A few High Peaks

La  Torezuela  2322m one of the many peaks in the Western Massif of the Picos de Europa

September is normally one of the best months for summiting some of the higher peaks here in the Picos de Europa. So here are a few photos showing some of the peaks in the Western Massif.

Pasture land  just above the lakes

The normal starting point is the lakes of Covadonga which are at about 1,100m. The slopes just above the lakes are gentel  with some pastures  but get steeper and rockier the higher you go.

This is the view from Cotalba 2026m where you can see the grassier lower slopes and the more rocky higher land.

For many of the peaks there is the danger of falling stones from fellow climbers (particularly when climbing up gulleys) so it is best to wear a helmet if you want to climb these high peaks.

The stoney landscape in the higher peaks

Getting up and down can be quite challenging! On the way down from Torre Santa Maria de Enol 2480m (the second highest peak in the Western Massiff)

Looking at Torre Santa Maria de Enol from the summit of the Canal Parda 2350m

Mountaineers post boxes are often found on the summits where mountaineers leave cards stating the route they have climbed, the date and the weather conditions

Peña Santa 2596m the highest of the Peaks in the western massiff, as seen from Vega Huerta

People often do strange things when the reach the summit, like here on the summit of Piedrasllenguas 2295m

The view towards the central massiff from the summit of Piedrasllenguas

Chamois are very often present at these higher altitudes, carefully watching what you do.

To reach the summit of some peaks involves scrambling along an aerial crest like on this one; La Roblliza 2227m 

The aerial crest up to the summit of La Robliza, not for everybody!!

Depending on the year even in late summer there can still be some snow on the sides of the higher peaks (Photo of Torre Santa Maria de Enol taken mid august)

The same peak (Torre Santa Maria de Enol) taken in mid feburary

But if reaching the high peaks in late summer is challenging, reaching them in winter is even more so!

Enjoy the mountains, but take care!!

Magnificent in their glory, trees on the farm.

False Acacia trees on the farm in winter

It was a stormy summer’s day and the farm was in her best clothes, magnificent giants guiding the way. I suddenly looked up and saw these beautiful specimens paving the way.

It made me think about the farm, Asturias and how local people have cared for these trees which in return reward them with their ware.

Walnut tree outside the dinig room window

Take the noble walnut tree, not only a delicious fruit in the autumn, but in years past the timber was used for fine furniture. We have the most magnificent tree outside the dining room window. One of the local pastries here is Casadiellas, filled with walnuts and anis.

Walnuts from our farm

Ash trees providing shade for stone stables in the mountain

The Ash trees grow quickly and abundantly, spreading their branches offering shade from the midday sun for the animals and then in the autumn coppiced for extra winter fodder. If you travel in the Pico’s you will see the stone stables surrounded by the ash trees.

Hazelnuts from the farm

Around the hedges are found the Hazel trees with many stems, these in the past were trained to produce fences. The nuts are collected in September, if the boars and badgers don’t get there first... Many a beautiful basket here is made from the hazelnut tree.

Traditional cart made from hazel twigs

As traditions go there is a local Hazelnut fiesta in Infiesto the first weekend of October, then in Arriondas there is the Chestnut fiesta in November.

Catkins on the chesnut trees

We have many chestnut trees on the farm; I was amazed by the beautiful catkins’ on the male trees.

The village people here talk about the famine during the civil war and chestnuts were boiled and eaten as a meal. In some areas, La Molina, you can see the remains of stone like igloos Quires’ made for storing chestnuts in the winter.

Thorns on the Acacia

It is strange to think that nearly all the trees had their uses, even the intrusive Acacia was originally grown for its timber to make the fences around the farm, not one of the friendliest trees with its huge thorns, and if it wasn’t for the animals who trim the young shoots it would take over the farm. I believe this was originally brought in by the people who emigrated to South America and returned to Asturias.

Laurel leaves and flowers

For culinary purposes we have the Laurel tree, the leaves used in many stocks and sauces, the animals will eat a mouthful, and then move on. On Palm Sunday local people take a sprig of laurel to church to be blessed by the priest; this is then given to the godparents, who in return nowadays buy a special cake for the godson or daughter.

Lime tree and fruits

There is a large Lime Tree at one end of the farm, the people here used to collect the flowers to make an infusion; it was supposed to help you relax. We have many cherry trees with sweet and sour cherries, the sour ones called guinda are used here for a liquor, made with anis. A very popular drink in Asturias.

Sweet cherries waiting to be eaten; mmmm!

Blog entry written by Joe

A short story about Karst Limestone Landscapes

The Hotel built on a limestone outcrop

Lime stone is the rock that predominates in Asturias and The Picos de Europa are a geological unit composed almost purely of limestone and are the largest single mass of mountain limestone in Europe. The hotel is actually built on a limestone outcrop and this limestone becomes very noticeable in the upper part of our farm; but have you thought about what limestone actually is?

Limestone in the Picos de Europa

Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms (calcium carbonate minerals) such as coral or foraminifera shells. Yes that’s right; this means that the rock underneath the hotel and the soil on the hotel farm was made from shells of animals that once lived at the bottom of the ocean. A billion year history through the movement of tectonic plates brought these rocks high above the ocean, where we stand today.

