Breathaking in the Crisp, Clean Air in the Picos De Europa National Park
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Grade: Comfort: Start/Finish: Arenas de Cabrales Distance: 82 km Duration: 8 Days & 7 Nights Availability: April—October Website Code: WSpSPE Breathaking in the crisp, clean air in the Picos de Europa National Park Authentic Spanish Cultures and customs Tasting the famous ‘Queso de Cabrales’ with the locals Journeying through ‘enviroments past’ in the vast glaciated valleys Stay in charming hotels and guesthouses, hand picked for their food and character Self Guided Walking & Cycling Tours—Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-720-487-9898 (US) macsadventure.com The Picos de Europa is one of the most impressive mountain ranges in Spain and a Is this tour for me? superb environment for walking. This self guided holiday will take you through This trip is best suited to keen walkers who jagged limestone mountains providing magnificent scenery and harbouring a rich want to experience the very best of Spain. The variety of flora, fauna and wildlife. walks are between 4 & 6 hours each day with varying ascents and descents. They reward Initially based in the quiet village of Arenas de Cabrales, your first day's walk is a with fabulous views and new discoveries colourful, rewarding ascent to Nava above the Cares River. Further on the village of around every corner. Tielve awaits with neighbouring Valfríu tempting you with their famous ‘Queso de Cabrales’ - local blue cheese. Through landscapes of heather, beech woods and flowing streams you arrive in Sotres, the highest of all the villages. Itinerary Day 1: Arrive Spain / Arenas de Cabrales Day 2: Circular walk from Arenas 11km Day 3: Walk from Tielve to Sotres—9km. Day 4: Circular Walk to Ándara, Eastern Massif - 12km. Day 5: Ascent to Vega de Urriellu - 18km Day 6: Circular walk to Áliva - 19km Day 7: Walk to Poncebos - 13km Day 8: Onward travel. What’s Included 7 Nights accommodation in hotels and guesthouses • 7 Breakfasts • 4 Dinners • Luggage transfers (on days 3 & 7) • Bus tickets from Bilbao or Santander to Urquera • Transfers from Unquera to Arenas de Cabrales and vice versa • 24/7 emergency telephone support • Detailed route notes, maps and pre-departure information pack • GPX tracks and access to our smartphone app. Self Guided Walking & Cycling Tours—Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-720-487-9898 (US) macsadventure.com Overnight: Sotres Hotel Tranquil surroundings with Day 7 great traditional cuisine. It has spacious and comfortable bedrooms. In the evening head down to Walk to Poncebos Day 1 the restaurant and enjoy some wholesome stew, freshly prepared from local ingredients or wander to You start your day descending along an ancient Arrive Spain / Arenas de Cabrales the local inn and have a chat with the villagers. footpath arriving at Bulnes, an isolated village only accessible by foot or more recently, funicular Santander is the nearest airport (100kms/1hr20) to Day 4 railway. From Bulnes you can take the funicular to Arenas de Cabrales. However, Bilbao is another Poncebos or continue on foot to the spectacular option. (230kms/2hr21). Circular Walk to Ándara, Eastern Massif Texu Gorge. You will be picked up in Poncebos and transferred to Arena de Cabrales. Bus tickets are included from the centre of A day of contrasts awaits you. Firstly, a steep ascent Santander (1h20m) or Bilbao (2.5h) to Unqueras via a disused mining track and rocky paths. You will Alternatively, walk the famous mile-deep Cares from where an included transfer (45min) will take be rewarded with impressive views of a limestone Gorge with the village of Caín at its head. you to Arenas de Cabrales. peak before following cattle trails through woods, Walk: 13km, 6 hrs, approx 450m ascent, 1100m heather and pastures back to Sotres. Take time to Arenas de Cabrales is a picturesque village in the descent East of Asturias. Visit the Romanesque Santa explore the moon-like landscape and observe vultures and eagles soaring high above. Views of Overnight: Hotel La Rivera Maria de Llas Church or try the regional dish, The Bay of Biscay can be seen on clear days. Fabada Asturina, a hearty stew made with regional ingredients. Walk: 12km, 5 hrs, approx 700m ascent, 950m descent Day 8 Overnight: Hotel La Rivera. Your hotel for the first two nights is the Hotel La Rivera. This cosy, Overnight: Sotres Hotel Walk to Poncebos welcoming hotel is the ideal starting point for your Check out after breakfast and an included transfer trek into the Picos de Europa National Park. Day 5 will take you from Arenas de Cabrales back to Day 2 Ascent to Vega de Urriellu Unqueras and you can again take a bus back to either Santander or Bilbao Airport. Circular walk from Arenas A spectacular walk takes you right into the heart of the Picos de