Picos de Europa 7.-11.10

Natural park of the Picos de Europa locate in North Spain in three provinces: Cantabria, Leon and Asturias; 200 km's from Bilbao. Miina and I did have only one plan for our adventure to Picos de Europa - to relax, to travel and to hike. We had 6 days time for our trip. Three of them we spent more or less travelling to the destination and back to Bilbao. It's not that rapid by bus because busses are running ocassionally and you have to change the bus few times. Well, travelling by bus in the beautifull mountainous countryside of Asturias was included in our plan. Finally we ended up to a nice village; Las Arenas de Cabrales. It was already 4 pm we had to hurry up to start our hike... we had to get far enough from the village to find a good spot for sleeping before it starts to get dark at 7.30 pm. Weather was sunny and warm, so let's go...!

After 30 mins of climbing... The views are getting better every minute. There is the village where we started our hike: Las Arenas de Cabrales

In the beginning the path was covered with these spiky fruits.

We spotted an intresting small steep peak. We left our equipments to the bottom, excluding my camera, and started to climb.

On the top of the peak... ready to fly.

Little bit later; a view over the peak we conquered.


The forests were fascinating. They were full of spooky old trees. We encountered this oldie little bit higher on the mountain.

Finally, just before it started to get dark we found reasonably good spot for our tent. The altitude of the place was about 700 m. Las Arenas de Cabrales locate about 600 m lower down there. We couldn't complain of the wiews. This photo is shot early in the next morning; as the next one also. We wake up before the down to be sure that we don't miss those beatiful moments of dawn.

A bit of warm up before starting the 2nd day.

As we get closer to the highlands we found more and more old traditional pastures and barns. Barns were blocked and empty but pastures were still used by hundreds of animals. Nowadays all the mountain area where were hiking is a huge pasture where all the cattle and goats were wandering freely.


Eagles were gliding in the sky where ever we went.

This place was amazing. We are in 1200 m's. Down there it's possible see Tielve - the village where we were heading... If we find a way down.

Miina is looking for a possible way down. Finally she found it, and we started our little bit thrilling and dangerous way down without a path. The descend was one of the best moments of the trip.




Finally we reached to bottom of the valley and the village of Tielve (700 m's). Tielve is real small rural village in the middle of steep mountains with aprx. 50 habitants but hundereds of animals. It felt like time was stopped there completely. No hurry, no stress. Perfect.

In Tielve we got finally more water for cooking and drinking and we ate with a smile in our face... After that it was already nearly 7 pm and we got to hurry up out of the village to find an another spot for sleeping. We found a perfect place for camping just after 20 mins of hike; under 100 m's above the village.

Tielve in the night.


Our camp above Tielve in the dawn.


Tens of curious (or angry) goats coming towards us. Anyway, we decided to go away...

Up in the mountains goats were always playing on the cliffs and they didn't care about us at all. Sometimes we nearly had to push them from our way.

Ruins of a ancient rural village, Majada de Tordin, 1200 m. We continued our journey on rugged but colourful highlands...




As we started to descend from the highlands it started to rain as we were expecting. Anyway we prepared a good meal in 900 m's before starting the real descend on infinite number of slippery rocks...

Finally we were back in The Arenas of Cabrales (150 m) and we encountered a cheap and very nice pension (26€ total). We were tired, but happy! Before going to sleep we wandered a while on the streets of village and entered to a bar. There we finished the experience tasting the famous and traditional drink - the sidra of Asturias.