Sierra del Buey Natural Landscape
Rising to 1,225 metres just north of Jumilla, the Sierra del Buey is a compact but dramatic limestone range that shelters golden eagles, Bonelli's eagles and a dense carpet of aromatic scrub. It is virtually unknown outside the region, meaning you can walk for hours without seeing another soul.
Hiking the sierra
The most accessible route begins at the Collado de los Majales pass, reachable by car from the JM-1 road north of Jumilla. A well-trodden path climbs through pine forest and open limestone pavement to the Pico del Buey summit, a round trip of roughly 10 kilometres with 400 metres of ascent — manageable for any fit walker.
The limestone terrain is pocked with dolinas (sinkholes) and small caves, and the rock surface is encrusted with fossils of marine creatures from when this range lay beneath a Cretaceous sea. Geologists and curious walkers alike find something to stop and stare at every few hundred metres.
Wildlife and wildflowers
Spring (March to May) is the prime season: the hillsides are carpeted with rockrose, lavender, rosemary and wild thyme, and the air carries a scent so intense it feels medicinal. Bonelli's eagles nest on the northern cliffs and can be seen soaring on thermals from mid-morning onwards.
In autumn, the sierra turns amber and rust as the scrub dies back, and the clarity of the light makes for outstanding photography. Bring binoculars — the raptors here are accustomed to solitude and will fly surprisingly close to a patient observer.
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