Redes and Brañagallones Trekking
Journey through Redes Natural Park with nights at the Brañagallones refuge, right in the glacial valley. Beech forests, mountain pastures and glacial lakes.
Treks & expeditions
Hiking
Trekking through the natural parks of Asturias
Guided hut-to-hut treks through Redes, Ponga, Somiedo and Las Ubiñas-La Mesa, the four Biosphere Reserve parks of Asturias.
From 200 € /person
1-6 nights
Principality of Asturias No commitment · We design it with you
§02 — The place
Asturias is crossed on foot, shelter to shelter.
There’s an Asturias that doesn't fit on a roadside viewpoint. It’s up high, where the beech forest opens into pastures and silence is broken only by a roe deer. These journeys take you inside: you walk from valley to valley, sleep in mountain shelters, eat what’s cooked in the high pastureland and finally understand why four of these parks are a Biosphere Reserve. It’s not balcony tourism. It's Asturias from the inside, at the pace of your own two feet.
§03 — Why it stands out
Why it stands out
- 01
Four Biosphere Reserves in one destination
Networks, Ponga, Somiedo and Las Ubiñas-La Mesa concentrate the best of the Cantabrian mountains. Few regions in Europe gather so much protected nature so close together.
- 02
Real journeys, not round-trip excursions.
You walk from one point to another and sleep in shelters and mountain villages. The landscape changes daily, and you don’t repeat any stage.
- 03
The best beech forests of the peninsula
Peloño, in Ponga, is the largest well-preserved beech forest in Spain. In autumn, the entire route turns copper-colored.
- 04
A living countryside world
Summer pastures, cattle sheds and stone huts aren’t scenery: they are the livestock culture that still thrives in these mountains.
§04 — Who it fits
Who it fits
With friends Adventure Ecotourism Disconnection
It's a good fit if you really like hiking and sleeping in the mountains: the stages are several hours long with elevation gain, and the refuges are simple (bunk beds, shared bathrooms, no luxuries). No technical experience or climbing equipment is necessary, but you do need to be in shape for 4-6 hours of walking daily. If you're looking for a hotel with a pool and short routes returning to the car, this isn’t the plan for you. If you want to experience the Asturian mountains from within, with a guide and without having to organize anything, this is exactly it.
No commitment · We design it with you
§05 — What you can live
What the trek includes
An editorial showcase of what the destination offers. Nothing to book here - we shape it when you write to us.
Adventure
— The active side: guided or self-guided activities, no sugar-coating the gradient.The active side: guided or self-guided activities, no sugar-coating the gradient.
Asturian cultural trails
Trekking combining landscape and rural heritage: royal paths, traditional mountain pastures, granaries and mountain villages between Redes, Ponga and Somiedo.
Ponga and Ventaniella Trekking
Tour through Ponga Natural Park with a stop at the Ventaniella hamlet, in the heart of the valley, at the foot of the great mountain passes.
Somiedo: pastures and lakes
Journey through the first natural park in Asturias, between teito vaqueiras brañas and the glacial lakes of Saliencia, in the realm of the brown bear.
Ascent to a high mountain pass
Summit stage to climb one of the great peaks in the area and dominate the Cantabrian mountain range. Extra effort, guaranteed reward.
Culture & heritage
— What makes this place different: heritage, crafts, local history.What makes this place different: heritage, crafts, local history.
Cow sheds and small stone huts
Visit to the brañas of Somiedo, pastoral settlements of the transhumant vaqueiros, with their characteristic stone-slab roofed cabins.
Granaries and mountain villages
Journey through the villages of the valleys, their rural architecture of granaries and bread houses, and the livestock life that still beats in the Asturian mountains.
Food & drink
— Eating well without the manual - local product, village pace.Eating well without the manual - local product, village pace.
Asturian mountain cuisine
The mountain pasture and shelter table: fabada, potes, mountain cheeses from Asturias and homemade desserts. Real flavor after a day of hiking.
