Villa Vista Suite

Entering the 21st century, many Herreños still remember their island without a single road; on the contrary, many more have only moved around the island by roads and tracks, naturally by car. In this transition from yesterday to today, the communication routes have revolutionized the customs of the Herreños and, with them, their culture.
But the absence of roads did not mean the absence of communication routes: there were paths that crisscrossed the island from one end to the other. There are so many of these paths and of such difficult layout that when thinking about their construction, it seems that the Herreños could do nothing else in their lives but make paths; and in part, this was indeed the case, as the paths did not all come into existence at once, but gradually, as the need arose. It can be said that they were born to fulfill a specific function, that first came the need and then the path, and not the other way around. Initially, they would have been simple trails, traced haphazardly by those who wanted to reach a specific place, following livestock or searching for it, skirting a mountain or crossing a ravine, following already marked tracks or opening the forest trail for the first time. These trails began in prehistory and were made by the ancient Herreños, but modern Herreños still use them. Most remained as they were, simple trails; but others became paths, with their limits expanded, their contours secured, their layouts modified, and their surfaces leveled. Those that went from sea to summit, or vice versa, were called Royal Paths, and all in general were called Bridle Paths because they also served for the transit of animals and the transport of goods. The most important ones were also paved and walled, that is, with cobblestone surfaces and dry stone walls on both sides of the path that delimited its layout and separated it from farms and enclosures, preventing animals from straying. Finally, some paths have served as the basis for modern roads, taking advantage of the clearings and public lands they occupied, but above all, taking advantage of their intelligent layout.
The Royal Paths of El Hierro are a very important part of the island's historical and cultural heritage, therefore, the walkers who have set out to traverse them must be their best protectors and caretakers, trying not to damage their structures and repairing any damage they find as much as possible. Those who have decided to get to know the island through its Paths demonstrate a special attitude towards geography, but also towards history, wanting to see both in a different way than they are seen from the road and the car. And this ecological and cultural sensitivity must be reflected in the special respect for paths that will be traveled by other people. The island's landscape is very sensitive to any attack, and its recovery capacity is very low. Therefore, care and respect for its flora and fauna, the conservation of the walls and structures of the Paths, the taps and fountains conditioned for hikers, and the cleanliness of the grounds must be maximized, trying not to throw any waste and collecting those found, depositing them in the bins and containers of the Paths or at the entrances to the towns. And private property in orchards and enclosures must be respected, without crossing or damaging their walls and gates. In short, hikers must be the best and most diligent conservators of the environment.