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Somiedo This great mountain walk has long been our favourite trip for the pure pleasure of splendid unspoilt scenery and tiny mountain villages. Steep-sided grassy valleys, often containing small lakes and tarns, surrounded by white limestone peaks, descend into tiny villages which live the life of other generations. Bullock carts and scythes have still not been wholly replaced by more modern methods and high up in the valleys are little neolithic style stone huts with thatched roofs, the vestiges of summer villages that were used for cheese making. Hay is still the principal crop; higher up graze cattle, sheep and poinies. Bear and wolves can still occasionally be seen and ibex are a common sight among the peaks. As the number of small hotels slowly grows we have updated the walk once more to make this an eight night trip with seven full days of wonderful walking. The accomodation is in small village hotels often with great charm. Our last night is spent in the capital of Asurias, Oviedo, where we stay at the great 5 star hotel de la Reconquista. The altitude varies from about 3500 ft to over 7000 ft. It is only possible to be met at lunchtime on two days. Very good if simple accommodation and super food throughout. Sena de Luna - 2 star hostel. Puerto de Somiedo - 2 star hotel. Villar de Vildas - 1 star hotel and village rooms. Oviedo - 5 star hotel
ITINERARY Day 1. Arrive at Asturias airport and travel by minibus to Sena de Luna where we spend the first two nights. Day 2. A full day's walk leads through the idyllic Leonese countryside of Babia to the tiny village of Torre de Babia. Morning 3.5 hrs. Afternoon 2 hrs. This afternoon we return to Sena by road. Day 3. A long dramatic walk starts from the end of the previous day's excursion. We climb high into the heart of the range with dramatic views all around before crossing into a remote valley and descending to the village of La Cueta where we spend the next two nights. Total time 7.5 hours. Day 4. We climb back into a high valley suspended above the village from where we can ascend one of the many nearby peaks. After a picnic lunch we continue through a pass and return to La Cueta. Total time 6 hours. Overnight La Cueta. Day 5. We cross into the famous Valle del Lago where our sublime viewpoint dominates the glacial lake. From here we make a long descent to the village where we spend the next night. Total time 6.5 hours. Day 6. The route turns south and climbs into the Rebezu mountains and over a long ridge before descending to the tiny hamlet of Santa María del Puerto. We spend one night in the local hotel. Total time 6 hours. Day 7. The path passes through some of the most dramatic scenery of the trip as it climbs further to the Peña Blanca and Cornón mountains to the west. From here it descends steeply through several summer villages to the hamlet of Villar de Vildas. Total time 7 hours. Day 8. A final walk crosses over to the valley of Somiedo through the lovely village of Perlunes. Morning 3.5 hours. In the afternoon we continue to the ancient city of Oviedo by road. Overnight Oviedo.
Day 9. Return to Asturias airport. Maximum number of walkers: 15 Average hours walked per day: 6.5 Average miles walked per day: 11
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