What to do in Principality of Asturias

Asturias is a green corridor between the Cantabrian Mountains and the sea. To the south, the Picos de Europa massif rises to 2,648 metres at Torrecerredo —the highest point in the range— and cuts through gorges where the Cares River carves 11 kilometres through limestone rock. Canyoning routes through the gorge and via ferratas on the Naranjo de Bulnes face take climbers up sheer walls that split the sky. Towards the north, the Atlantic coast traces dark sand beaches, cliffs and estuaries where the Cantabrian swell arrives unimpeded. Salinas and Rodiles beaches host surf schools and, during westerly swells, hollow waves that draw surfers from across the Iberian Peninsula. Sea kayaking lets you explore coves and caves reachable only from the water. The interior holds valleys of permanently damp grass, chestnut groves and villages where natural cider is still pressed by traditional millstone methods. The cider culture is not restored folklore: in the lagar mills of Villaviciosa or Nava, active production anchors the local economy and each autumn follows the rhythm of the apple harvest. The Ruta del Alba, the Camino Primitivo —the oldest variant of the Camino de Santiago, running 321 kilometres from Oviedo— and the Camino de la Costa are the three long-distance hiking axes of the region. Asturias has more than 1,000 kilometres of marked trails, with elevation profiles ranging from flat coastal walks to alpine ascents requiring crampons in winter.