Europas. At the foot of Picu Urriellu Start your trip with an ascent through seasonal (2,519m) you will be at the Vega de Urriellu a small meadows. You follow mostly stone paths and be refuge hut. The refuge is well stocked with drinks rewarded with outstanding views of the Picos de and snacks which are brought up by horseback each Europas and down to the Cares River. A challenging day from Pandébano. The walk takes you through first day but well worth the effort. meadows up to the Collado Pandebano (1240m) before a steep ascent to the refuge. Lunar Walk: 11km, 5 hrs, approx 800m ascent, 800m landscapes will compliment your walk as you descent ascend. Truly beautiful! Overnight: Hotel La Rivera Walk: 18kms, 6.5 hrs, approx 1100m ascent, 1200 Day 3 descent Overnight: Sotres Hotel Walk from Tielve to Sotres After a short 20 min transfer, you walk from Tielve, Day 6 one of the most authentic villages of Cabrales onto Circular walk to Áliva Valfríu where you can sample the local blue cheese, Queso de Cabrales. Walking through old beech Inspiring limestone walls of the Central and Eastern woods and streams you reach an elevation of Massifs and a magnificent glacial valley keep you 1240m , then down to Sotres one of the highest company as you wind on up to Áliva. Take a rest at villages in the Picos de Europas. Sotres is an the Refugio de Aliva and sit back and absorb the agricultural village where they famously mature surrounding scenery before returning to Sotres. Queso de Cabrales in the limestone caves which are Walk: 19km, 6.5 hrs, approx 900m ascent, 800m abundant in the local area. descent Walk: 9km, 4 hrs, approx 575m ascent, 250m Overnight: Sotres Hotel descent Self Guided Walking & Cycling Tours—Call +44 (0)141 530 8886 or +1-720-487-9898 (US) macsadventure.com narrow footpaths and animal trails with some Weather & Climate steep ascents or descents. You will walk on The weather in this part of Spain is most gravel, loose rock, grass and dirt. When wet, Accommodation comfortable for mountain walking at this time of paths may be muddy and slippery. There are year, and whilst sudden mists are common We specifically select your accommodation to also a couple of exposed sections which would they usually burn off by mid-day. As with all ensure that you enjoy every minute of your not be suitable for anybody who suffers from mountainous areas and particularly because of stay. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers, vertigo although we can provide options to the proximity of the mountains to the coast in traditional hospitality and delicious local avoid these sections. These sections are on this area, the weather can also change food. We aim to give you an authentic the walks on Days 5 and 7. We recommend suddenly and there can be sudden rain- experience and use local family run using walking poles for balance on this tour. showers, or even snow at any time of year so accommodations. More details and links to Equipment you should be prepared for all weather the accommodation are detailed on the conditions with waterproof gear and plenty of itinerary page of our website. Your information pack has a detailed sunscreen! equipment list which includes standard walking Solo Walkers & Single Rooms gear such as good walking boots or shoes, Price If you require single rooms within your party we warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack. Please see our website for current prices would be happy to accommodate you although Travel Insurance there is a single room supplement payable. Included in the Price It is a requirement of booking this tour with This holiday is available for solo walkers but we 7 Nights accommodation in hotels and Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel would recommend that you are experienced in guesthouses • 7 Breakfasts • 4 Dinners • insurance which covers you for the activity and walking and navigating alone. If you are Luggage transfers (days 3 & 7) • Bus tickets emergency evacuation and hospital care. travelling solo the holiday is slightly more from Bilbao or Santander to Urquera • expensive as some costs are not shared. Transfers from Unquera to Arenas de Cabrales Meals and vice versa • 24/7 emergency telephone support • Detailed route notes, maps and pre- A delicious breakfast is included at the Arenas Getting to/from Arenas de Cabrales departure information pack • GPX tracks and de Cabrales and the Sotres Hotel each From Bilbao Airport: Take a shuttle bus from access to our smartphone app. morning and 4 dinners whilst at the Sotres the airport to the Bilbao Terminus bus station Hotel. The accommodations are happy to Not included in the Price (runs every 20mins, costs approx 2). From provide a packed lunch - this should be Bilbao bus station we include bus tickets to Travel insurance (required) • Bus from Bilbao requested on arrival.