Aoslos brings together local history and routes that differ clearly in length and layout. At the Reguera, the Pilón and the Fragua, irrigation, livestock farming and agricultural crafts emerge as tangible themes. When planning, it is therefore worth considering whether a walk through both village centres, a longer circular route or a guided visit better suits your interests.

Routes with Different Layouts

The complete “Ruta urbana por Horcajo y Aoslos” is 3.5 kilometres long, including the walks through both village centres, and follows a one-way route. The sections within the villages are therefore already included in the total distance. The route follows the antiguo camino de Montejo, providing a walking route between Horcajo and Aoslos. The 8-kilometre “Horcajo-Aoslos por la ruta de los molinos y Bellidas” is laid out differently: it passes through Aoslos and is a circular route that partly follows livestock trails registered by the Community of Madrid. The 3.5 kilometres thus refer to a one-way route, while the 8 kilometres describe a circuit. Their length and layout offer two different points of reference for planning.

Water and Local History

The Reguera de Aoslos was used to irrigate gardens and pastures; the channel is now abandoned. A stone disc at the Reguera served as a sundial, which could be used to set irrigation times. The Pilón de la reguera was built during the post-war period and served as a livestock watering trough. Together, the channel, sundial and trough point to different aspects of water management: irrigating land, scheduling irrigation and supplying water to livestock.

Church, Crafts and Community Work

The Iglesia de San Isidro was completed in 1936 and has a rustic appearance inspired by traditional architecture. Agricultural tools, horseshoes and nails for shoeing animals were made and repaired at the Fragua de Aoslos. The community-used roller helped prepare the soil after ploughing: it compacted loose soil or, when needed, broke up clods. The surviving structures of the Corrales de sementales were formerly used for the communal keeping of a pig.

Guided Visits and Surroundings

A guided visit is planned for the centre of Aoslos, combining walks with stops at historic or ethnographic sites. The planned itinerary also includes a visit to the forge, which is now a museum. Check in advance whether the tour is available and whether the forge can be visited. Another planned guided hike between Aoslos and Horcajo de la Sierra crosses the Río Madarquillos via the Puente Antiguo and continues to the Poza de las Yeguas; check the availability of this hike in advance as well. The Puente Antiguo is in the municipality of Horcajo de la Sierra-Aoslos, outside the centre of Aoslos, and was built before the 18th century.

Routes listed in the vicinity of Aoslos include “La reguera y la dehesa de Horcajo”, “El Río Madarquillos” and “Circular del Madarquillos”. The “La reguera y la dehesa de Horcajo” route passes through a traditional dehesa with well-preserved Melo oaks. Check trail conditions before travelling.

For the broader travel overview: Horcajo De La Sierra.