The Nerpio area has been lived in, in one way or another, for a very long time, and the people who live there now seem to know it. Cavidad I, one of the shelters that archaeologists numbered in this district, lies about eight kilometres from the village of Nerpio, up on the plateau where the pines give way to farmland. The tradition of keeping sheep and goats on these hills is old, and the tracks that the flocks use to move between summer and winter pasture have shaped the paths you will find.
The shelters of the Nerpio region are among the more numerous in the Albacete province, and they belong to the Mediterranean Basin rock art tradition listed by UNESCO in 1998. The paintings, in general, are small and in red or black, and they are protected from the weather only by the overhang, so a few seasons of vandalism or careless touching can do lasting damage. Ask locally before you look for them.
The riding in the area is quiet and varied. Roads wind between pine forest and open ground, climb to small passes and descend into valleys with a stream at the bottom, with gentle bends and sudden views. The surface is not always perfect, and the margins crumble in places, so keep to your side. Cold air pools in the hollows in the early morning, and you can ride through bands of mist and sunshine. After rain, the red earth tracks become slippery, so stay on the tarmac.
Nerpio is a small place with a few bars and shops, and if you need fuel, you should plan around Yeste, about twenty-seven kilometres away, which has some thirty-five hundred people and more choices. Food in the area is simple and good. Pork products, game, cheese, honey and bread are the staples, and you can often buy them from small producers in the village.
Late spring and early autumn are the best times. Bring a warm layer even in May, and fill the tank before you leave the larger towns. The ride pairs this cavity with the Cueva de la Plata, a quieter outing.