8 Day Northern Way and Picos

Highlights

• Visit San Vicente de la Barquera.
• Visit the famous Covadonga Lakes and Cares Gorge in Picos de Europa National Park.
• Enjoy a walk around Covadonga.

What's this trip about?

This week of walking in Northern Spain takes you over a section of the Northern Way prior to leading on to a couple of extra special paths around the famous Covadonga Lakes and Cares Gorge in the Picos de Europa National Park. Starting in Santillana del Mar sets the scene for coastal Cantabria with seaside towns like San Vicente de la Barquera providing a quintessential glimpse at life away from the busier beaches on the south coast of Spain. As you continue to follow your self-guided walking notes you’ll cross regional borders into eastern Asturias as the town of Llanes provides insight into the region’s medieval past as well as an opportunity to raise a cool glass of sidra or taste the rich varieties of Arenas de Cabrales cheese. Although Picos de Europa National Park promises natural drama the actual walking route is fairly straightforward with only slightly steeper gradients at the start of the walk on Cares Gorge.The walk around Covadonga, on the other hand, is relatively flat throughout and offers abundant places to pause as you take in the stunning mountain scenery and gorgeous reflective waters. From wide eyed beginners to gnarly pros with poles this week of tailor made walking provides ample excuses to soak up the coastal, forest and mountain scenery of northern Spain as you become enveloped in a world of peace and tranquillity with hardly another soul in sight.

What's excluded

• Flights
• Airport transfers (optional add on) and travel insurance

Accommodation