Hellín is a town in the south-east of Albacete province, on the edge of the dry plains of La Mancha, where the landscape breaks into hills and ravines on its way down to the Segura river. Its old town climbs a hill crowned by a castle, and its streets are lined with houses from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The Abrigo de los Cortijos lies in the hills about nine kilometres from the town, toward Albatana and Tobarra.
The area around Hellín is one of the most important for rock art in Spain. The site of Minateda, south of the town, has a large shelter with hundreds of painted figures, including Levantine hunters and animals, studied since the early twentieth century. The Abrigo de los Cortijos and the other shelters in the area belong to the same UNESCO-listed group, and they show how important this transition zone between the plateau and the Segura was for prehistoric communities. The area is also rich in Iberian and Roman sites, including the Tolmo de Minateda, a fortified hilltop town that later became a Visigothic bishopric.
Hellín is known throughout Spain for its Holy Week drumming, the Tamborada, when thousands of people in tunics beat drums in the streets for days on end. It has been recognised as a festival of international tourist interest, and the sound is overwhelming. Tobarra, nearby, has a similar tradition.
The riding around Hellín is good. The roads south toward the Segura river, the Cenajo reservoir and the Sierra del Segura are twisty and scenic, through pine forest and ravines, with little traffic. The road toward Isso, Liétor and Ayna follows the Mundo river through a gorge, with spectacular views; Ayna has been called the Switzerland of La Mancha for its dramatic setting. The surfaces are mostly good. Summer heat is intense, so ride early.
Hellín has fuel and all services, as does Tobarra. Local food includes the gazpacho manchego, the hearty stews of La Mancha, and the sweets of Holy Week. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for riding here.