Borreguil (1,424m) from the Puerto de las Coronas road.
This week we invite you to discover the Illón mountain range, one of the most outstanding mountain ranges of the pre-Pyrenees in the western part of the mountain range, and to climb to its highest point, the Borreguil or Belbún (1,424m).
Borreguil or Belbún is located on the border between Navarre and Zaragoza. It seems that the name Borreguil is a Jacobean word that refers to a mountain with grassy slopes. The name "O Borreguil" is therefore typical of the Aragonese (Zaragoza) side of the mountain. This is the best known name of the mountain, as it appears on the SITAR maps, on the IGN cartography and on some signs that we find along the route. The other name for the peak is Belbún, which is how it appears on the SITNA or OSM.
The route we propose to reach Borreguil is not the classic route from the mountain pass of Las Coronas, along the boring track that runs along the Cañada Real de los Roncaleses, but from kilometre 5 of this road. It is a circular route that runs almost all the time along paths and through woods, where we can visit several megaliths.
Map:
Downloadable:
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Summary:
Circular route up to Borreguil or Belbún from kilometre 5 of the road (NA-214) from the Puerto de las Coronas pass. The route first follows the road and then the path to the Ollokiate pass, where it joins the Cañada de los Roncales route coming from the Coronas pass. From here, a marked path through the forest leads to the summit, which has no views of the Pyrenees and the Burgui gorge. On the way back, in order to enjoy a complete panoramic view, we descend along a kind of loop that brings us back to the Cañada Real de los Roncaleses at the Legaroz pass. From here, we will return to the starting point along a wide path that is different to the one we took on the way up.
How to get there:
See Google Maps.
Coming from Pamplona on the A21 motorway, take the turn-off to Lumbier and then continue along the NA-178 towards Navascués. After 21 kilometres from Lumbier, take the turning to Burgui (NA-214) on the right, which crosses Navascués, and continue until kilometre 5 on the road, two kilometres before the summit of the Puerto de las Coronas. On the right-hand side of the road there is a path where you can enter with your car and park about 100 metres further on, next to a pylon.
Technical specifications:
Distance: 12.8 kms.
Cumulative difference in altitude: +650m/-650m.
Timetable: about 5 hours. Walking time non-stop: 4 hours 20 minutes.
Water: We did not find any fountains along the route. The one indicated as the Gota fountain on the Legate path is apparently a small cave without water, although we cannot be sure.
Difficulty: The route does not present any significant difficulties. The main difficulty lies in finding the right crossroads, for which it may be useful to carry a GPS.
Recommended equipment: boots or slippers, walking sticks, canteen, GPS useful.
Itinerary
(0h00min; 0,0kms) Pilón - Track km 5 of the NA-214 (868m). Once you are here (see how to get there), start walking following the main path all the time, leaving the return path on the left as soon as you start. The track descends gently towards the head of the Benasa gorge (a protected area declared a Nature Reserve).
The path ends next to a wire fence, where a signpost indicates the path up to Ollate.
(0h30min; 2,1kms) Start of ascent - path to Ollate (853m). As soon as we start, the path forks. To the left you can go uphill on a narrow path marked with red tapes, and straight ahead on the main path you go uphill on a path marked with yellow tapes. The two paths join further up (0h55min; 3,2kms). We choose the main path, which runs through a thick forest with typical Mediterranean vegetation of holm oaks, pines, oaks and boxwoods, among others.
After a while (1h20min; 4,3kms), the path comes out to an elevated clearing from where you can see the lowland of Ollate and the final stretch of the ascent to Borreguil.
At this point we join a wide path that descends towards the fields.
(1h30min; 4,6kms) Raso de Ollate - Balsa (1.082m). At the beginning of the raso, by the pond of Ollate, you leave the main path and continue without a path to the right along the forest line. The ascending path to Borreguil (1h35min; 4,9kms), indicated by a wooden signpost, you find it just after you meet a path that crosses a fence through a metal gate. The path ascends without confusion to the top of the hill through a nice forest.
(2h30min; 6,7kms) Borreguil or Belbún (1.424m). The views are exceptional to the south, but unfortunately, the trees almost completely cover the Pyrenees and the Foz de Burgui cannot be seen either.
If we want to enjoy the full views, we have no choice but to descend in the opposite direction, following a path that refuses to go down and that runs all the time along the northern slope. The path is marked with all kinds of coloured paint and is somewhat confusing and quite uncomfortable in some areas.
It is not long but it takes a long time to reach the clearing (3h00min; 7.8kms) where the Pyrenees and the Foz de Burgui suddenly appear in all their splendour. We take the obligatory photos and change course.
The path turns suddenly to the left and enters a forest again, where the size of the boxwoods is striking. The path is now easy to follow. We quickly descend to an area of fields, the raso de Legate, where we join the path....
(3h30min; 9,3kms) Cañada Real de los Roncaleses (1.133m) which comes from the Puerto de las Coronas, near the Beata borda. Continue along the track on the left (west) following the tracks of the off-road vehicles.
At the end of the track, after passing a pond that you leave on your right and next to the dolmen of Legate, you find a wide path that descends to the right (3h40min; 9,9kms). Continuing along the main path we return without any problems to the beginning of the route.
(4h20min; 12,8kms) Pilón - Pista km 5 of the NA-214 (867m).
