Villanova Forest from the Borda d’Arnaldet

Itinerary through the magnificent birch grove of Villanova (Benasque Valley)

Easy difficulty
Total distance 10 km
Maximum / minimum altitude 1431m-950m
Accumulated height difference 579m
Total effective time 4: 00h
Departure / arrival point La Borda d’Arnaldet
Nearest population Villanova and Sahún
Ideal time all year

Beyond the emblematic “tresmiles”, the Benasque valley is covered with humid forests of great interest, such as the Conques jungle and the birch of Sahún and Villanova.

Pleasant excursion through the paths and forests of Villanova, at the southern end of the Posets Maladeta natural park, where we find the largest birch forests in southern Europe.

The road begins at the Borda de Arnaldet campsite, crossing the road to follow the trail of the old marble that ascends with a steep slope and that will lead to PR-HU 51 after passing some laces. We will take the PR towards Villanova and follow it until we find a crossroads with different signs (Chia, Villanova and Sahún) where we will continue, leaving the PR, the road on the right that is not indicated. From this moment we continue the path in continuous ascent, finding sections of path and track that will be crossed and that we will follow according to the specifications of the track. We will pass areas of birches and ash trees, on a leafy path surrounded by stone and boxwoods, meadows and the occasional sidewalk, until we reach a large meadow in the forest (Rabaltueras meadow), which will be the highest point of the excursion. We will enter through a cattle fence and we will reach the end of the meadow, turning to the right, where we will find some cattle watering holes;At this point we will take the path that we are already descending. We will follow the path that will take us along the right slope of the Surri ravine (according to the nomenclator of Sahún and Llisat according to some mountain guides) to which we will gradually approach, hearing the noise of the water passing, despite not seeing it so dense vegetation. Once we reach the bottom of the ravine, we will meet again with the PR-HU 51 at the point that crosses it and has a lever to the left that takes us to Sahún. Our path continues to the right, along the PR, ascending again where we will find the starting point of the marble. We will take down the track that we had climbed at the beginning to return to our starting point.