I take you and me back into memory lane to our wonderful home for several years traveling in the area. I know I sound nostalgic and I am, always looking forward to be back. The family came here together and we love it! We rented a house at 1400 meters in the mountains or Serrania de Cuenca. However, this post is an update about the little towns in the mountains of beautiful natural beauty that even us not trekkers feels is worth the visit. We took several rides up the Serrania de Cuenca to as much as 1900 meters ( about 6270 feet) seeking lovely villages of Uña ,the lagoon and Toba ,the dam and bathing areas, Hope you enjoy the post as we did ,and looking forward to be back, eventually, Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Embalse de Toba or water reservoir you can fish and swim as long as the waters are not full and with careful précautions. It is beautiful country that I hope the pictures will tell. It is part of the village of Uña a bit further downhill. The dam of Toba or reservoir has a capacity of 9.7 cubic hectometres and was built in 1925 with the purpose of regulating the flow of the Júcar River. From the reservoir, the flow is diverted to the Laguna de Uña,a lake, and from there it is transported by a water channel for about 20 km to the Villalba de la Sierra hydroelectric power station. The swamp is quite large, about 150 hectares.
The Embalse de la Toba , a dam that starts from the Júcar river ,between mountains. It is a big swamp of 150 hectares where you can see the Muela de La Madera a place of many voltures and other rapace birds. The dam or embalse is created from the Júcar river together with others such as the Valdemeca, and other small streams .In Summer, it is one of the best areas for swimming and the most popular beach area in the province of Cuenca. Bathing is allowed in the Toba Reservoir throughout the year , Among the leisure activities we can find canoeing in calm waters throughout the Reservoir, but also kayaking, From the city of Cuenca, you must know that the reservoir is 43 km from the city. It is necessary to use private transport to reach this area . You take the CM-2105 highway, passing through the town of Villalba de la Sierra and the town of Uña. Once past Uña, you will see signs indicating that you have reached the reservoir. This is the most important reservoirs in the Júcar basin.
The Laguna de Uña or lake was created way back by king Alfonso XIII that was done as soon as the embalse de Toba was done early in the last century . Now it has a water current into and out by canalisation from the Salto de Villalba de la Sierra,or cascades to generate electricity in the hydroelectric plant. Our visit was in dry season but its usually full ok. The Laguna de Uña is a lagoon located next to the town that gives it its name, Uña, belonging to the Serranía Media region, and is fed by the waters of the Arroyo del Rincón, a tributary of the Júcar river. Currently the depth does not exceed 15 meters.
Going up and around in this mountaneous area we reach the nice Uña (nails,,,), there is a big lagoon/lake here part of the Parque Natural de la Serranía de Cuenca. You need to go by car up the mountain on the local road CM-2105. It is a lake of 200 meters in diameter with clear emerald waters of no more than 15 meters deep. Wild life is big here with ducks, seagalls, etc as well as deers, wild pigs etc. Around the lake you come into the Balcon of Uña, from here we can see the rocky coastal shelf, known as the castle of Uña, which shields the town from the wind. This is the landscape known as Gorge Los Cortados. The sierras of Las Majadas (where we had been renting rural houses) and Valdecabras, among which the Jucar river runs, are the backdrop of the town’s entrance.
Finally, I like t said this is one of the most popular tourist sites in the area for those who like mountaineering, walks ,trekking, and nature in general. However, best to do this in better weather as the heat of the summer can be high into the 30’sC would make a trip like this not useful me think.
