Río Lobos Canyon: hermitage, cave and lunch in El Burgo.

It is the easiest countryside Sunday in the province of Soria: a flat walk along the floor of a limestone canyon, a Templar hermitage beneath the cliffs, a cave you enter without a torch and vultures overhead the whole time. You set off after breakfast, eat in El Burgo de Osma and are back by mid-afternoon.

The Day, Hour by Hour

9:30 · Departure. From Soria, along the N-122 to El Burgo de Osma and from there the SO-920 northwards to Ucero: around an hour. From Burgos, along the N-234 to San Leonardo de Yagüe and the SO-920 southwards, in a little over an hour and a half.

10:30 · The Casa del Parque. In an old mill beside the Ucero river, on the SO-920, km 16. It has a large model of the park, aquariums, a wildlife room and the exhibition on how water carved out the canyon. Ask there about the state of the river trail and the hermitage's opening hours. In November, on Sundays it is open from 10:00 to 17:00.

11:30 · The hermitage of San Bartolomé and the Cueva Grande. Continue along the SO-920 northwards to the track that goes down to the canyon floor. It has three car parks: Fuente Engómez, free, and Cueva Fría and Valdecea, paid. From whichever one you find free, continue on foot along the flat path beside the river to the hermitage, from the 13th century, wedged beneath the wall. Opposite opens the Cueva Grande: go in, and look at the hermitage from its mouth. Take water: there are no fountains on the way.

14:00 · Lunch at Virrey Palafox. Drive down to El Burgo de Osma, about 15 minutes. On Calle Mayor, Virrey Palafox serves lunch from 13:15 to 15:45; it is a Soria-cooking house open since the 1970s, with its winter pig-slaughter days. Book.

16:15 · Ucero castle. On the way back north, stop at Ucero and climb to the castle ruins, above the valley, or do a stretch of the Castillo trail beside the river: the whole loop is 6 km, easy, from the Casa del Parque.

17:30 · Return. You reach Soria around half past six.

With Children

The path to the hermitage is flat and can be done with small children, although not all of it is suitable for a pushchair. The Cueva Grande is visited without difficulty and the Casa del Parque has aquariums and stuffed animals. If they are over 5, swap the afternoon for introductory caving in the Galiana Alta cave, with Pedrete Guiados: children aged 5 to 10, €12.

With Dogs

Along the castle trail and the streets of Ucero, on a lead. In the rest of the natural park, check the rules at the Casa del Parque before letting it off the lead anywhere.