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Walking in the Picos de Europa

42 walks and treks in Spain's first National Park

Guidebook describing walks and multi-day hikes in the Picos de Europa, a striking limestone range that forms part of the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain. Routes vary in difficulty and some include an element of scrambling. Includes notes on transport, bases, accommodation and equipment, plus history, geology, plants and wildlife.

Seasons

The Picos de Europa can be visited at any time, but May–June are best for the meadows of the lower and middle mountains, and July–September for the high summits.

Centres

Cangas de Onís, Covadonga, Arenas de Cabrales, Bulnes, Sotres, Panes, Potes, Fuente Dé, Posada de Valdeón, Caín, Oseja de Sajambre, Amieva

Difficulty

The routes are graded from easy to very difficult and take anything from 3 hours to a full day. In the lower and middle mountains, walks follow tracks and paths and navigation is generally straightforward. In the high mountains, paths can be vague and exposed and require good navigation skills. Steep climbs and descents mark many middle and high mountain routes.

Must See

El Naranjo de Bulnes, Torrecerredo, Peña Vieja, Peña Santa de Castilla, Morra de Lechugales, Collado Jermoso, Vega de Liordes, Jou de los Cabrones, Jou Santu, the Cares Gorge, the Canal de Trea, the Covadonga lakes, the Mirador de Ordiales, poljes, Griffon, Egyptian and Bearded vultures
ISBN
9781852845360
Availability
Published
Published
22 May 2023
Edition
Second
Pages
256
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.40cm
Weight
300g
Overview

A guidebook to 38 walks and 4 short treks of 3-4 days in the Picos de Europa mountains of northern Spain. The walks cover the areas of Cangas de Onís, Cabrales, Liébana, Valdeón and Sajambre and range from easy valley hikes to ascents of the high peaks, so there is something to suit every ability.

The walks range from 6 to 22km, and take between 3 to 8 hours. Four short treks of 3-4 days are also summarised in brief.

  • 1:50,000 maps included for each walk
  • GPX files available to download
  • Detailed information on accommodation, facilities and public transport
  • Highlights include the Covadonga lakes and the Cares Gorge
  • Information given on local geology and wildlife 

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Robin Walker Cicerone author RWALKE

By Robin Walker

Robin Walker began mountaineering in his native Northumberland at the age of 13, and went on to walk and climb throughout the British Isles, Norway, the Dolomites, the Alps and the USA. In 1981 he moved to northern Spain, his early experiences culminating in Walks and Climbs in the Picos de Europa (Cicerone, 1989).

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