Via Ferrata at Arauzo de Miel with a Guide

At Arauzo de Miel, south of Silos and inside the Sabinares del Arlanza-La Yecla Natural Park, there is an introductory via ferrata of grade K2-K3 that follows a rock ridge. Pedrete Guiados, an adventure tourism company from Burgos, runs it with a guide and all the equipment, and it is a good first ferrata: suitable from age 8 and with no previous experience.

What the route is like

The route is progressive: it starts easy and gains height over exposed sections, secured with a stainless steel lifeline and grips for climbing. Once at the top, you descend by crossing three bridges of more than 20 metres, with views over the park. The company gives a figure of 200 metres for the route, without clarifying whether it is length or height gain. At the end you can add an optional 12-metre abseil.

From above the park is easy to understand: a relief of limestone folds covered with Spanish juniper, holm oak and Pyrenean oak, which Turismo de Castilla y León presents as the largest and best-preserved juniper wood in the world. Look at the sky from time to time, because the park is home to about a hundred pairs of griffon vultures.

The activity lasts about two hours, or three if you do the abseil. Anyone wanting more can add the harder K4 sector, which extends the outing by about 45 minutes.

Price and what is included

The price is per person and falls the bigger the group: €60 if there are two of you, €40 for three, €30 for four to five and €25 for six to ten. The abseil costs €5 more, and the K4 sector another €5. For groups of more than 20, they ask you to enquire.

The guide provides the approved technical equipment: harness, helmet, energy-absorbing lanyards and gloves. You only need comfortable clothes and shoes that grip on stony terrain, and depending on the season, water and sun cream or warm clothing. The website does not publish a meeting point, fixed calendar or cancellation conditions: they are agreed when booking, on 652 19 38 49 (also WhatsApp), at [email protected] or on the form on its website.

Before you go

No experience is needed, but you must not have serious vertigo: there are airy sections and the bridges hang over empty space. If you are going with children aged 8 to 12, tell the company when booking. In summer, ask whether you can set out first thing and bring plenty of water.

In the area

Arauzo de Miel is about 15 km from Santo Domingo de Silos. On the way back, stop at the walkways of the La Yecla gorge, 3 km from the village, and end the day in Silos with the cloister and Vespers in Gregorian chant at 19:00. If you are looking for something quieter with the same company, it has a guided walk through the juniper woods from Hortigüela, suitable from age 5.