Pinajarro stage (Hervás)
Climb from Hervás to Pinajarro on forest track and singletrack. 18-22 km, 900-1,100 m+. Centuries-old chestnut groves and Valle del Ambroz views from the top.
Getaways
MTB through the Sistema Central
Three days of demanding mountain biking between Hervás, the Sierra de Francia and the Valle del Ambroz. Atlantic forest deep in the Castilian plateau, no-frills mountain villages, real vertical.
From 375 € /person
2-5 nights
Cáceres No commitment · We design it with you
§02 — The place
Chestnuts, Jewish quarters and the clean air of the sierra
You leave Hervás at dawn with a cool helmet and the Jewish quarter still empty. You climb toward Pinajarro; old chestnut trees screen the sun. You cross the pass and drop into the Sierra de Francia: Mogarraz, La Alberca, slate facades and timber framing. Three days, two provinces, one green corridor. There's no chairlift queue here because there's no chairlift: just patience, vertical, and a Ribera del Jerte wine at the end.
§03 — Why it stands out
Why it stands out
- 01
Two comarcas, one Atlantic forest
Not just another MTB area: it's the only band on the peninsula where chestnut and Pyrenean oak drop south of the Sistema Central watershed. Same landscape in Hervás (Cáceres) and Mogarraz (Salamanca). You switch provinces by pedalling.
- 02
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Both the Valle del Ambroz (within the Sierras de Béjar y Francia Biosphere Reserve) and the Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park are protected areas. Well-kept trails, clean signage, and very low tourist pressure outside long weekends.
- 03
Hervás Jewish quarter: intact medieval heritage
Very few villages in Spain preserve a 13th-15th century Jewish street grid this cleanly. After the ride, wandering Rabilero or Travesía del Moral is the real reward. The quarter is officially protected as a Historic-Artistic Site.
- 04
Honest MTB, no lifts, no posing
There's no bike park or chrome trail-marking here. What you get is what you put in: forest tracks, ancient drove paths, working sheep transhumance. The destination for riders who were here long before premium enduro existed.
§04 — Who it fits
Who it fits
With friends Adventure Ecotourism Disconnection History Local Life
For you if you ride mountain bikes regularly, handle long climbs (700-1,200 m+ per day), are fine with a rural inn rather than a boutique hotel, and enjoy a stew or a wild-mushroom plate after the shower. Intermediate-advanced level: technical descents, loose rock, occasional hike-a-bike.
Not for you if you're after enduro lift-assisted MTB (look at the Pyrenees), if you've never climbed a long mountain pass on a bike (start with a rolling hub such as Ribera del Duero or La Vera), or if you're travelling with small children. For family MTB or touring e-bike, this hub is short on smoothness.
No commitment · We design it with you
§05 — What you can live
What you can live here
An editorial showcase of what the destination offers. Nothing to book here - we shape it when you write to us.
Adventure
— The active side: guided or self-guided activities, no sugar-coating the gradient.The active side: guided or self-guided activities, no sugar-coating the gradient.
Peña de Francia stage
Climb to the Natural Park summit (1,727 m) from La Alberca. Technical descent on loose rock. 25-30 km, 1,300-1,500 m+. Panorama from Gredos to Portugal.
Sierra de Béjar link stage
Optional connector stage between the two comarcas via the Honduras pass and the Béjar chestnut groves. Ideal to chain both packages.
Culture & heritage
— What makes this place different: heritage, crafts, local history.What makes this place different: heritage, crafts, local history.
Hervás Jewish quarter
One of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Spain. Officially designated Historic-Artistic Site. Walk Rabilero, Travesía del Moral and the Trinitarios Convent.
La Alberca and Mogarraz
Villages with timber-framed facades, arcaded streets and living folklore (Saint Anthony, flower garlands). La Alberca was Spain's first village declared Historic-Artistic Site (1940).
Textile Béjar
Optional ride past the old cloth factories along the Cuerpo de Hombre river. Mateo Hernández Museum. An overlooked industrial past.
Food & drink
— Eating well without the manual - local product, village pace.Eating well without the manual - local product, village pace.
Mountain food in Hervás
Patatas revolconas with crispy pork belly, oven-roasted kid, frita extremeña, hornazo. Bars on the avenue and old town run an affordable daily set menu.
Guijuelo cured ham
30 minutes' drive from Béjar. Guijuelo DOP: ham, shoulder, loin and chorizo cured in the cool sierra air. Optional drying-cellar visit.
