The main reason to stop in Arenas de San Pedro is to make your way up to the villages of El Hornillo and El Arenal, respectively 6km and 9km to the north, the trailheads for some excellent mountain walks . There are no buses but it's a pleasant walk up from Arenas to El Arenal on a track running between the road and the river - start out past the sports centre and swimming pool in Arenas.

EL ARENAL has the accommodation, including the Hostal Isabel , whose owner is knowledgeable about routes through the range. You can walk over the top of Gredos from El Arenal - the path via the pass at Puerto de la Cabrilla has been somewhat improved recently - and strike out along the ridge in either direction, to the main road at Puerto del Pico or back to El Arenal.

EL HORNILLO , however, is the more common trailhead, and the beginning of the Circo de Gredos, one of the main recognized trekking routes over the Gredos watershed. An alternative trek is to head due south from El Arenal, along a well-defined path over a broad pass to Candeleda; this is a long day's walk but it's more or less all downhill


El Arenal and El Hornillo are municipalties of Avila which has a population of 52.000 and is loacted some 100kms from Spains capital Madrid . The City of Avila really is a perfect picture of medieval times, as it is sourrounded by an impressive wall containing 88 watch-towers and is considered one of the world´s best preserved medieval defensive permiters.

Avila is also home of a 12th-century cathedral, The Basílica de San Vicente and El Monasterio de Santo Tomás.

This region is also home of the world famous T-bone steak (Chuleton Avileno) and its “Yema de Avila” a dessert made of egg yolk and sugar. Both of these local specialities are on offer at many restaurants in the area .

Some of best value hotels in Majorca ( Mallorca ) can be found in Arenal. The top voted hotels include the Don Pepe This hotel is a short walk from S’Arenal Beach and Marina, in Majorca’s Palma Bay. This design hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with modern design and flat-screen TVs. The stylish Don Pepe Hotel is just 6 km from Majorca Airport. Palma city centre is 12 km away. The centre of El Arenal has a wide range of bars and restaurants. Another favourit is the Ola Club Maioris It has has 2 outdoor swimming pools, a gym and sauna. It offers all-inclusive accommodation, with free Wi-Fi access and free public parking nearby. Hotel Maioris has a children’s club, with indoor and outdoor play areas. There are also pretty gardens and a large sun terrace.