Hayedo de Montegrande
Hayedo de Montegrande is a beech forest in Leon with tall trees, holly bushes, and rowan trees that grow closely together forming a dense canopy. Several streams run through the woodland - the Fundil, Sangradal, and Riazores - which feed the Cascada del Xiblu waterfall.
The woodland is part of a region called El Privilegio, which King Bermudo II granted special freedoms around 1033 - anyone born there was considered free and noble. For centuries, local people used the forest for wood and grazing until it was protected as a nature reserve in modern times.
The forest sits in a region with deep local roots - the area known as El Privilegio received special rights around 1033 that still echo in how local people view their land. Visitors walking here experience a place where people maintain a close bond between their history and the natural world around them.
The main trail is about 4 kilometers long with gentle slopes and easy to walk, with a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk near the start. The walk takes roughly one and a half hours depending on your pace, and you can park on the Ventana road where maps and information are available.
A rare bird called the capercaillie lives here but is almost impossible to spot because the population is shrinking and the bird is easily disturbed by human activity. Despite its scarcity, it remains one of the most prized signs of the forest's wild nature.
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