Flights

The nearest and most convenient is..

Seville Airport: - 1¼ hrs by road

• British Airways (www.britishairways.com)
  Fly daily direct from both Gatwick and Heathrow from as little as £69 return including all taxes and charges. The cost of additional connecting flights to/from other UK airports start at around £65 return including all charges.
  
• Ryan Air (www.ryanair.com)
  Daily direct flights from Stansted and Liverpool.
  
• Air Berlin (www.airberlin.com) Budget airline, daily from Stansted via Mallorca (stopovers permitted).
• Click Air(www.clickair.com) Daily from Heathrow
• Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) Daily from Dublin

More budget airlines fly to other destinations within easy reach such as:

Faro Airport: - 2½ hrs by road


• Monarch Air (www.flymonarch.com) direct from Gatwick, Luton and Manchester.
• Ryan Air (www.ryanair.com) Direct flights from Dublin.
  
• EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) direct from Luton, Stansted, Bristol and East Midlands.


• BMI Baby (www.bmibaby.com) direct from East Midlands.


• Globespan (www.flyglobespan.com) direct from Glasgow and Edinburgh.


• My Travel Lite (www.mytravellite.com) Direct from Birmingham.
  
• ThomsonFly (www.thomsonfly.com) Direct from Bournemouth, Coventry and Doncaster/Sheffield.
  
• Jet2 (www.jet2.com) direct from Leeds/Bradford.


• Excel Airways (www.xl.com) Direct from Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Stansted, Gatwick Newcastle and Manchester.
  
• FlyBE (www.flybe.com) direct from Exeter and Norwich.


• Air Berlin (www.airberlin.com) weekly from Stansted via Mallorca (stopovers permitted).

Jerez Airport: - 2½ hrs by road


• Ryan Air (www.ryanair.com) direct from Stansted.


• Air Berlin (www.airberlin.com)
weekly from Stansted via Mallorca (stopovers permitted).

Malaga Airport: - 3½ hrs by road


• Monarch Air (www.flymonarch.com) direct from Aberdeen, Blackpool, Birmingham, Gatwick, Luton, Manchester and Newquay.


• BMI Baby (www.bmibaby.com) direct from Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester, Cardiff and Teeside.


• Ryan Air (www.ryanair.com) direct from Dublin and Shannon.


• EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) direct from Belfast, Luton, Stansted, Bristol, East Midlands, Liverpool, Gatwick and Newcastle.


• Globespan (www.flyglobespan.com) direct from Glasgow and Edinburgh.


• Air Scotland (www.air-scotland.com) direct from Glasgow and Edinburgh.


• Jet2 (www.jet2.com) direct from Leeds/Bradford and Manchester.


• ThomsonFly (www.thomsonfly.com) direct from Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Doncaster/Sheffield, Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and East Midlands.


• FlyBE (www.flybe.com) direct from Exeter, Norwich and Southampton.
  
• Air Berlin (www.airberlin.com) weekly from Stansted via Mallorca (stopovers permitted).


• Excel Airways(www.xl.com) daily from Gatwick and Manchester and weekly from Birmingham and Newcastle.


• My Travel Lite(www.mytravellite.com) Direct from Birmingham.
• Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com) Direct from Cork and Dublin

For those coming from Madrid the AVE high speed train link (National Rail Network) has 20 departures per day to Seville (16 on Sat & Sun). Incredibly, the journey takes just 2½ hrs though it costs around 65 euros. Other trains are cheaper but take longer.

Car Hire

Castaño del Robledo can be easily reached by car from any of the above airports or cities. For an instant car hire quotation at superb rates, click... www.economycarhire.com.

Directions

For detailed directions on how to get here, both by car and by public transport, please see below...

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From Seville

By car
From the airport follow signs back into Seville for one junction only, before turning off right to follow the blue motorway signs to 'Merida A-66'. You'll follow a ring road round the city for a few kms and then, still following signs to Merida, you'll cross a long motorway bridge over the Guadalquivir River before starting to head away from the city.

From Seville you simply follow the A-66 motorway northwards towards Merida for some 35kms. A couple of kms after the motorway ends and the road narrows to a 2 lane trunk road, you will see signs for "Aracena" and "Portugal". Here you branch off on the N433 heading NW. This road is marked off with kilometre posts all the way to the Portuguese border. At km 86 the road bypasses Aracena. Keep going another 10 mins until, just after km 96, you turn off left on a small road signed to "Fuenteheridos" and "Peña de Arias Montano". Driving up this road you ignore a turn off right after 600m and, after a further 400m, you'll come to a roundabout. Continue straight ahead at the roundabout and after a further 5kms you'll arrive in the village.

Total journey time - 1¼ hrs.

