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Orce
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Moderate

First Settlers Great Path: Galera–Orce

Fourth stage of the Great Path: 12 km along the River Orce valley and past Cerro de la Virgen to Orce.

The route

The fourth stage of the First Settlers Great Path links Galera and Orce along the Camino del Castaño and past the Morillas and Segador mills, following the valley of the River Orce. At kilometre 7.8 it reaches the hermitage of the Virgen de la Cabeza, next to the Cerro de la Virgen site, and the path ends in the centre of Orce, at the foot of the fortress. This stage passes kilometre 71, the halfway point of the Great Path.

Data from the official Great Path website (Huéscar district): 12 km one way and about 3 h 20 min on foot; the guide itself describes it as a short stage. No MIDE rating is published: the «medium» difficulty is an estimate based on walking time (effort section).

Bring water, sun protection and suitable footwear, and avoid the middle of the day in summer. Plan your transport back to Galera.

Stops

The route, stop by stop

  1. Code 105 Cerro de la Virgen and its interpretation centreA fortified Copper and Bronze Age settlement with an ancient water channel, about 3 km from Orce.
  2. Code 107 Alcazaba de las Siete Torres (Fortress of the Seven Towers)A fortress in the centre of Orce, with its keep and parade ground, protected as a Site of Cultural Interest.

Route challenge

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