Somiedo
- What to see
- Lakes such as Valle lake, high pastures with teitos and one of the best areas to follow the life of the brown bear.
Nature parks and green spaces
One national park, five natural parks and plenty of green in the cities.
The essentials
- Asturias has one national park (Picos de Europa, declared in 1918 as one of Spain's first two) and five natural parks: Somiedo, Redes, Ponga, Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña and Ibias, and Las Ubiñas–La Mesa.
- It also has nature reserves, protected landscapes and almost forty natural monuments (beaches, blowholes, caves, trees…).
- Several areas are Biosphere Reserves and home to the Cantabrian brown bear.
- Some access is regulated or needs a permit (Muniellos, the Covadonga Lakes in high season): check before you go.
Picos de Europa National Park
Made up of three massifs —Western or Cornión, Central or Urrieles and Eastern or Ándara— the park is shared with Cantabria and Castilla y León. On the Asturian side you find the Covadonga Lakes, the Naranjo de Bulnes (Picu Urriellu) and the Cares Gorge. You can ride a cable car up to Fuente Dé, but that access is on the Cantabrian side. Access to the lakes changes by season, so check the official websites.
The five natural parks
Redes
- What to see
- Beech forests, the Caso and Sobrescobio valleys and the Alba route, one of the most popular.
Ponga
- What to see
- A less crowded mountain park with stone villages and trails through the Sella and Ponga valleys.
Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña and Ibias
- What to see
- The largest protected area in the south-west, with Atlantic forest and the Muniellos Strict Nature Reserve nearby.
Las Ubiñas–La Mesa
- What to see
- Limestone summits in municipalities such as Quirós, Teverga and Lena, with valleys and mountain villages.
Reserves, natural monuments and protected landscapes
- Muniellos (Cangas del Narcea)One of the largest oak forests in Spain; visits need a prior permit and are limited to a number of people a day.
- Gulpiyuri beach (Llanes)An inland sand beach fed by the sea through a cave.
- Pría blowholes (Llanes)Jets of water shooting from rock cracks when the sea is rough.
- Cabo Peñas (Gozón)Lighthouse and cliffs at the northernmost point of Asturias.
- Villaviciosa estuary and RodilesSalt marshes with waterbirds and a beach loved by surfers.
- Sierra del Sueve (Piloña, Colunga)A coastal range home to the asturcones, small native ponies.
Urban green spaces
Without leaving the cities you can find charming parks: Campo San Francisco in Oviedo, Parque de Isabel la Católica and the Atlantic Botanical Garden in Gijón, and Parque de Ferrera in Avilés. Mount Naranco, above Oviedo, offers walks with views.
Tips for visiting natural areas
- Check firstLook up access and permits on the official websites before you go.
- Stick to the pathsDo not leave the tracks, especially in bear and livestock areas.
- Bring layersIn the mountains the weather changes in minutes, even in summer.
- Avoid the crowdsStart early or choose weekdays on the most popular routes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to enter Muniellos?
Yes. Visits to the reserve are limited to a number of people per day and need a prior permit.