Ormas combines historic houses with the mountain landscape around Pico Liguardi. This offers two distinct interests to plan for: rural architectural heritage and trails leading from Ormas to named destinations on the mountainside. The parish church of San Andrés, the manor houses, and the tracks towards Collado de Rimaceo and Puertos de Sejos give the place a distinctive character. Posada Ormas is a rural accommodation in the village; check its availability before your trip.
Historic Architecture in Ormas
Ormas’s rural architectural ensemble is considered one of the finest in Campoo. Its buildings include the parish church of San Andrés, which dates from the 16th century. The village also has two notable houses, built in 1636 and 1642 and belonging to the Rodríguez García de los Ríos family. These dates help place the heritage in its historical context without treating the two houses as a single building.
The manor houses typically have a ground floor and an upper floor, separated by a simple cornice. Their façades are often decorated with window surrounds, the keystones of arches, and, in particular, coats of arms. Their architecture thus combines a clear arrangement of floors with finely detailed ornamentation. Those interested in architectural history can look for a range of different features here.
The dating of one part of San Andrés is somewhat uncertain: the first section of the nave appears to date from the 16th century. This section includes a simple portal and roughly worked corbels. The church and the houses each contribute distinctive features to Ormas’s architectural heritage; their construction dates range from the 16th to the 17th century.
The history of Posada Ormas is also connected to the village’s character. This rural accommodation is the result of the restoration of three houses typical of the Hermandad de Campoo de Suso, dating from 1616. Together with the houses from 1636 and 1642, these dates give an impression of the buildings’ historical range, without implying that all three dates refer to the same building.
Mountain Trails and Landscape
From Ormas, a steep track runs along the mountainside of Pico Liguardi to Collado de Rimaceo; another steep track leads to Puertos de Sejos. Both destinations involve what appears to be a challenging ascent, an important consideration for your plans. Conditions on mountain tracks may vary with the seasons. Check the local conditions before setting out.
The Hermandad de Campoo de Suso’s hiking trail network includes route PR-S40, “Camino a los pies del Liguardi.” It is another named part of this municipal network. The descriptions of the tracks from Ormas and of this network route refer to different trails; they do not make up a single hike. You can therefore consider each route in light of its specific destination, rather than assuming there is a connection or a particular walking time.
The landscape above the village also offers a natural attraction: part of Monte Bayantún above Ormas is a beech forest. Architecture, mountain trails, and this forest are distinct ways to explore the area. Those primarily interested in cultural details can focus on the houses and San Andrés; those interested in the landscape can also explore the beech forest and the mountain destinations mentioned above.
Planning Your Arrival and Accommodation
Ormas can be reached from Espinilla. This starting point is a useful landmark for planning your journey; no mode of transport or travel time is specified. The rural Posada Ormas is in the village and was created by restoring three typical houses dating from 1616. Before your trip, check whether the accommodation is available on your chosen dates.
Discover more destinations: Liendo, La Lastra, Peñarrubia, Rumoroso, Guarnizo, Cillorigo De Liébana, Ruiloba, Tresviso.
For the broader travel overview: Cantabria.
