This beautiful spot was granted by King Ferdinand VII to the town of Villarrasa in recognition of its participation in the War of Independence, due to the important interventions of the Villarrasa cavalry squadron in the fight to liberate Spain from the Napoleonic invasion, and, in particular, for its intervention in the Battle of Bailén in 1808, which led to the definitive withdrawal of French troops.
The characteristic landscape of Dehesa Nueva is countryside dotted with olive trees and Mediterranean scrub, criss-crossed by a rich network of streams that feed the River Tinto. From these lands, you can see the first hills of Andévalo, near the town of Valverde del Camino.
Since its establishment, this communal property has supplied the town with firewood, game and other products. The Villarrasa Hunting Society carries out its activities there, thanks to the abundance of species such as rabbits and partridges.
It is also a place of recreation for the people of Villarrasa, as the area is criss-crossed by numerous paths, suitable for hiking and mountain biking. Within the Dehesa Nueva is the well-known Huerto del Hambre, where the pilgrimage in honour of San Isidro Labrador is held.
La Vaqueriza is a natural environment that is home to a variety of plant formations, including pine forests, cork oaks and eucalyptus trees. The riverside area of La Vaqueriza stream features riverside vegetation with ash trees, willows, heather and myrtle, along with aquatic plants such as reeds, brambles and water plantain.
Furthermore, due to its proximity to the Doñana National Park and its ecological characteristics, it is a hunting ground for the Iberian lynx, one of the most endangered felines in the world.
One of the main activities that can be enjoyed in the La Vaqueriza Natural Area is hiking. The La Vaqueriza route is approximately 12 km long, which is equivalent to about 3 hours of walking. The route heads west of the municipality, towards Bonares, and allows visitors to enjoy the tranquillity of the natural environment.
Access to La Vaqueriza Natural Park is via the paved ‘Vereda del Camino de la Mar’ livestock trail, which starts in Rociana del Condado and crosses the estate at kilometre 98 of the A-484 road, crossing the estate from northeast to southwest.
The area has various facilities that make it easier to stay and enjoy the surroundings, such as a 240 m² farmhouse, a forest house called ‘Cuatro Vientos’, a 550 m² tool shed, a 650 m² main house and 180 m² dwellings. In addition, it has an extensive network of roads and firebreaks that are maintained every year, as well as 31,511 linear metres of fencing.
The Hoyo en la Arena Recreation Area is a peaceful natural space, perfect for enjoying outdoor activities with the family or on your own. Located on the outskirts of Rociana del Condado, this picnic area offers a relaxed setting surrounded by pine trees, ideal for unwinding and enjoying nature.
The area is surrounded by a natural environment characterised by pine forests, offering shade and a cool atmosphere. It is an ideal place to read, walk or simply relax in contact with nature.
It is a humid area with freshwater springs (hence its name) and beautiful landscapes and dense vegetation. The path leading to the spring becomes a closed gallery of wild roses, brambles, ferns, scrub and sarsaparilla, typical of humid places. The cut in the limestone terrain allows the spring to emerge, which the inhabitants of the area visit to collect water. On the cliffs, you can see how the roots of trees and bushes penetrate the ground, taking advantage of the holes left by the water. The most common tree species in the area are holm oak, cork oak and kermes oak.
The geological characteristics of the terrain have allowed the formation of small caves that characterise the area. We cannot miss visiting them, created over millions of years by the erosion caused by the waters of the River Corumbel (from the Latin flumen columbarium, “River of the Doves”).
This erosion has formed a cliff, with an average height of approximately 180 metres, on the left bank of the River Corumbel. A series of beautiful shelters or caves (lapas) have formed on this cliff, which, together with the rugged vegetation, offer nature lovers an unparalleled landscape, with the San Salvador lapas standing out for their grandeur.
The habitat of these caves dates back to prehistoric times. The carved stone materials found in the vicinity suggest that they may have been occupied by hunter-gatherers, constituting the first settlements in the Palaeolithic period in our region of Campo y Sierra de Tejada.
This natural space is characterised by the size and proportion of this variety of olive tree. Wild olive trees are usually reduced to small shrubs, but in this case we find trees that rival traditional olive trees (Olea europea) in height and are therefore difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. Cork oaks and, above all, holm oaks also abound, under which mastic trees and a species of asparagus that is highly prized in these parts grow. The estate is mainly used for livestock farming, although it is also used for hunting.
The acebuchal is located between two landscape units. From Paterna del Campo to the wild olive grove and Cortijo del Alpízar itself, there are areas of extensive cultivation, where sunflowers, cereals, cotton and olive trees predominate; but as we move northwards, the plain gives way to small hills where wild vegetation abounds: rockroses, brambles, kermes oaks, etc. Then we reach some higher hills, located above Corumbel, which are mostly populated by eucalyptus trees.
Inside, you can still see an ancient Roman quarry where huge blocks of limestone were extracted.
The area consists of four main lagoons: Laguna Primera de Palos, Laguna de la Jara, Laguna de la Mujer and Laguna de Las Madres.
