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Hikers on the Alevia Circular Route
Overcast skies and misty rains can’t dampen my spirits when I am hiking on top of the world!
Sometimes Facebook ads get it right!
I am always looking for walks in interesting places. And, I had been wanting to study a language again.
But, I honestly can’t remember if I saw the ad in the corner of my consciousness before I decided on studying Spanish, or if I had decided on Spanish first…
Either way, at the most opportune time, pictures from a Spanish language school in the north of Spain (Peak Me) came through came through my Facebook feed. They were offering morning language classes, and afternoon walks walks in the Picos de Europa mountains through their partners (Canoe Adventure Trophy). It was a perfect combination! I was already planning a trip to England to visit family; once there, a week in Spain would be an easy side trip.
Of course, even in Europe (and even in the days before Covid-19), short flights between countries meant long drives to out-of-the-way airports and late-night or crack-of-dawn departures. The drives to and from Stansted Airport were much longer than the flight to and from Santander Airport in Cantabria. It was late, and I was travel-weary, when I finally reached my bed in Panes in Asturias.
On our first day of class I discovered that what little Spanish I thought I knew was either French or Italian! Never mind – they really do cater for beginners, and I wasn’t the only one.
Our first afternoon walk was around the Alevia Loop: just over seven kilometres, with an altitude gain of 334 metres. The beauty of this walk is that those who are faster and/or fitter can decide to hike to the top of Picu Paisana and back, at around the half-way mark. Clearly, that wasn’t for our group of jet-lagged folk; our guide Vivi made the decision to take it easy on us. Just as well, as sporadic rains slowed our pace further.
Join me for a delightful walk, high in the mountains of Northern Spain!
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Iglesia de San Antonio
The small chapel above the town of Alevia is as far as our transport can go: from here we walk up into the mountains.
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Nuestro Guíe Vivi
We had a delightful guide, who – although she was instructed to make us practice our Spanish – was fully conversant in English.
View over Alevia
Just a short drive away from our base in Panes, the town of Alevia is pretty little place …
The Cares-Deva Valley
… high enough to afford views over the Cares-Deva Valley.
Into the Woods
The path starts out through the trees …
View from the Trail
… but we soon have views of the peaks across the valley.
Marine Thistle – Eryngium Maritimum
There is plenty of interesting vegetation to look at when you want to catch your breath.
Clambering up the Mountainside
Sections of the trail are quite steep!
Lunch Break
I don’t usually include photos of me, but how could I resist this one?
Well-Fed Cow
The cattle in these alpine meadows are clearly finding enough grass!
Mountain Hut Ruins
The meadow is littered with limestone rock and the ruins of old huts.
Cow and Calf
The cows all watch us warily …
Rocks and Ruins
… as we explore remnants of the past.
Abandoned Mine
Walkers on the Ridge
As we circle around clockwise, …
Unquera Cantabria
… we can see across Cantabria to the Bay of Biscay.
Horse in a Stony Corral
People on the Path
The path winds down gently, rewarding us for our earlier hard work.
Village Below
Soon enough, the red clay roofs of the village come into clear view …
Peak across the Valley
… and we see that distinctive peak across the valley, shrouded in misty rain.
Alevia Street
The streets of the village are clean and colourful.
From the Church Yard
Back at the church, I again admire the view, …
Alcove
… and check out the details around the chapel before returning to the van for the short drive home.
It was a wonderful introduction to some beautiful countryside – and I certainly slept well!
Until next time,
Happy Rambling!
Pictures: 23October2019
[…] you remember one of my previous posts from this area (see: Ruta Alevia), you’ve probably never heard of Panes, a tiny parish of 568 people in the Peñamellera […]