The Castilla la Mancha autonomous community on the Sierra de Cuenca protected areas such as these: https://areasprotegidas.castillalamancha.es/rap/espacios-naturales-protegidos/enp-parque-natural/parque-natural-serrania-de-cuenca
The Castilla La Mancha autonomous community on the Sierrania de Cuenca :http://en.www.turismocastillalamancha.es/naturaleza/parque-natural-serrania-de-cuenca-57472/descripcion/
The Rural Escapes magazine on the Uña lagoon : https://www.escapadarural.com/blog/que-ver-y-por-que-visitar-la-laguna-de-una-en-la-serrania-de-cuenca/
The province of Cuenca on the village of Uña: https://www.dipucuenca.es/municipios1/-/asset_publisher/klZin00s9LhH/content/id/472927
I like to tell you more of this wonderful corner of my dear Spain. Do see my posts on the Serrania ,its towns and Cuenca in my blog. I will post here briefly some of the nicest natural beauties of the Serrania de Cuenca some seen some not, it is a huge mountaneous area worth the detour me think,
In Villalba de la Sierra, a town caressed by the Júcar river, you will need to visit the Devil’s Window, or the Ventano del Diablo ,one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the entire province of Cuenca. The Ciudad Encantada or Enchanted City, a wide space surrounded by leafy pine forests where you can let your fantasy and imagination run wild. It is a city inhabited by rock giants that fell asleep five or six million years ago. The Callejones or Alleys of Las Majadas are very similar to the Enchanted City and if there is something that distinguishes them, it is that in this place there is no ticket office , it’s free! Here there is no established map, no signs, no schedule, no rules. Everyone can let themselves be carried away by their instincts to follow the paths that are lost among the infinity of passageways and unique rock formations. Very close to Los Callejones de Las Majadas, you cannot miss another of the most spectacular viewpoints of the Serranía de Cuenca. The Mirador Picón del Tío Cogote or lookout offer spectacular views of the imposing Júcar river canyon, The Barranco del Molinillo or ravine of the small mill and the place known as Rincón de la Primavera or Spring’s corner. If you like nature and animals, you have to see El Hosquillo. It is a huge enclosure of more than 900 hectares nestled in the depths of the Serranía de Cuenca, in which the most representative animals of the Iberian fauna coexist in semi-freedom.
In the charming town of Valdemeca is the first of the three Illustrated Landscapes in the Serranía de Cuenca. The Paisajes Ilustrados or Illustrated Landscape deals with a representation of the customs and traditions of the past, which the artist Luis Zafrilla elaborated and captured with incredible realism. The figures are made of corten steel and are so real, that in fact they are perfect full-scale portraits of the inhabitants of the town. The other two Illustrated Landscapes are in Cañete and Huerta del Marquesado. On the outskirts of the town of Tragacete is the beautiful waterfall of Chorrera del Molino. The walk even extends over the top of the waterfall, where you will be able to enjoy some viewpoints that will put you at the perfect height to fully enjoy the views , The Cerro de la Mogorrita is the highest peak in the province of Cuenca with 1,866 meters of altitude, so there is no need for me to tell you about the views , In the towns of Tragacete and La Vega del Codorno, the road that will take you directly to the source of the Cuervo river makes its way through the mountains. After climbing a few stairs, you will arrive at the Cuervo River Waterfall, the most touristic and monumental point of the route and what has made the place famous. The most characteristic and worth visiting is a complex of immense hollows known as Las Torcas de Los Palancares. Las Torcas are deep karstic depressions with some deeper than others with a circular shape, produced by the subsidence of the land surface due to water seepage. Some of the most spectacular are Torca del Lobo, Torca de la Novia, Torca Larga, Las Mellizas, El Torquete, Torca del Sastre, and the Torca del Tío Agustín, Near the Torcas de los Palancares you can visit a lagoon complex known as Las Lagunas de Cañada del Hoyo. There are seven lagoons that make up this network of water towers, as they are also called, although technically they are called sinkholes. Like the Torcas de los Palancares, they are huge circular depressions, but in this case they carry water, the depth of which varies between one lagoon and another, from 4 to 28 meters. In the town of Valdemoro-Sierra there is a beautiful waterfall called La Balsa. It is a tuffaceous waterfall with a considerable length, in which the water rushes through the karstic rocks that give it that beautiful and characteristic shape. The La Hoz de Beteta is a huge canyon carved by the winding course of the Guadiela river. You will be especially impressed by its beautiful lime, oak and hazelnut forests and other plant species that are not easily seen. The Starlight Foundation awarded the Serranía de Cuenca the distinction for its clean and starry skies, which make it an ideal tourist destination for those who like to admire the sky sheltered from a night full of stars. The towns that have been worthy of obtaining the Starlight badge are: Beamud, Uña, Valdemeca, Huélamo, Tragacete, Las Majadas, Vega del Codorno, Poyatos, Mariana, Sotorribas, Villalba de la Sierra, Zarzuela, Portilla, Ribatajada, Arcos de la Sierra, Castillejo de la Sierra, Fresneda de la Sierra and Fuertescusa.
There you go folks, the Serrania de Cuenca is real country area of Spain still untouched by tourism in mass, and a wonderful spot to enjoy with the family. I know it brings lots of wonderful memorable moments for ours .
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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