Sierra de Salamanca DOP wines
Small high-altitude DOP, native rufete grape. Wineries in Mogarraz, San Esteban de la Sierra and Miranda del Castañar. End-of-stage tasting recommended.
Where to sleep
— Where you sleep - inns, rural houses, hotels with character in the valley.Where you sleep - inns, rural houses, hotels with character in the valley.
Rural inn in Hervás
Standard base for the Ambroz package: family-run rural house or hostal in the Jewish quarter or old town. Full board with market-driven cooking.
Rural house in Sierra de Francia
Standard base for the Sierra de Francia package: timber-framed mountain houses in La Alberca, Mogarraz or Miranda del Castañar. Local mountain cuisine.
Nature
— Landscape unfiltered: what you see on foot, without the car.Landscape unfiltered: what you see on foot, without the car.
Honfría trail
Best-preserved oak forest of the Sierra de Francia, near Linares de Riofrío. Rideable on MTB via the main track. Recommended in autumn for the colour.
Castañar Gallego (Hervás)
Picnic area 4 km from the village, with 500+ year-old chestnut trees. Typical stage start or finish. Drinking fountain and rest area.
30-60 min away
— Half-hour side trips if you've time left or it rains.Half-hour side trips if you've time left or it rains.
Valle del Jerte (cherry blossom)
40 minutes by car from Hervás. The valley blooms in March-April (Cerezo en Flor, festival of national tourist interest). Garganta de los Infiernos.
Las Batuecas
Protected valley south of the Natural Park, with rock-art paintings and the Monastery of San José de Las Batuecas. Walking access from La Alberca.
§06 — The practical side
Weekend practicalities
- Best season
- Spring · Autumn
- Fitness level
- Challenging
- Typical length
- 2-5 nights
More practical details
Physical level & requirements
Intermediate-to-high fitness. Days of 60-80 km with 1,000-1,500 m+ of cumulative climbing. You need to ride mountain bikes regularly (city MTB doesn't count).
How to get there
Best season: April-June and September-November. Summer is to be avoided: 35-38 °C on the plateau and dry streams. Winter brings ice above 1,200 m and snow on Pinajarro or Peña de Francia.
How to get there: A-66 (Vía de la Plata) to Hervás (Cáceres) or A-66 + CL-512 to La Alberca (Salamanca). Nearest AVE station: Plasencia (35 min from Hervás) or Salamanca (1 h from La Alberca).
Equipment: full-suspension recommended, 2.35-2.5" mixed tyres, knee pads, spare tube + tubeless plug. Full-face helmet optional for Peña de Francia descents.
Permits: free riding on forest tracks; some Natural Park trails have hike-a-bike sections (signed on-site).
Recommendations
Book accommodation in advance for long weekends and Easter: the corridor has limited beds. If you do both days in Ambroz, save an afternoon for the Hervás Jewish quarter and the Pérez Comendador museum. If you do both days in the Sierra de Francia, climb to Peña de Francia (1,727 m) at sunrise: the panorama covers everything from Gredos to Portugal.
Ask the guide to take you on the Honfría trail (oak forest) if the day allows extra kilometres. And learn to say boroña and limonada serrana before you set foot in a bar.
§07 — Bookable packages
Bookable packages
§08 — Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to bring my own bike?
It's the norm. Some shops in Salamanca and Plasencia rent bikes, but their stock of sizes and full-suspension is limited. Book two weeks ahead if you need one.
How much climbing per day?
Between 1,000 and 1,500 m+ per day. The Peña de Francia stage runs around 1,400 m+; the Ambroz stages sit at 1,000-1,200 m+.
Can I combine both packages in one trip?
Yes. Talk to the concierge: you can chain Sierra de Francia → transfer via Béjar → Valle del Ambroz in a single week, switching base between day 3 and day 4.
Is there a support vehicle?
The Valle del Ambroz package includes a support vehicle throughout the route. The Sierra de Francia package offers logistic support on demand; confirm at booking.
Is it doable on an e-bike?
Yes, both itineraries take e-MTBs with a 720 Wh+ battery. Mention it at booking so the guide adjusts the charging plan.
What about water on the route?
Drinking fountains in villages and at some picnic areas (Hervás chestnut grove, Honfría). Carry 2 L minimum and refill at every village stop.
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