Cortijos Nuevos: Hiking Routes, Festivals and the Sierra de Segura

Cortijos Nuevos is considered one of the most important starting points for reaching destinations throughout the Sierra de Segura. If you’re looking for a hotel here, you can plan your trip around routes to El Yelmo, regional road connections or local festivals. The olive oil and sausage-making traditions also give the town a distinct cultural connection.

Routes and experiences at El Yelmo

Route 1, “Cortijos Nuevos–La Tiná Nueva,” begins in Cortijos Nuevos and follows the A-314 toward Beas de Segura. Route 2, “Cortijos Nuevos–Pico de El Yelmo,” offers one way to reach El Yelmo on foot and another by car. It follows a path to Castillo de Gutamarta and reaches the summit at an elevation of 1,809 metres. The two options therefore differ in their focus: the first route heads toward Beas, while the second leads to the summit and the castle.

There are numerous caves on the western slope of El Yelmo that can be explored through caving. The summit also has a take-off site for free flight; flights depend on conditions and the applicable rules. Route 3, “Cortijos Nuevos–Cortijo de Romillán,” heads toward the Cortijo de Romillán area and crosses the Río Trujala via the Puente del Moro. Check trail conditions before setting out; conditions on the forest road on Route 2 can change.

Landscape and road connections

Cortijos Nuevos is located in the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park. From the road toward Beas de Segura, via Collado del Puerto, there are views of El Yelmo, Segura de la Sierra and Hornos. Collado del Puerto is also part of a road connection: the A-314 crosses the pass and Cañada Catena toward Beas de Segura and the N-322.

The A-319 connects the area near Cortijos Nuevos with the Tranco Reservoir, Coto Ríos and Cazorla. It is reached from the A-317, at a junction about two kilometres from Cortijos Nuevos. Different road connections are therefore important for getting around: the A-314 heads toward Beas de Segura, while the A-319 connects the destinations mentioned in the region.

Festivals and local traditions

The festival in honour of the Virgen del Pilar, the patron saint of Cortijos Nuevos, is celebrated in the town on 12 October. A procession through the streets of Cortijos Nuevos was reported as part of the celebration in 2023. The traditional San Isidro pilgrimage associated with Cortijos Nuevos takes place on 15 May in the La Lomilla area, next to the hamlet of El Ojuelo. The two events therefore take place on different dates and in different locations.

The Festival Internacional del Aire takes place in early June at and around the Cortijos Nuevos football pitch. The programme includes air sports, films about flying, sporting activities, flight demonstrations and a trade fair. Details may vary from one edition to another; if you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates and programme for the relevant edition.

Transhumance is also part of the town’s history: a livestock drovers’ route from the high mountains of the Sierra de Segura crosses Cortijos Nuevos from east to west. It gives the municipality a tangible connection to the historic movement of livestock between the highlands and the town.

Olive oil and outdoor activities

Olive oil with the “Sierra de Segura” designation of origin is produced by the La Casilla and El Ojuelo cooperatives. The local food culture also includes the traditional home slaughter of pigs, used to make morcillas, chorizos and other sausages. These traditions add a culinary perspective on Cortijos Nuevos alongside its routes and festivals.

For outdoor activities, El Contadero Aventuras in Cortijos Nuevos offers mountain bike tours with specialist guides, as well as a forest orienteering course. Check availability before you arrive. When planning your trip, you can choose whether to focus on the routes at El Yelmo, a festival, regional road connections or an organised activity.

Discover more destinations: El Ojuelo

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