Limestone rocks in the top part of the hotel farm

Limestone rocks in the Picos 

However the story of this mother rock doesn't stop here, it's the relationship of limestone with water that leads to these so called "karst landscapes", water eroding limestone over thousands to millions of years. The landscape at the top of the farm is very similar to the one in many parts Picos the Europa. Almost all of the rock in the Picos is limestone, and glacial action has contributed to create an impressive area of alpine karst. 

Flutes or pencil karst in The Picos

The mysterious stories of karst affect not only the rock that you can see, it also happens underneath the dark soil where we can't see. Above sink holes, flutes, runnels, vertical shafts, clints and grikes are some of the most visible features on the surface of the terrain.  Beneath the surface, complex underground drainage systems (such as karst aquifers) and extensive caves and cavern systems form a mysterious underground world.

Blow holes in the limestone at the coast near LLanes

Limestone eroded by the sea

As for all the inhabitants of this landscape, farmers in karst areas must take into account the lack of surface water. The soils may be fertile enough, and rainfall may be adequate, but rainwater quickly moves through the crevices into the ground, sometimes leaving the pastures parched brown between rains. 

Parched landscape near Vega Ario in the Picos

A delicate and precise management of the land makes this unique place a living museum. Here the most outstanding geological sculptures are married with a sustainable farming system that brings to life a cultural conservation of nature.

Geological sculptures in the hotel farm

This blog entry is based on text for a farm poster written by Sebastian Burch co founder and worker at Gaia y Sofia

Hawks Hill

Walking along Hawks Hill

A rocky limestone ridge starts right behind the hotel, it’s about four kilometres long and the section closest to the hotel is known as “Cerro Los Gavilanes” or Hawks Hill. 

The start of the Hawks Hill Ridge can be seen just to the right of the hotel

Here you can see the ridge towering up behind the hotel

The term Hawks Hill is a little misleading as rather than a hill it’s a ridge which is quite challenging to walk along. Some sections are covered in gorse, there is a lot of sharp Karst rock and a small but definite scramble is needed to traverse the middle section. However for the experienced adventurous walker it does provide some spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and its right by the hotel.

Hawks Hill and it´s jagged summit

View from the summit of Hawks Hill

The start of the walk (climbing up to the ridge from the hotel) has always been the most awkward part of the walk but last week I discovered a new way of accessing the ridge.  Although this new “path” is slightly overgrown it is still easier to use to climb to the ridge rather than the way we used to go.

Sam and Andres climbing up to the ridge from the hotel on the "new path"

The full length of  Hawks Hill Ridge as seen from the Mirador del Fito

The summit of Hawks hill is 552 meters high and althought it is a low peak there are spectacular views of the Picos de Europa, the coast and the Sueve Mountains. It takes about two hours to reach the summit from the hotel and when you are on the summit you are only about one third of the way along the ridge. If you carry on the ridge towards the coast you come to “Los Escalarines” or small steps where some scrambling is needed and then shortly afterwards the ridge gets even narrower and more exposed!

Climbing down the very steep "Escalarines" or small steps

The ridge getting narrower and more exposed after the Hawks Hill summit.

However there are various points where it is possible to climb down from the ridge to join the road and walk back to the hotel or you can return the way you came to avoid the more difficult sections.

Farming scenery as you descend down the ridge towards the road.

As for birds you can normally see various raptors on the ridge including hawks, griffon vultures and there is even a nest of Egyptian Vultures.

Views towards the coast from the summit of Hawks Hill

A new circular walk from the Hotel

The Sueve mountain range where the new circular walk goes

Asturias is a paradise for walkers but unfortunately many of the walks are not well waymaked and information in English is often very limited. So about ten years ago we started putting together a collection of self guided walking notes to help our guests enjoy the many fabulous walks Asturias has to offer. In the beginning we offered maps and notes for only 10 walks but over the years we have selected and incorporated new routes and now have 42 self guided walks for our guests to choose from.

Views of snow capped mountains from the Sueve Mountains in the the spring

One of our most popular local walks is along the Coastal Mountains of the Sueve where guests take a short taxi ride to the Mirador del Fito and then walk back along paths and tracks to the hotel. Up untill now when guests have wanted to do this as a circular walk they have had to start the walk by going for six kms along a minor road up to the Mirador del Fito. It’s a very minor road for most of the way with practically no traffic but it’s still a road.
 

View of the mountain behind the hotel

So last year when I discovered a new footpath between two local villages; Cofiño and Arriondas I knew this was the missing link for a new circular walk from the hotel along the Sueve Mountains but avoiding the 6 kms along the minor road. I wrote the self guided notes at the beginning of this season and now various guests have tested out the new notes and I am pleased to say none got lost!

Walking along by the stream near Bodes

Open farmland along the walk

The walk goes along a variety of different paths and tracks; following streams, passing through open farmland, along the Sueve Mountains and then finally skirts around the Peña Forcada and back to the hotel. However this circular walk involves a 600m accumulative ascent and in one small section attention needs to be taken with navigation, also in another part the path is quite rocky so this walk may not be for everybody.

Track coming back to the hotel

Stunning views from the Sueve mountains

For those who do attempt the walk the scenery is varied and many of the views are simply stunning and then for those walkers with plenty of energy there is the possibility of including the ascent to the Summit El Pico Pienzo, but that makes it a total of 1200m ascent!

Early morning views on the new circular walk.

 More information on the walk can be found on the link to our walking blog below:
Circular walk from Hotel Posada del Valle Collia to the Pico Pienzu
Happy walking!