Chestnut Trees of El Temblar, in Segura de Toro

What It Is

An old mountain orchard beside the Temblar stream, in Segura de Toro, one of the villages of the Ambroz Valley, with five centuries-old chestnut trees catalogued as remarkable trees of Extremadura. Segura de Toro Town Council estimates them at between 500 and 800 years old and presents them as a protected monumental group. They are on private land, and the Hervás tourist office is the one that gives information on visits.

The Five Chestnut Trees

Each has a name. The Hondonero, in the lower part of the estate, is the most important: the town council calls it the most valuable chestnut in Extremadura, about 700 years old, about 25 metres tall according to Extremadura Tourism (26.5 according to the town council), with a trunk perimeter of 8 metres at 1.30 m from the ground and a crown of 30 by 32 metres that covers about 800 square metres. Higher up is the Castaño del Arroyo, the oldest, at about 800 years. The Bronco has a spiral trunk; the Retorcío, about 500 years old, a trunk formed of thick bundles of twisted fibres, with almost 6 metres of perimeter; and the Menuero, at the top of the estate and furthest from the stream, is the most delicate and bears the smallest chestnuts, hence its name.

The Walking Route

You get there by the SL-CC 93 footpath, signposted and easy going according to the town council. The Ambroz Valley tourism website describes it as an out-and-back path of about 3.6 to 4 km, 1 h 10 to an hour and a half, from Segura de Toro to the estate beside the stream, along a track between chestnut groves with views of the valley. It is easy, but uphill: about 180 m of ascent and as much of descent, between 650 and 830 m in altitude. It publishes the track in GPX and PDF. The chestnut trees are on private land: do not collect chestnuts.

When to Go

In late spring, with the new leaves, or in full autumn, with the fruit. From 15 October to 15 January, in the chestnut season, access to the estate is limited; if you go on those dates, ask first at the Hervás tourist office, on 927 473 618, how and when you can enter. You can also ask at Segura de Toro Town Council, on 927 48 40 31. The visit is free. In autumn, combine it with the valley's Magic Autumn and return to Hervás for the Jewish quarter.