Vidrieros lies at the foot of Curavacas, whose summit is 2,520 metres high. The Valle de Pineda stretches from Laguna de Fuentes Carrionas to the village and forms the upper catchment area of the Carrión River. The river, glacial lake and mountain trails offer different perspectives on the landscape around the village.
Explore the Valle de Pineda on Foot
One hiking route follows the Carrión upstream from Vidrieros through the Valle de Pineda. A footpath runs alongside the Arroyo del Ves and climbs between the cascades to Pozo Curavacas. The cascades are known as the Escaleras del Ves; the lake is of glacial origin. The Valle de Pineda is also a glacial valley, shaped by distinctive geology and exceptionally well-preserved biodiversity.
The hiking route from Vidrieros to Pozo Curavacas is listed as 19 kilometres each way, with 500 metres of elevation gain and an estimated duration of six hours and 30 minutes. The 19 kilometres apply to one way, so remember to allow time for the return journey too. The time is an estimate; trail conditions can vary, so it is advisable to check the current situation before setting out.
The access route to Pozo through the Valle de Pineda is 18 kilometres from Vidrieros. The track is passable by four-wheel-drive vehicles to near the lake. This distance to the access point and the length of the hiking route refer to different ways of reaching the lake.
Cycle Through the Mountain Landscape
The cycling route “El Carrión salvaje – Valle de Pineda†starts and ends at the car park in Vidrieros. It first follows the Carrión upstream along its right bank. The route reaches the Estrecho, a gorge carved open by a glacier and widened by river erosion. Two forces that shaped the landscape can therefore be seen along the route: glacier and river.
The cycling route climbs through the Vega de los Cantos to a junction. From there, trails lead to Pozo Curavacas, Laguna de Fuentes Carrionas and the passes of RiofrÃo. The turn-offs make the junction a notable landmark for navigating the cycling route.
Church, Chapel and Historic Routes
The village’s history can also be traced through several buildings and layers of time. In the 12th century, the settlement stood beside the newly built church of San MartÃn de Tours. The entrance portal of San MartÃn Church has Gothic features with Romanesque influences and probably dates from the second half of the 13th century. The portal’s estimated date is therefore later than the historical account of the settlement beside the church.
A cross of Celtic origin is kept in the village chapel. The old mill is an ethnographic building that illustrates a former craft and ways of life from the past. Above Vidrieros, a route ran through the Valle de Pineda, later serving as a royal road and livestock drovers’ route. Via the Valle de Arauz, it connected the valley with Liébana. Thus, in addition to natural features, former routes and ways of working are part of this landscape’s history.
Getting to Vidrieros
Vidrieros can be reached via the road between Cervera de Pisuerga and Guardo, known as the Ruta de los Pantanos. At Triollo, turn off onto the road to Vidrieros. This junction is a useful landmark when travelling there; road conditions can vary, so it is advisable to check them before setting off. Both the hiking route described here and the cycling route start in Vidrieros, but follow different paths through the valley.
Discover more destinations: Amayuelas de Abajo, Monzón De Campos, Torquemada, Salinas De Pisuerga, Barrio de San Pedro, Magaz De Pisuerga, Villodrigo, Tarilonte De La Peña.
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