Convento monasterio de San Julian y san Antonio

Convento Monasterio de San Julian y San Antonio with Pico de La Miel in the background

A freezing cold winter's day in the Sierra de La Cabrera but crystal-clear skies and it looks like the height of summer! One hour earlier and I was freezing my whatsits off at the top there in a howling (cloudless) gale!

L to R on skyline; Canchos Largo and Gordo. Pure granite scenery. A perishingly cold January day for all that it looks like the height of summer! One of my personal favourites of the Sierra de La Cabrera.

Sierra de La Cabrera. May; the only time it's green here!

The monastery and Canchos Largo, Gordo and de La Bola (L to R), La Sierra de La Cabrera. I spotted the little crooked sapling silhouetted against the yellow grass and just liked it! The shot posted to the left of this was taken from one of the towers on the top left skyline here.

La Sierra de La Cabrera in spring.

The Convento Monasterio de San Julien y San Antonio is partly hidden in the trees. La Sierra de La Cabrera with Pico de La Miel prominent at the eastern end of the sierra. One for Pam, not of Cornwall for a change!

La Sierra de La Cabrera, Convento Monasterio de San Julian y San Antonio and (left to right on the skyline) Canchos Largo, Gordo and de La Bola. A freezing cold January day.

Easier going down this way than coming up but actually more dangerous! La Sierra de La Cabrera. There are some well-known rock climbs around here.

The convent from above. There are a number of steep ascents to the high point of the ridge from here. I normally ascend by another route and sometimes descend here. I have ascended here twice only and it is pergatory if you are not reasonably fit! Situated at the foot of the steep ridge of the Sierra de La Cabrera.

The monk who keeps an eye on the place, visiting once a day from his flat in the town, kindly showed me round (I was passing the front door as he was parking his car). An informative half an hour tour, including the gardens but it was such an incredibly cold day that we kept moving to try and get some warmth into our bones and the visit was shorter than it otherwise might have been! I didn't take many photos as my fingers were too cold!! Interestingly, the following week was when I met my girlfriend for the first time; she was a new student of mine. I hadn't thought about it before but when I checked the date here, I realised it was so. I suppose I now have to thank Saints Julian and Antonio, rather than serendipity!!!

The Convento monasterio de San Julian y San Antonio. An extremely cold January day. The same monastery here: www.ipernity.com/doc/2247598/45420762/in/album/987282 and here: www.ipernity.com/doc/2247598/45490792/in/album/987282

Convento monasterio de San Julian y San Antonio seen from the path to the top of El Cancho Gordo, Sierra de La Cabrera. This path is steep and direct, mainly used by rock-climbers on their way to climbs. But it is perfectly do-able as a quick (30 minutes) short-cut, avoiding the dusty and awkward main path (1.5 hours plus) that zig-zags here, there and everywhere!

Convento Monasterio de San Julian y San Antonio and La Sierra de La Cabrera as a backdrop. From left to right the 3 highest summits, Los Canchos Largo, Gordo and de La Bola.

Convento Monasterio de San Julian y San Antonio, granite, juniper and the Canchos Largo and Gordo. A crystal clear and very cold January day.

This is what is stopping the giant granite boulder rolling down the hill! It does a good job. The boulder is well-and-truly wedged! The earlier shot of this boulder can be seen on this page.

Convento Monasterio de San Julian y San Antonio; backdrop provided by El Cancho Gordo, Sierra de La Cabrera. It takes approx 20-30 minutes to get down from the top to here but considerably longer on the way up!

Peonies. In the background: the Convento de San Antonio and The Sierra de La Cabrera (L to R Canchos Largo, Gordo and de La Bola).