An 800 year old Encina (Holm Oak)

The Encina la Terrona is a huge Holm oak tree a little distance from the village of Zarza de Montanchez. Last week we set off from Zarza on a country lane passing by the giant tree and continuing for another 5 kms along the old droving track until the village of Salvatierra de Santiago an ancient stop on the way to Santiago de Compostella. A very interesting village with many old houses including a medieval hostal. You can see the route on this link in Spanish

http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?&id=273464

It was an easy walk, almost completey flat wandering through the rural landscape past some iberic pig farms with plump black pigs in 3 sizes from squealing piglets to huge barrage balloons. The walk followed the line of a sheltered part of the sierra with some impressive birds of prey riding the thermals far above.

We arrived in Salvatierra de Santiago in time for a well deserved rest and drink at our favourite bar which was originally a tiny cinema in times gone by, now a cosy place with a wood burning stove in winter and an atmospheric shady courtyard in summer. We were disappointed to find the courtyard bare of tables and chairs despite the warm temperature, just the somewhat sombre aspidisderas sulking in their pots and the wonderous wisteria entwined with an old vine woven into an almost solid canopy above.

However, the very friendly owner arranged a table and chairs just for us and we spent a happy hour with tapas and beer to sustain us for the return walk to Zarza which makes a round trip of about 11kms

 

We took a wrong turning on the way back and had to cut across some fields with peacefully grazing cows. That's the problem with such flat land, not many landmarks to go by except the distant view of a church tower now and then.

Altogether a pleasant walk but not sensational, walking in the high sierra is much preferable although more challenging.