Where to sleep
— Where you sleep - inns, rural houses, hotels with character in the valley.Where you sleep - inns, rural houses, hotels with character in the valley.
Mountain refuge
Nights in mountain shelters surrounded by nature—like Brañagallones or La Casería de Ventaniella—. Bunk beds, home-cooked meals and silence.
Rural house in a hamlet.
Accommodation in a mountain village rural house, with more comfort and the charm of the villages in the parks. Ideal for cultural excursions.
Nature
— Landscape unfiltered: what you see on foot, without the car.Landscape unfiltered: what you see on foot, without the car.
Ubales Lakes (Redes)
Hike to Lake Ubales, of glacial origin, at over 1,600 m at the foot of Pico Cascayón, one of the most beautiful corners of Redes.
Saliencia Lakes (Somiedo)
Route through the glacial lakes of Saliencia—Cueva, Cerveriz, Calabazosa, del Valle—in the heart of the high mountains of Somiedo.
Peloño Beech Forest (Ponga)
The largest well-preserved beech forest on the peninsula, a refuge for the last capercaillies. Spectacular in autumn, when everything turns copper-colored.
Cantabrian fauna with guide
Guided outing to track and observe the wildlife in the parks: brown bear, chamois, capercaillie and golden eagle, with binoculars and patience.
§06 — The practical side
Trek practicalities
- Typical length
- 1-6 nights
More practical details
Physical level & requirements
Moderate level. Stages of 4 to 6 hours of walking with elevation gains between 400 and 800 meters, along mountain paths and forest tracks. No climbing technique is required, but a reasonable physical condition is: walking several days in a row with a light backpack. Suitable for regular hikers; not recommended if you are not used to walking long distances.
How to get there
Best time to go: from June to October, when the shelters are open and the mountain passes are snow-free. Autumn offers copper-colored beech forests.
Accommodation: mountain shelters and rural village houses, with half board or full board depending on the trek.
Guide: all routes are led by a certified mountain guide (AEGM-UIMLA). Collective equipment and accident insurance are included in each trek.
Group: small groups, usually of 4 to 12 people.
Recommendations
Book with plenty of lead time: mountain shelters have limited spaces and fill up quickly in July and August. If you can choose, September and October offer fewer crowds, better prices and the beech forest at its peak. Bring well-worn hiking boots, layers of warm clothing and a raincoat: the Cantabrian weather changes quickly even when the sun is shining. And leave room in your backpack to stop and look around; rushing has no place here.
§07 — hub.reservablePackages
hub.reservablePackages
- Trekking in the Redes Natural Park · 4 days in Brañagalloneshub.fromPerPerson
- Cultural trekking along Asturian trails · 6 dayshub.fromPerPerson
- Trekking in the Ponga Natural Park · 2 days in Ventaniellahub.fromPerPerson
- Trekking in the Redes Natural Park · 2 days in Brañagalloneshub.fromPerPerson
- Trekking the Peña Ubiña massif · 4 dayshub.fromPerPerson
§08 — Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need prior mountain experience?
No technical experience or climbing equipment is necessary. It’s helpful to be in good physical shape for walking 4-6 hours daily with elevation gain for several days in a row. The guide adjusts the pace to suit the group.
What is the best time of year to do these treks?
From June to October. The shelters are open, the mountain passes are snow-free and the weather is more stable. Autumn dyes the beech forests copper, and it’s our favorite time of year.
What are the accommodations like?
Mountain huts and village rural houses, simple and cozy: bunk beds or shared rooms, communal bathrooms and home-cooked meals. No luxuries, but with everything you need after a day of hiking.
Is a guide always with the group?
Yes. All treks are led by a certified mountain guide (AEGM-UIMLA), who is responsible for the route, safety and sharing the nature and culture of each park.
What does the price include?
Depending on the trip, it includes a certified guide, half-board or full-board accommodation, shared equipment and accident insurance. We detail the exact inclusions of each package before you book.
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