We left Toledo after lunch, continuing our Culture Trail towads the walled city of Avila.  This took us on the A40 and then the N403 through lovely green countryside, swinging west around Madrid
and gradually climbing higher towards the Sierra de Gredos and the Sierra Guadarrama.
We passed several typical Castillian castles and went through an area of green rounded pine trees.


As we climbed higher the countryside became barer, like high moorland with granite outcrops and dry stone walls, much like Dartmoor.   We saw no snow on the distant mountain tops.  
At one point, what we took to be the Camino Aragonese crossed the highway. We reached a large reservoir and crossed it by bridge, but could find nowhere to stop for a cup of tea.

We saw lots of black cattle with fierce looking horns, but i wasn't quick enough to film them.

It wasn't long before we dropped down and caught sight of the walled city of Avila.
We headed out on the road towards Salamanca, before crossing a river and finding our stopping place in a large car park, right under the walls and beside the HQ of the local Guardia Civil.
We were later joined by 3 French MH's and a couple of others.

There were lots of storks flying about and one came down near us to drink from a large puddle.
 Later on the beautiful walls were illuminated, as was a place of special religious significance in the life of St Teresa of Avila.