Rillo lies close to the river Gallo, and the Gallo has cut the Barranco de la Hoz, one of the great surprises of the Señorío de Molina. A flat, windswept plateau suddenly splits open into a canyon of pale rock, and tucked into the cleft is the sanctuary of the Virgen de la Hoz, a small shrine with a long tradition of pilgrimage. The Rillo II shelter lies on the plateau above, a little under seven kilometres from Molina de Aragón and a short distance from Corduente, which is the village closest to the gorge.
The riding on this plateau has a particular quality. The roads are long and mostly straight, rising and falling across the dry landscape, with views that run to the horizon, and then they dive into the valleys and wind through woodland. Traffic is almost nonexistent. Winter is fierce, with snow and hard frost, and the nights are cold even in late spring. July and August are dry and clear, though evening temperatures can be fresh, so pack a layer. Early autumn is the best time, when the light is golden and the trees along the river are turning.
Molina de Aragón is the obvious base, a town of about three and a half thousand people that was once the centre of a semi-independent medieval lordship. Its castle, long walls and towers dominate the skyline, and its arcaded square and old bridge give the town a character that outweighs its size. It has fuel, restaurants and shops, and the surrounding villages offer very little in comparison, so fill up here.
The painted shelters of this high country are among the less-known sites of the Spanish Levant, and the details of access change, so ask at the tourist office in Molina. The Alto Tajo natural park, with its deep canyons and clear rivers, lies to the west and is one of the finest areas for walking in central Spain. Carry water, and keep an eye on the weather, because afternoon storms can arrive fast in summer.