Urbasa-Andía Natural Park, Spain

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The Urbasa-Andía Natural Park lies in the western part of Navarre in northern Spain, between the Basque Country and the Ebro valley. Declared a natural park in 1997, it covers two high limestone plateaus, the Sierra de Urbasa and the Sierra de Andía, which rise abruptly above the surrounding valleys. The terrain is karstic, shaped by water dissolving the rock, so it is riddled with sinkholes, caves and underground streams. Being there feels like stepping into a quiet upland world. Vast beech forests, mossy and often wrapped in mist, alternate with open, rolling pastures where horses, cattle and flocks of latxa sheep graze freely, as they have for centuries under traditional communal grazing rights. On the plateau's edges, dramatic cliffs fall away to the valleys below. One of the best-known sights is the source of the Urederra river, where water emerging from beneath the plateau gathers in a series of strikingly turquoise pools and waterfalls. The area also has a long human history. Dolmens, menhirs and other prehistoric monuments are scattered across the pastures, evidence of early shepherding communities. Shepherding remains an important part of local life, and the sheep's milk is used to make the region's prized Idiazabal cheese. Walkers, cyclists and nature lovers come for its trails, wildlife such as griffon vultures, and the sense of space and calm the plateaus offer.