Senda de los Moriscos (PR-8) in Ricote

The Senda de los Moriscos is Ricote's PR-MU 8, a waymarked path linking the village, its orchards and the Sierra de la Umbría. For the valley's tourist consortium it is the most complete route in the area: in a single loop you go from the streets of the old town to the irrigation channels and from there to the pine woods, with the Blanca reservoir in view from above.

Two ways of describing the same route

The two official sources do not measure it the same way, and it is worth knowing before you set out:

• The Ricote Valley tourist consortium describes it as a circuit of about 8 km that starts beside the Restaurante El Sordo, in the upper part of Ricote, and returns to the same place. It gives no time or elevation gain.
• The footpath leaflet for the Sierras de Ricote y La Navela, from the Región de Murcia's network of protected natural areas, combines the PR-MU 8 and its 8.1 variant in a 15 km circular route of medium difficulty, starting and finishing at the Casa Forestal de La Calera hostel. The variant links the Sierra de la Umbría with Ricote along the vereda de Ojós and the narrow Carrerón pass.

If you want the short loop, start in the village; if you want the long one, start at La Calera or link the two parts.

From the washhouse to the Solvente and Fuente Buena viewpoints

From El Sordo you cross the old town and go down country tracks to the traditional orchards, then climb mountain paths to the pine woods of the Sierra de Ricote, where the La Calera hostel is. On the way you pass the old public washhouse and the route's two viewpoints, Solvente and Fuente Buena, from which you can see the whole valley and the Blanca reservoir.

The path carries the white and yellow marks of the short-distance footpaths. The sierra forms part of the Natura 2000 site of the Sierras de Ricote y La Navela, of almost 9,000 hectares, home to the Spanish ibex and Bonelli's eagle.

Heat, water and dogs

In July and August the valley goes above 35 degrees: if you walk in summer, set off at dawn. Neither of the two listings mentions drinking fountains on the route, so carry all the water you will drink. The official leaflet reminds walkers that fires are not allowed outside authorised areas and seasons, that rubbish goes home with you and that in an emergency you should call 112. Dogs are allowed, on a lead: the route passes orchards and tracks used for farming.

The best time is from autumn to spring. For a few weeks in spring it coincides with the orange blossom season, when the lemon and orange trees of the orchards flower.

Before or after the walk

Park in the village and leave the visit to the old town of Ricote, with the Olivera Gorda, for the end. If you set out in the morning, on your return you have a table at El Sordo, right by the starting point, open Thursday to Sunday at lunchtime; book and confirm before 12:00.