By public transport


• From Seville city:
  Buses from Seville to Fuenteheridos (4kms from Castaño del Robledo) depart twice daily from the Plaza de Armas bus station in the city. These are modern, air conditioned coaches with plenty baggage space beneath.
  
  Departure times: 0900 & 1600 - Never varies but just in case, check; Autocares Casal
  Cost: around 7 Euros
  Journey time: Just under 2 hrs
  
  From Seville you should try calling ahead to the Posada (959 465502) so we can arrange a taxi to pick you up in Fuenteheridos. Alternatively, if your Spanish is any good you can try calling the Fuenteheridos taxi yourself on 959 125108. The short trip from there to the Posada costs around 8 euros.
  
  
• From Seville airport:
  Taxis from airport to city cost around 19 euros. They take about 20 mins to Plaza de Armas bus station, more at rush hour. If your flight is not going to get in before 3.00pm there is a slim chance you'll get to the station in time for the last bus to Fuenteheridos, so you can…
  
  • Take a taxi to Castaño del Robledo. These cost around 80 to 100 euros for up to four people and take about 1¼hrs.
  • Take a bus/taxi into Seville and spend a night in a hotel before coming to Castaño the next day. Posada del Castaño can make hotel reservations in Seville if you give some advance warning.
  
  Buses also make the trip from airport to city, however these go to a different bus station than that needed for Aracena/Fuenteheridos! Once in the city you'd only have to take a taxi or a bus between stations anyway! Nevertheless you can download .pdf document with a list of airport bus departure times from the Seville Urban Transport website. Avenida del Cid is next to the Prado San Sebastian bus station in the city centre. Airport buses cost 2.40 euros and take about 30 mins to the centre.
  



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From Faro (and Huelva)

By car
From the airport follow the main road in the direction of Faro city. After 6 kms this runs into the N2 which you take northwards following signs to the E1 motorway. After a further 6 kms you come to the E1 motorway which you join in the eastbound direction signed to "Espanha". After 61 kms of motorway you cross into Spain by a modern suspension bridge (there are no border formalities) and keep on the motorway in the direction of Huelva. A further 54 kms brings you to the turn-off for Huelva city which you ignore, keeping on in direction Seville for a further 4 kms until the town of San Juan del Puerto (recognisable by the huge smoke stack of a pulp mill on the right hand side). Come off the motorway here at junction 75 (just past the pulp mill) - it's signed "San Juan del Puerto" and "Trigueros". The sharply curved slip road comes up to a T-junction with the N435. Turn right here in the direction marked "Badajoz". The N435 is marked with kilometre posts all the way from Badajoz. Follow it north for just over 90 kms until, just a few hundred metres after kilometre post 134, there is a turning on the right hand side signposted to Castaño del Robledo. Turn along here for 3½ kms to the village.

Total driving time - 2½ hrs.

By public transport

• From Faro airport:
  Coming out the terminal turn right and at the far end of the building is the EVA bus stop. Departure times for the city centre service are found by following this link to the Eva Bus Company. (Pay attention to the departures marked by a green spot which indicate those services which connect with the international bus for Huelva/Seville!)

  The bus station in town is 500m from the train station. The journey takes 25 mins and costs 1.25 euros, payable to the driver.

  A taxi into Faro from the airport costs 8 to 10 euros and takes about 15 mins
  
  If buses and trains are not your thing then, by special arrangement, we can come and pick you up off your flight and take you directly to the Posada del Castaño. We use an air-conditioned estate car (station wagon) which comfortably seats 4 passengers as well as the driver, and has plenty room for everyone’s luggage. The cost of the one way trip is 200 euros. The distance is 213 kms.
  
  
• From Faro town:
  The most direct way from Faro to Castaño del Robledo is to take an international bus to Huelva in Spain, then change for Jabugo. The last 7 kms from Jabugo must be done by taxi.
  
  For schedules Faro/Huelva and Huelva/Jabugo follow this link for Damas Bus Company.
  Beware! Faro departure times on this site are shown in Spanish time which is one hour later than Portuguese. (i.e. The bus leaves Faro an hour before it says it does!)
  
  Additionally, you will find schedules here for buses from Huelva to Aracena, but the taxi journey from Aracena to Castaño del Robledo is longer than from Jabugo to Castaño del Robledo, though your Huelva connection might work better!
  
  Faro/Huelva costs around 16 euros.
  Huelva/Jabugo costs around 8 euros.
  
  From Faro or Huelva you should try calling ahead to the Posada (959 465502) so we can arrange to pick you up or send a taxi to bring you from Jabugo. This will cost around 8 euros.
  
