A window in the rock gives the shelter its name, and the Abrigo de la Ventana II lies about twelve kilometres from Nerpio in the high country of the Sierra del Segura, where limestone cliffs are pierced by natural openings and hollows. It is the second of two shelters of that name, and it appears on a route with the Diosa Madre, the Mother Goddess, which is the title that archaeologists have given to a rock painting that they interpret as a female figure. The whole group belongs to the Mediterranean rock art listed by UNESCO in 1998.
The wildlife around here is worth the attention of any rider who looks at more than the road. The Sierra del Segura is among the best places in Spain to see Spanish ibex, a sturdy wild goat with sweeping horns, and in the early morning you may see them on the cliffs. Mouflon, introduced for hunting, live in some of the woods, and so do red and roe deer. Golden eagles, griffon vultures and the occasional bearded vulture are overhead, and the forests hold wildcats and genets that you will almost never see.
The riding is open, easy and fairly empty. Roads cross the plateau in long straights with gentle bends, with forest and meadow alternating, and drop at the edges into steep gorges. The surface can be rough in places, particularly after winter, and cattle sometimes graze on the verges. The cold is a factor from October to April, and the thaw can leave gravel on the road. In summer the air is dry and the sun strong, but the altitude keeps the nights cool.
Fuel is the issue to plan for. Nerpio is nearly twelve kilometres away and has limited services, and the sensible choices are Huéscar, 36 kilometres, or Moratalla, 25. In the village you can eat well on lamb, bean stew and migas. Always carry water, and leave the shelter untouched, because even small marks can damage the paint.