Somiedo Natural Park – the Asturian land of lakes will be our first destination in August. We will visit the most beautiful lakes and hike to another emblem of the area – teito huts. During the entire trip we will be staying in hotels within the natural park.
| Sunday, July 31 | Meet at Mestalla at 8:30 |
| Transfer Valencia – León | |
| Accommodation: Hostal Orejas | |
| Monday, August 1 | Ruta Las Medulas (easy, 12.7km, 200m+) |
| Accommodation: Hostal Río Selmo (Ponferrada) | |
| Tuesday, August 2 | Ruta de las Brañas de Saliencia (medium, 8km, 350m+) |
| Lunch in Saliencia | |
| Accommodation: Casa Cesáreo (Pola de Somiedo) | |
| Wednesday, August 3 | Ruta de Los Lagos de Somiedo (medium, 14km, mostly downhill) |
| Lunch in Valle del Lago | |
| Accommodation: Casa Cesáreo (Pola de Somiedo) | |
| Thursday, August 4 | Hike Valle del Pigüeña (medium, 13km, 400m+) |
| Lunch in Villar de Vildas | |
| Accommodation: Casa Cesáreo (Pola de Somiedo) | |
| Friday, August 5 | Ruta del Pico Cornón (medium/high, 14km, 700m+) * |
| * ruta de la Braña de Mumian (easy, 6.5km, 170m+) – easier alternative | |
| Accommodation: Crisol Quindós (León) | |
| Saturday, August 6 | Return to Valencia |
The Natural Park
The natural park is made up of four main valleys that correspond to the four most important rivers that flow through the territory: Somiedo, Pigüeña, Valle and Saliencia.
There are also numerous lakes and lagoons, among which Saliencia Lakes (La Cueva, Calabazosa and Cerveriz) at 1,600 meters above sea level, and the Valle Lake stand out, due to their size and location. The latter is the largest in Asturias, located at an altitude of 1,580 m at the foot of the Picos Albos and Peña La Mortera. In its origins it had much smaller dimensions than the current ones, but the reservoir of the waters with a view to producing electricity in the La Malva power plant has caused its subsequent enlargement.
There is a pronounced altimetric difference in the area, which ranges between 2,194 m at El Cornón peak and 400 m at Aguasmestas. As a result, the landscape appears upholstered with rotational pastures or brañas, where the teito cabins have been built. The main economic activity of Somiedo continues to be livestock. However, the declaration of a Natural Park has meant a notable increase in touristic sector.
Cabañas de Teito
A teito hut has a plant-covered roof and stone walls, with a square or rectangular floor plan. It is a type of cattle house, typical of Somiedo, and one of the highlights and singularities of its exuberant landscapes. Actually “teito” comes from “tectum” (plant cover). The set of pastoral cabins is called braña; these can be the teito type or not.
The most famous ones are Braña de Mumián, located near Caunedo. They are a group of around 25 teito cabins that are very well preserved and easily accessible from La Llamardal. The landscape is really beautiful, both over the Somiedo river valley and the Sousas valley.
Brañas de Somiedo | VisitSomiedo.com
The Lakes of Saliencia
There are more than a hundred lakes and lagoons that dot the Principality of Asturias, but the three lakes of Saliencia may take the cake. Somiedo is one of the five Natural Parks of Asturias and is home to a dozen lakes, including the largest and deepest in the Cantabrian Mountains. Due to the environment in which they are registered, they have little or nothing to envy to the mythical Lakes of Covadonga. We go in search of these lakes through spectacular glacial valleys, along the P.R. AS-15.
There are no words to describe them. You have to see them. The Saliencia lakes are a diamond in the rough, one of the meccas of the Asturian landscape. The fact that you have to walk a long way to discover them keeps them away from mass tourism. Hiking lovers are the ones who carry an unrepeatable image on their retinas, like a jackpot.
Las Médulas
Located in El Bierzo, northwest of Montes Aquilanos and next to the Sil River Valley, Las Médulas is an impressive Spanish landscape formed as a result of Roman gold mining.
Considered the largest open pit gold mine in the entire Roman Empire, the engineering work that was done to extract the gold considerably altered the environment in the area, resulting in an unusual red sand landscape covered in chestnut and oak trees.
The large earthworks that followed formed artificial plains that serve as access routes to other areas such as Lake Carucedo, formed in turn by the plugging of a valley with mine waste, and considered a protected wetland.
Las Médulas | Castilla y León Patrimonio de la Humanidad
Accommodation
During half of the trip we will be staying in hotels located within the natural park and the other half – in bigger cities, León and Ponferrada.
Set in a small village in the Asturian Countryside, inside Somiedo Nature Reserve, Hotel L’Ablana offers rooms with mountains views and free WiFi. Free private parking is available on-site. Simply decorated, each room at L’Ablana comes with parquet floor, a TV and a private bathroom with free toiletries. A breakfast is served every morning in the hotel’s dining room.
Located in the heart of Ponferrada, on El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, the Hostal Río Selmo is a 10-minute walk from the old town. There is parking and free WiFi is offered throughout the property. Rooms include a private bathroom, TV, and air conditioning. The cafeteria at Río Selmo serves breakfast. The guesthouse is also 10 minutes walk from the Old Town where there are many bars and restaurants.
Hotel Crisol Quindós is located in the historic centre, 3 minutes walk from Leon Auditorium and Leon Museum. Its spacious, air-conditioned rooms have vintage-style décor, a unique design and offer free WiFi. All include central heating, plasma TV and a private bathroom with hairdryer. Crisol Quindós is ideally located for visiting the city’s main sights by foot. Leon Cathedral is 15 minutes’ walk away and the Conde Luna Palace is 1 km away.
Sign Up
The price of the trip is 540 Euros per person (125 euros paid in advance to reserve the spot). 480 Euros per person if you meet us in León. This includes transportation, accommodation, insurance and a professional guide.
The price is for a person sharing a twin room. You can reserve a single room for additional 260 euros.
It is possible to sign up till 9th of July. Payments by Bizum or bank transfer are accepted.
You can use the button below to reserve your spot / get more info about the trip or contact us by e-mail to info@valenciamountainenthusiasts.com