These lagoons are located about 10 metres above sea level, on the left bank of the Huelva estuary, downstream from the confluence of the Odiel and Tinto rivers.
These lagoons were formed when ancient riverbeds were closed off by the advance of a coastal dune front, which interrupted the flow of water from their catchment areas to the sea. This process has given rise to an ecosystem that is unique in terms of its hydrogeomorphology on the Iberian Peninsula.
The area is an important refuge for birdlife, especially during migration. Among the species present are the white-headed duck, the squacco heron and the horned coot, among others.
In addition, the area is home to species such as the osprey, which uses the site as a breeding and wintering ground.
The Lagunas de Palos y Las Madres Natural Park is included in the Andalusian Wetlands Inventory and forms part of the Natura 2000 Network as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It has also been designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
The Domingo Rubio Estuary Natural Area is a wetland of high environmental value, located between the municipalities of Palos de la Frontera and Moguer. This protected area covers approximately 480 hectares and was declared a Natural Area on 18 July 1989.
The estuary is located near the mouth of the Tinto and Odiel rivers, forming part of the complex of marshes and estuaries on the Andalusian Atlantic coast, one of the most important in the Iberian Peninsula. It is located near the Monastery of La Rábida and the International University of Andalusia, which gives it a rich cultural and natural environment.
The estuary has a combination of freshwater and saltwater environments, fed by waters from the Atlantic Ocean, streams such as Juana Ruiz, Príncipe and Juan Delgado, and rainfall runoff.
The estuary is an important refuge for birdlife, especially during migration. The area is also home to species such as the Iberian lynx, the common otter, the glossy ibis, the harrier, the peregrine falcon, the purple heron and the osprey.
The Jarete Recreation Area is nestled in a privileged natural setting, surrounded by numerous centuries-old cork trees that provide shade and a cool, peaceful atmosphere, ideal for rest and relaxation. This space, much appreciated by locals and visitors alike, has been designed to offer a complete family leisure experience.
Its facilities include tables and barbecues, making it easy to organise outdoor meals in an incomparable natural setting. The shade provided by the large cork trees invites you to relax while enjoying the nature and tranquillity of the place.
In addition, the area has a children’s playground designed for the enjoyment of the little ones, ensuring their entertainment and safety during their stay. For those who prefer to stay active, the Jarete Recreation Area also has circuits and sports tracks where you can practise various types of exercise and sport, promoting a healthy lifestyle in contact with nature.
This space is, in short, a perfect place to spend a day of leisure with family or friends, combining rest, fun and sports in a unique natural environment, characteristic of the pastureland and typical landscape of the Niebla region.
Strategically located between the historic town of Niebla and the nearby town of Valverde del Camino, the San Walabonso Reservoir is an easily accessible enclave of great natural and recreational value. This spacious and well-equipped site is one of the main outdoor areas in the region, ideal for families, groups or nature lovers to enjoy.
The area has a range of facilities designed to offer visitors comfort. These include concrete tables and benches distributed throughout the area, as well as barbecue areas where you can cook outdoors, creating the perfect setting for leisure and socialising in the heart of nature. In addition, the reservoir has a pavilion that houses basic services, including toilets and drinking water, thus facilitating a comfortable and pleasant stay.
Sport fishing is permitted on the reservoir itself, an activity that is highly valued in the area thanks to the abundance of fish in this aquatic ecosystem. Local fishermen and visitors alike find the reservoir an ideal place to enjoy their hobby in a peaceful and natural environment.
The surrounding vegetation is another of its great attractions. The typical marshland flora dominates the landscape, with extensive reed beds, tamarisk trees (popularly known as tarays in these latitudes) and cane fields bordering the shores of the reservoir. This wetland ecosystem provides shelter and food for a wide variety of animal species, especially birds, making it an ideal place for wildlife watching.
In addition, the area has a beautiful pine forest that extends throughout the surroundings, providing shade and coolness during the summer days. This contrast between wet and wooded areas enriches the biodiversity of the place and makes it a unique space within the natural environment of the County of Niebla.
Just 1.5 km from the town centre of Niebla is the Laguna de la Balastrera, an artificial wetland of great ecological value that forms part of the Río Tinto Protected Landscape. This natural space emerged in the 1970s and 1980s as a result of aggregate extraction in the area, giving rise to several shallow basins that are flooded by aquifer seepage and the accumulation of rainfall and surface runoff.
The lagoon is an important refuge for various species of water birds, with the presence of the crested coot (Fulica cristata), a species in danger of extinction in Spain, being particularly noteworthy. In addition, other species such as the white-headed duck, as well as various anatidae, ardeidae, storks and waders can be observed.
To facilitate the observation of this rich birdlife, the area is equipped with several strategically located viewpoints.
Access to the Balastrera Lagoon is easy and suitable for all visitors. From Niebla, you can walk along paths that run along the right bank of the Tinto River, offering a pleasant stroll in contact with nature.
