Jesús Carrión Restaurante
What to order: salted presa carpaccio and boletus risotto in half portions, and griddled Iberian presa or pluma
geocalia
Day itinerary · 37.89° N · 6.56° W
The chestnut groves of Castaño del Robledo, and the cave under Aracena.
A short route among yellow chestnut trees and pigs fattening on acorns at Castaño del Robledo, Iberian lunch in Aracena and the cave in the afternoon. An hour and a quarter from Seville.
Leaving from
Part of Sierra de Aracena
Add to my trip
Total time9 h 30
By car1 h 15 each way
Walking2 h · 5.5 km circular
DifficultyMedium
Cost€40–60 pp
Best timeLate October – November
With a dogYes, on a lead, on the route
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Seville 1 h 15 by car
from Seville via the A-66 and the N-433; pass Aracena and carry on to Castaño del Robledo
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1
Round the Cerro del Castaño, Chestnut Groves of Castaño del Robledo
Loop round the Cerro del Castaño · 5.5 km · 2 h · starts on Calle Arias Montano
- 15 min by car16,5 km
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2
Jesús Carrión Restaurante
in Aracena, next to the Gruta · open on Sunday 13:00 to 16:00 · €€ · booking
Calle Pozo de la Nieve, 35, 21200 Aracena · +34 959 46 31 88
Restaurant €€Book - 2 min on foot
- 3
- 4 min on foot
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4
Aracena Castle and fortified enclosure
the castle hill in the last light
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Back home
You reach Seville around 19:30
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Round the Cerro del Castaño, Chestnut Groves of Castaño del Robledo
In autumn the Sierra de Aracena changes from green to yellow thanks to the chestnut trees, and the village that tells it best is called, precisely, Castaño del Robledo. The loop round the Cerro del Castaño is a waymarked trail of the Natural Park: five and a half kilometres on cobbled paths between stone walls, chestnut groves and Iberian pigs in the middle of the montanera. Then you go down to Aracena for Iberian food and enter the cave in the afternoon.
The day, hour by hour
8:30 · Set off. From Seville, take the A-66 towards Mérida and the N-433 towards Aracena; go through the town and carry on about 20 minutes more to Castaño del Robledo, via Fuenteheridos or the HU-8114. Park at the entrance to the village: there is no room at the start of the route.
10:00 · Loop round the Cerro del Castaño. From Plaza del Álamo, go up calle Arias Montano; before it ends, a lane on the right marks the start. The path goes round the hill with the chestnut grove to one side, crosses the Galaroza pass and returns past the El Nogal fountain. Two hours, medium difficulty and a steeper last stretch. When you get back, stroll round the village and look at the unfinished church, the Monumento.
12:30 · To Aracena. Twenty minutes by road. If you arrive early, have a drink in Plaza Alta.
14:00 · Lunch at Jesús Carrión. On calle Pozo de la Nieve, a few steps from the cave. On Sundays it opens at midday, from 13:00 to 16:00. Book.
16:00 · Gruta de las Maravillas. The cave with lakes under the town is visited with a guide in sessions. At weekends they sell out: buy yours beforehand on the town council website.
17:15 · The castle. Climb the castle hill with the last light over the sierra.
18:15 · Head home. In Seville around half past seven.
What to order
Iberian, as it is the season: acorn-fed ham and venison carpaccio to share, and an Iberian meat for the main. In autumn, check the menu in case there are mushrooms from the sierra or chestnuts.
The montanera and the chestnuts
From October to February the Iberian pig is let loose on the dehesa to eat acorns: this is the montanera, and you can see it from the path. The chestnuts on the ground are the harvest of the chestnut grove's owners: they are not to be picked. Gates, always as you find them.
Distance5.5 km
Time2 h
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Finca Valbono Restaurant
What to order: mountain cooking; in summer, informal lunch by the pool.
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Sierra de Aracena
The chestnut trees turn yellow and drop their chestnuts from late October to November; it is also the montanera, when the Iberian pig eats acorns on the dehesa. In December there is still some colour in some years.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Buy the cave before you set off
The central weekend sessions sell out; the 16:00 one lets you eat in peace.
- 2Shoes with a good sole
The path is cobbled and wet leaves are slippery.
- 3Bring water
Check that a fountain is drinkable before drinking from it.
We'd skip it
If it rains a lot: the cobbles become slippery. Swap the route for the Cinco Jotas tasting in Jabugo and keep the cave.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is the route difficult?
It is of medium difficulty: 5.5 km circular, about two hours, with a steeper last stretch.
When is there most colour?
From late October to November, when the chestnut grove turns yellow.
Can I pick chestnuts?
No. The chestnut groves are private land.
Can you go with a dog?
On the route, on a lead. For the cave and the restaurant, ask beforehand.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/sierra-de-aracena/itineraries/autumn-among-chestnut-groves-from-huelva
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.