  If no suitable bus connection exists in Huelva then you have the option of taking the train from Huelva to Jabugo/Galaroza. The afternoon train usually departs Huelva at 19.10 (though not Saturdays), takes 2¼ hrs and costs 6.15 euros. Click here for current information from the National Rail Network website.(This really is one for railway enthusiasts - a small unconnected line that climbs up into the Sierra from Huelva. The line is generally far from any roads and the train stops in some of the most out of the way places in the province. Unfortunately, the morning train does not connect with anything from Faro, and the train station in Huelva is 1 km from the bus station. The afternoon train makes the last part of the trip in darkness on all but the longest days of the year.)
  
  NB. On Sundays, when no international bus operates, it is still possible to make the journey from Faro to Huelva. This involves taking the bus (EVA Bus Company) or train (Comboios de Portugal) from Faro to the Portuguese border town of Villa Real de Santo Antonio. Once there you must walk or taxi to the ferry terminal (1½ kms) on the river Guadiana and take the ferry across to the Spanish border town of Ayamonte.
  
  Ferry departures in Portuguese time are: 09.00, 09.40, 11.20, 12.00, 12.40, 13.20, 14.00, 14.40, 15.20, 16.00, 16.40, 17.20, 18.00, 18.40, 19.20 & 20.00.
  
  Once in Ayamonte it’s another 1½ km walk to the bus station for the bus to Huelva. See this link to Damas Bus Company. for Spanish departure times.

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From Jerez

By car
The airport lies some 7 kms NE of the town. From the airport follow signs to Seville which will take you northbound onto the A-4 motorway. Its less then 90 kms to Seville. Coming into the city you'll come onto the SE 30 ring road. Stay on this motorway following signs for Merida A-66. Thereafter follow directions as per "from Seville by car" as above.

Total journey time - 2½hrs.



By public transport

• From Jerez airport:
  There are no buses from the airport into town. Taxis will do the 8km journey in 15 mins for around 10 euros.
  
  If you need a taxi then, by special arrangement, we can come and pick you up off your flight and take you directly to the Posada del Castaño. We use an air-conditioned estate car (station wagon) which comfortably seats 4 passengers as well as the driver, and has plenty room for everyone’s luggage. The cost of the one way trip is 195 euros. The distance is 195 kms.
  
  
• From Jerez town:
  To reach the Sierra de Aracena you must first take a bus or a train to Seville and then another bus from Seville to Fuenteheridos. Since buses from Jerez arrive at a different bus station in Seville from that where buses depart to the Sierra, it makes little difference whether you take the bus or the train from Jerez - you'll have to transfer between stations in Seville anyway.

  For bus times from Jerez to Seville see the following two links; Linesur Bus Company. and Comes Bus Company.
  
  Cost: around 6 euros
  Journey time: 1¼ hrs

  For train times, ticket prices and journey times from Jerez to Seville see the National Rail Network website
  
  Cost: around 6.45 euros (except rush hour trains which charge a substantial premium)
  Journey time: around 1 hr 5 mins

  A taxi in Seville from Prado San Sebastian bus station, or Santa Justa train station, to the Plaza de Armas bus station will cost around 7 or 8 euros. An 'inner circular' city bus 'C3' also links Prado San Sebastian with Plaza de Armas and costs 1.00 euro.

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From Malaga

By car
Depart the airport initially heading towards Malaga city but then taking the motorway northwestwards towards Antequera and then on to Seville. Once in Seville stay on the SE 30 ring road following signs to Merida A-66 and then follow directions as per "from Seville by car" as above.

Total journey time - 3½ hrs.



By public transport

• From Malaga airport
  Bus no 19 departs for the city bus station from in front of the terminal building every 30 mins from 07:00 until 24.00. - Check Line 19 schedules here. It costs 1.00 euros and takes 30 mins - more at rush hour.
  
  There are trains to the city centre too but getting to the airport train station involves a 10 minute walk upstairs to the departures hall then outside and over a walkway and bridge. If you do want to go to the main train station in Malaga by train then you should get off at the second last stop called Malaga-Renfe - the last stop is in the city centre. The airport bus takes you to the bus station which is virtually next door to the main train station anyway.
  
  Taxis cover the 11 kms to the centre in about 20 mins and cost around 20 euros.
  
  
• From Malaga City:
  To reach the Sierra de Aracena you must first take a bus or a train to Seville and then another bus from Seville to Fuenteheridos. Since buses from Malaga arrive at a different bus station in Seville from that where buses depart to the Sierra, it makes little difference whether you take the bus or the train from Malaga - you'll have to transfer between stations in Seville anyway.

  For bus times, ticket prices and journey times from Malaga to Seville see the Alsina Graells website.

  For train times, ticket prices and journey times from Malaga to Seville see the National Rail Network website.

  A taxi in Seville from Prado San Sebastian bus station, or Santa Justa train station, to the Plaza de Armas bus station will cost around 7 or 8 euros. An 'inner circular' city bus 'C3' also links Prado San Sebastian with Plaza de Armas and costs 1.00 euro.