The accessible path starts in Pola De Somiedo. It leads to two viewpoints: one overlooking the Río Somiedo valley and one at the La Malva Gorge. The town is also home to the Natural Park Interpretation Centre and the traditional crafts section of the Ecomuseum.
The accessible path and its viewpoints
The path was designed primarily for people with limited mobility, vision impairments or older adults. It is also suitable for pushchairs and walks with very young children. This focus shapes the route: it is a walk in its own right through the landscape, not merely access to a single viewpoint.
Along the way, the path passes through a forest of beech, oak, ash, lime and maple trees, hazel trees and even Pyrenean oaks. The Mirador del Río Aguino offers views of the Río Somiedo valley, as well as the Collada and the Río Aguino on the opposite slope. Another viewpoint, the Mirador del Desfiladero de la Malva, looks out over the La Malva Gorge. The two viewpoints therefore differ in the specific landscapes they feature: valley and river on one side, gorge on the other.
Town centre and culture in Somiedo
Pola De Somiedo is the municipal capital and the geographical centre of the Parque Natural de Somiedo. The Centro de Recepción e Interpretación del Parque Natural de Somiedo is located here. Next to the centre stands the Iglesia de San Pedro; opposite it, a sign marks the start of the accessible path. This means that a nature information centre, a church and the starting point of the path are all close together in the town.
The Ecomuseo de Somiedo also offers several cultural perspectives: it is divided into traditional crafts, “the house” and ethnographic routes. Its traditional crafts section is located in Pola De Somiedo. Four exhibition boxes shaped like teito huts, with glass walls, have also been built on the La Pola fairground. They display exhibits, photographs and texts about everyday and social life in Somiedo, including agriculture, transport systems, hunting and fishing.
Bear watching and nature features
The Observación de Osos activity focuses on the Cantabrian brown bear in its natural habitat and on looking for signs of its presence. These include footprints and markings. The waiting period takes place at dawn or dusk, when the chances of spotting bears are higher. The experience includes a qualified local guide, binoculars, tripods and telescopes, as well as admission to the “Somiedo y el Oso” Interpretation Centre.
Other routes in the Natural Park
The Parque Natural de Somiedo covers five valley areas: Saliencia, Valle del Lago, Puerto y Pola de Somiedo, Perlunes and Pigüeña. Regional hiking options include the Ruta a El Vaḷḷe/Valle de Lago. It leads from the village of El Vaḷḷe/Valle de Lago through meadows and past teitos to Lago del Valle, the region’s largest glacial lake. The Ruta de los Lagos de Saliencia leads to a group of glacial lakes in a spectacular high-mountain landscape.
When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the starting points: the accessible path begins in Pola De Somiedo, while the Ruta a El Vaḷḷe/Valle de Lago starts in the village of El Vaḷḷe/Valle de Lago. This makes it easy to distinguish the path in town from the other routes in the Natural Park, without presenting them as a single continuous route.
For an overview of the wider trip: Somiedo.
