Ferrata from the Salvatierra Castle and Sierra de la Villa (Villena).
Combination of two Ferratas in one, simple, funny with many escapes and a pair of suspension bridges plus the possibility of abseiling (rappeling)
| Name | Ferrata Sierra de la Villa and Salvatierra Castle. |
| Province | Alicante |
| Nearest town | Villena |
| Difficulty | K2 (Bit difficult) |
| Best season | All year around. There are no restrictions. In summer we recommended to start early in the morning |
| Escape points | There are several escapes all along the ferrata |
| State of the Ferrata | Well in general (2019) but Tibetan bridges need to take a look at the anchors so not always you Will find it in good conditions |
| Crashes | Yes |
| Bridges | Yes. 2 Tibetans |
| Zip Lines | No |
| Rappel | Optional. If you don't want to rappel you Will avoid a small 50-meter stretch of the Salvatierra ferrata (the oldest part) |
| Other facilities | No |
| Approach time | 25 minutes |
| Ascent time | 2 hours |
| Return time | 25 minutes |
| Total route (approach + ferrata + return) | 1,860 meters |
| Total height equipped section | 100 meters |
| Total difference in heights (ferrata + approach + return) | 195 meters |
| Remarks | In this activity we Will achieve the complete ferrata of Sierra de la Villa (newer and with steps making easier to secure feet) and the ferrata of Salvatierra Castle, older and with the smallest staples |
Approach by car :
The Ferrata car park is located in the town of Villena, in an area known as Las Cruces. You have to follow the indications to get to the castle of Villena (Atalaya castle), and turn right handside at the roundabout to access the castle (where there are some caves excavated in the mountain wall) take the exit to the right handside (ascent) which indicates Las Cruces area and Sierra de la Villa (Prince Don Juan Manuel Avenue). Just 250 meters away we Will find a crossroads (C / Calvary street) with a sign indicating Las Cruces, and then we get to the right handside and 50 meters above you Will find the parking lot.
Approach to the beginning ferrata :
It’s very evidente; we leave the parking lot by a path (white and yellow PR marks) just where there are a couple of stone steps, going on the right handside attached to a metal fence spreading the path from a water tank. After a few meters of ascent take a sharp turn to the left and gradually takes height, crossing the forest diagonally on a gentle climb. After 10 minutes and over 600 meters, we arrive at an esplanade with good views and a pole with arrows that indicates the direction of the PR trail (white and yellow marks) so now we leave the PR Trail and take the path on the right ascent. After about 5 minutes we reach a small highlight that you can save with the help of a chain. Continue the climb up a more rocky section with several slopes until reaching the hill that separates the ruins of Salvatierra Castle (right, up) of the ferrata, left handside.
Description of the Ferrata :
The beginning of the ferrata is in the hill itself, on the left handside attached to the vertical wall starts with several horizontal sections (150 meters), which are gradually losing height until reaching the beginning of the old Salvatierra ferrata (option to do if we do rappel). Then we continue along the cable now it is a descent with greater slope so in just 150 meters leaves us on foot of the first vertical section, in a small esplanade. We are now in the newest section and it is known as ferrata Sierra de la Villa. We start the ferrata with a vertical section of about 20 meters that connects with a horizontal section and takes us after going down a bit to the most complicated part of the ferrata, a small vertical section (with outbound collapse or crash rock). After saving it we will continue over a horizontal stretch with some more exposed points so we better use the rocks to secure both hands and feet. We keep going and will arrive at the first Tibetan bridge (two cables plus the safety one) so we do the same and continue through another vertical section that softens at its end and can be done by foot. Then again on a vertical section and another soft section that leads us to the link with the old Salvatierra Castle ferrata, just 10 meters from the 2nd Tibetan bridge.
At this point there is the option to make a small rappel of 30 meters long that leaves us at the feet of the first ferrata that was builb in the area (Salvatierra Castle ferrata). So after the rappelling we take a vertical section that leads us again the crossing of the ferrata de la Villa, before the Tibetan bridge.
We continue along the Tibetan bridge (with 3 cable to safe feet and both hands + the safety cable) and after passing it, connects with vertical sections that lead us to the end, already in the highest part of the mountain range, near an area with antenas devices.
Return :
Once the equipped section is finished, we get up a bit and we will find some green marks on the rock, so then we go down over a small gorge on the left handside and continue going down and leave a small edge on the left handside and we pass through it on the right handside. Just a few 150 meters we will connect with the ascent path and we have to undo the path made at the beginning to reach the car parking lot.
The Ferrata car park is located in the town of Villena, in an area known as Las Cruces. You have to follow the indications to get to the castle of Villena (Atalaya castle), and turn right handside at the roundabout to access the castle (where there are some caves excavated in the mountain wall) take the exit to the right handside (ascent) which indicates Las Cruces area and Sierra de la Villa (Prince Don Juan Manuel Avenue). Just 250 meters away we Will find a crossroads (C / Calvary street) with a sign indicating Las Cruces, and then we get to the right handside and 50 meters above you Will find the parking lot.
Approach to the beginning ferrata :
It’s very evidente; we leave the parking lot by a path (white and yellow PR marks) just where there are a couple of stone steps, going on the right handside attached to a metal fence spreading the path from a water tank. After a few meters of ascent take a sharp turn to the left and gradually takes height, crossing the forest diagonally on a gentle climb. After 10 minutes and over 600 meters, we arrive at an esplanade with good views and a pole with arrows that indicates the direction of the PR trail (white and yellow marks) so now we leave the PR Trail and take the path on the right ascent. After about 5 minutes we reach a small highlight that you can save with the help of a chain. Continue the climb up a more rocky section with several slopes until reaching the hill that separates the ruins of Salvatierra Castle (right, up) of the ferrata, left handside.
Description of the Ferrata :
The beginning of the ferrata is in the hill itself, on the left handside attached to the vertical wall starts with several horizontal sections (150 meters), which are gradually losing height until reaching the beginning of the old Salvatierra ferrata (option to do if we do rappel). Then we continue along the cable now it is a descent with greater slope so in just 150 meters leaves us on foot of the first vertical section, in a small esplanade. We are now in the newest section and it is known as ferrata Sierra de la Villa. We start the ferrata with a vertical section of about 20 meters that connects with a horizontal section and takes us after going down a bit to the most complicated part of the ferrata, a small vertical section (with outbound collapse or crash rock). After saving it we will continue over a horizontal stretch with some more exposed points so we better use the rocks to secure both hands and feet. We keep going and will arrive at the first Tibetan bridge (two cables plus the safety one) so we do the same and continue through another vertical section that softens at its end and can be done by foot. Then again on a vertical section and another soft section that leads us to the link with the old Salvatierra Castle ferrata, just 10 meters from the 2nd Tibetan bridge.
At this point there is the option to make a small rappel of 30 meters long that leaves us at the feet of the first ferrata that was builb in the area (Salvatierra Castle ferrata). So after the rappelling we take a vertical section that leads us again the crossing of the ferrata de la Villa, before the Tibetan bridge.
We continue along the Tibetan bridge (with 3 cable to safe feet and both hands + the safety cable) and after passing it, connects with vertical sections that lead us to the end, already in the highest part of the mountain range, near an area with antenas devices.
Return :
Once the equipped section is finished, we get up a bit and we will find some green marks on the rock, so then we go down over a small gorge on the left handside and continue going down and leave a small edge on the left handside and we pass through it on the right handside. Just a few 150 meters we will connect with the ascent path and we have to undo the path made at the beginning to reach the car parking lot.