the area offers activity options for the little ones, from a zip line park in a nearby forest such as camps and riding schools in the area.

Activities and attractions

Each station offers its charms and shows the different faces of Gredos

In the spring the spectacle of the thaw with the mountain streams loaded with water, landscapes with snowy peaks and green and yellow fields that in the month of May give rise to the Festival of the Blossoming Piorno, in which coinciding with the flowering of this shrub the villages in the area compete for the best decoration with white and yellow broom flowers (the two types of broom). In summer the area invites you to get lost in the gorges for swimming in pools, still enjoying solitary places and the low temperatures that this area offers at night even in the hottest months. In Autumn a good option are walks through theforests in the area, mushroom collection in the spectacular Albar pine forests (Pinar de Navarredonda or Hoyocasero, 5km from the house) where Boletus, or blackberries, abound. And in winter, enjoy impressive white landscapes.
San Martin del Pimpollar is located in the vicinity of Puerto del Pico, which serves as the geographical vertex where three valleys converge: The Tietar valley on the south face of Gredos (and which is reached by descending the port of El Pico which acts as the natural step of the plateau from an average altitude of more than 1000 m to the few more than 300m that Arenas de San Pedro has) the Valley of Tormes whose source is 4km from the house and which extends towards the Barco de Avila, passing through picturesque towns that I recommend visiting such as Bohoyo or La Herguijuela, the town at the highest altitude in Avila, and the Alberche Valley. unknown for the power of attraction that Gredos has always held, but that does not detract from the landscapes and charm of the towns in the area. If you want to opt for plans in towns or cities with more leisure options during your stay, San Martin del Pimpollar is almost equidistant from Avila Capital, Arenas de San Pedro and Barco de Ávila, about 40 minutes by car from all of them. Finally, in summer the bathing options that attract the most interest are the natural pools and gorges, particularly the Valdeascas gorge, very close, unique places such as the Pozo de las Paredes, or if you prefer to opt for a pool, 8 km is the municipal swimming pool of Hoyo Casero, which is also an interesting option

At a sporting level, it is worth highlighting the options it offers for mountaineering, being the ascent to Almanzor the route that attracts the most attention to the most demanding (about 4-5h walking -one way- from the platform, outside the months of Winter and early spring can be done without the need for more technical material than good footwear and mountain clothes, but be careful with the last 15 meters that will face you with a climb that will test your fears of heights). There are also more affordable routes for the family, such as the classic ascent to the Big Lagoon, an excursion of about 2.5 hours from the platform to the lagoon that will take us to the 2200 m of the barrerones pass to contemplate the lagoon in the background surrounded by the Gredos circus with all the peaks already used in the area (Almazor, the little brothers, La Galana), in a landscape of rocks that appear green due to the pigment of the lichen that cover them.

During the ascent, it will be easy to meet examples of mountain goats. In the surroundings, there are a multitude of paths and routes to less famous places, but they do not detract, such as the excursion to Puerto del Peon, the source of the Tormes river, the Navarredonda pine forest or the Hoyocasero forest. Attached links for more information about these excursions:

Pinar de Hoyocasero

For road bike lovers, there are a wide variety of ports that allow you to plan unforgettable days, such as Puerto de la Peña Negra, Puerto de Mijares, Serranillos, Pico, Navatalgordo ... all of them famous for having been part of stages on the Tour of Spain, with slopes not very steep (around 7-9% maintained) but with landscapes that give another dimension to the sport. And those who opt for mountain biking, there are many paths used since ancient times by the local people, as well as a network of stages marked with signs in the mountains within the "A round with Gredos" program promoted by the Junta de Castila and Leon, which marks different routes between towns in the area (in San Martin there are two routes, one towards the Pico port and the other towards Navarredonda, both signposted).

If running is your sport, if you want to practice trail routes you are in a paradise for it, for training in height with an average altitude of 1400-1600 meters. If you are looking for more regular routes, I recommend the Navarredonda de Gredos pine forest, where you will find a way that will allow you to enjoy very good workouts at 1500m high in the shade of a spectacular forest and along paths that will allow you to prolong your training with runs of more than 10 km without too steep slopes and in an environment that will make you enjoy