In Pola de Somiedo, a short hiking route and several ways to explore the park’s nature and culture begin in the town. There are also traditional crafts, a seasonal market and activities related to the brown bear. For planning, it helps to distinguish between the Ecomuseo exhibition, which is reliably open year-round, and the seasonal dates of the Mercao de Nueite.

Hiking trail and park orientation

The Senda accesible de Pola de Somiedo starts in the town. The stated distance is two kilometres each way. The gradients are very gentle and never exceed eight per cent; the route is considered very easy. This lets you assess the distance and gradient before setting out. Local conditions can change, so check them before you leave.

The Centro de Interpretación del Parque Natural de Somiedo is in Pola de Somiedo, postcode 33840, in Asturias. Its permanent exhibition covers the park’s natural and cultural values. Visitors can also get information there about the surrounding area, routes and hiking trails, as well as the regulations that apply to them. As these may be updated, it is worth checking the latest guidance for your planned activity.

The Centro de Recepción e Interpretación del Parque Natural de Somiedo presents topics related to the park through an audiovisual exhibition and numerous interactive features. These include relief and geology, as well as vegetation, fauna and ethnographic heritage. The different topics offer ways to consider the landscape and human ways of life together.

Exhibitions, viewpoints and wildlife

The Ecomuseo de Somiedo site in Pola de Somiedo is open to visitors year-round. There, you can learn about traditional crafts. At the Mirador de La Pola Somiedo, nature interpretation is combined with an architectural detail: its circular structure recalls cortinos. These traditional enclosures protect beehives from bear attacks. Panels along the spiral ramp explain Somiedo’s fauna, flora, geology and ethnography.

From the viewpoint, bears, chamois and vultures can occasionally be seen on the nearby slopes; binoculars are recommended. Such sightings cannot be planned. If you would like to see wildlife, treat the viewpoint as a possible extra rather than a guaranteed part of your itinerary. The panels at the viewpoint also offer topics to guide your attention to the surroundings, even if you do not spot any animals.

Crafts and seasonal traditions

The traditional Mercao de Nueite takes place in Pola de Somiedo in mid-August. It features crafts, trade goods and agricultural products. There are also workshops and activities for children. At the chigre, you can drink cider while listening to traditional Asturian music. This is a seasonal event; check the date of the current edition and programme details before your trip.

Another way to discover local production is AgroSomiedo in Pola de Somiedo: the craft brewery offers tours and tastings. If you plan to visit, check the latest opening hours beforehand. The Fundación Oso Pardo public information centre is dedicated to the brown bear in the Parque Natural de Somiedo. It features a small exhibition about the bear and allows visitors to book guided routes in the protected area. Check access and visitor arrangements before your trip.

Las Casas del Oso is located at Calle Alvarez Florez Estrada, s/n, 33840 Pola de Somiedo, Asturias. Check the latest operating details before visiting.

Getting there and choosing a base for your stay

When travelling to the Parque Natural de Somiedo from Asturias, the AS-227 is the main access road. It runs through Belmonte from the junction with the AS-15, the Corredor del Narcea. Check current travel conditions when planning your journey. To choose a base for your stay, you can compare the things to do in Pola—such as the trail, exhibitions and crafts—with the route into the nature park. This can help you decide which activities you would like to shape your time there, without committing to a fixed itinerary.

As a regional overview, the Parque Natural de Somiedo comprises five valleys, including the Puerto y Pola de Somiedo valley. This places the town that gives the park its name within a larger natural area; the attractions in Pola and the access route to the park offer different starting points for planning.

Discover more destinations: Pola De Somiedo, Castañedo de Miranda, Rano, Camín Real de la Mesa, Gúa, Villar De Vildas, San Martín, Sabadia

Go to the main travel overview: Camín Real De La Mesa.