La Galana
What to order: at midday, patatas revolconas and Ávila veal chuletón; in the afternoon, a stone-oven pizza.
geocalia
Day itinerary · 40.35° N · 5.17° W
Sunday in Gredos: the Laguna Grande and revolconas on the way down.
A five-hour route from the Plataforma to the Laguna Grande, at the foot of the Gredos cirque, and a late lunch of revolconas and Ávila meat in Hoyos del Espino.
Leaving from
Part of Sierra de GredosThe Central SystemHorse riding routes in Spain
Add to my trip
Total time11 h
By car1 h each way
Walking13.6 km · 741 m of ascent
DifficultyMedium
Cost€25–45 pp
Best timeMay – October
With childrenFrom age 10, if they walk
With a dogYes, demanding for the dog
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Ávila 1 h by car
from Madrid via the A-6, Ávila and the N-502, about 180 km
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1
From the Plataforma to the Laguna Grande de Gredos
Platform – Laguna Grande – Platform · 5 h · 13.6 km
- 30 min by car10,9 km
- 2
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Back home
You reach Madrid around 19:15
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
From the Plataforma to the Laguna Grande de Gredos
The Laguna Grande is the Gredos route that everyone wants to do once: a cobbled path from the Plataforma to a pass at 2,178 metres and, suddenly, the glacial lake at the foot of Almanzor. It is five hours there and back, so the Sunday is organised around it: an early start, the route in the morning and a late lunch on the way down. From Ávila it is an hour, and from Madrid about two.
The Day, Hour by Hour
7:30 · Departure. From Madrid, along the A-6 and AP-51 to Ávila, the N-110 and N-502 towards Arenas, and the AV-941 to Hoyos del Espino; there, the road to the Plataforma. About 180 km, two hours. At weekends access is regulated from kilometre 7, with a barrier and ticket booth: arriving before nine is the difference between parking or not.
9:30 · The route. From the Plataforma a stone causeway climbs to the Cavadores fountain (3 km, an hour and a half) and the Los Barrerones one (4.4 km). At the pass, at 2,178 m, the cirque appears with the Laguna Grande below, at 1,947 m, and the Elola refuge on the shore. You have done 6.8 km and about two and a half hours. Eat something beside the water, look at the ibexes and return the same way. In total, 13.6 km and 741 m of ascent.
15:00 · Lunch at La Galana. On the way down, at the entrance to Hoyos del Espino, on the Plataforma road itself. In winter it is open from Friday to Sunday and serves the traditional menu from 13:30 to 17:30, so arriving late is no problem. Afterwards, if you are still hungry, stone-oven pizzas.
17:00 · Return. You reach Madrid around a quarter past seven; Ávila, shortly after six.
What to Order
Revolconas potatoes, with La Vera paprika and torreznos, which is what the body asks for after the route, and an Ávila beef chuletón to share. For dessert, cheesecake.
With Children and Dogs
The route is for children who already walk five hours in the mountains: from about 10 years and used to it. The path is stone and is no good for pushchairs or heavy backpacks. For younger children, swap the Laguna Grande for a two-hour horse ride with Gredos a Caballo, from age 8 or 9. A dog can go, but it is demanding for it because of the stone and the distance, and on the path there is livestock and the mules that go up to the refuge.
Distance13.6 km
Ascent741 m
Time5 h
Change the route
If you come down before 15:00: La Mira de Gredos, Michelin, Thursday to Sunday at midday · €€€:
La Mira de Gredos Restaurant
If you do not want a five-hour hike: two hours on horseback through the Tormes valley, €45:
Horse ride through the Tormes valley
For the legs, after the hike: spa circuit, €38:
Spa circuit at Aguas de Gredos
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Camping Navagredos Restaurant
What to order: the menu of the day: €16.50 on weekdays and €20.50 at the weekend.
La Mira de Gredos Restaurant
What to order: patatas revolconas with La Vera paprika and torreznos, El Barco beans with their sacramentos, and Ávila beef.
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 Gredos
From May to October. From November to April the cirque has snow and ice and the route calls for crampons and experience. In summer and at weekends access to the Plataforma is regulated: arrive before nine.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Set off before eight
Access to the Plataforma is regulated and the car park fills up.
- 2Bring layers
At the Los Barrerones pass it is windy and cold even if it is warm below. Always a waterproof.
- 3Water and food
There are fountains on the path, but carry water and food for the whole day: there is nowhere to buy on the route.
We'd skip it
From November to April without winter equipment. That Sunday, better the south face: Cuevas del Águila and Arenas de San Pedro.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to reach the Laguna Grande?
About two and a half hours from the Plataforma, and the same back.
Is it hard?
Moderate: 13.6 km, 741 m of cumulative ascent and a stone path with ramps.
Do you have to pay to park?
In summer and at weekends access is regulated with a ticket booth at kilometre 7.
Where do you eat on the way down?
La Galana, in Hoyos del Espino, serves lunch until 17:30 from Friday to Sunday in winter.
Can I take a dog?
Yes, but it is demanding for the dog; bring water and food for it.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/sierra-de-gredos/itineraries/gredos-laguna-grande-and-lunch-in-hoyos-del-espino
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.