Sunflower Books: Landscapes of the PICOS DE EUROPA: WALKS AND CAR TOURS

Picos de Europa, 4th ed (2007); updated 13/07/2008

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Updates for walks and car tours (drives) in the Picos de Europa given below supplement those provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book and want to "upgrade" to the latest edition at half price, click here.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably in hard copy, by post, to Sunflower Books, PO Box 115, Exeter EX2 6YU (or if you prefer, by e-mail, to mail@sunflowerbooks.co.uk).

General: Most of the sources mentioned in the book are now possibly polluted, as they are marked "not garanteed as drinking water ". Take ample water with you! + We recently visited the Picos de Europa for the first time and found your book to be an invaluable guide to walking in this beautiful area. As with your guides in other areas, it proved to be an essential help in finding the best walks available with relatively moderate ascents in the region and in integrating them with the local transport possibilities. None of the other guides we looked at were remotely comparable in this respect and most were written in Spanish which is difficult for people not fluent in that language. The maps included in the book are exceptionally accurate and we would like to congratulate Teresa Farino on a well written and interesting production. We include some Update information below. Note that we have used your guides in several other countries (Canaries, Madeira and Azores) and have in each case found them to similarly invaluable in making the type of holiday we enjoy possible. (User, 7/08)

Transport: Unfortunately what limited public transport is available has become even more restricted. In particular the Palomera buses from Potes to Fuete De (walks 5 and 6) now only operate from July 1st to August 31st, the Alsa bus from Potes to Leon (walk 5)now only operates on Fridays and Sundays and the Alsa bus from Arenas to Puente Poncebos (walks 7 and 8) only operates in August. Also there are no taxis in La Hermida (walk 2), although there is one in Panes. There are several taxis in Potes and Arenas. For anyone travelling from Potes to Arenas or vice versa by bus, note that the buses for the two services do not use the same stops - Palomera use the bar Comportu at the centre of town while Alsa only stop on the other side of the river, outside a bar on the right turning immediately across the bridge (neither stop is marked). The Palomera service does not make up time at Panes and will not stop if it is early (it may be as much as 1/2 hour early) unless there is someone to embark or disembark. There is a good connection Potes - Arenas in summer but the return journey involves over two hours wait. Here are the latest timetables we collected. (User, 7/08)

Santander - Potes Journey Time around 2hr 25 min
Winter 2007/8
Mon-Fri 07:00, 10:00, 17:45
Sat, Sun, P.H. 08:30, 17:45
>
Summer 2008
Mon-Fri 10:30, 17:00, 19:00
Sat 10:30, 17:00
Sun, P.H. 10:30, 15:15

Potes - Santander Journey Time around 2hr 25 min
Winter 2007/8
Mon-Fri 10:15, 17:00
Sat, Sun, P.H. 11:00, 15:15
>
Summer 2008
Mon-Fri 07:00, 10:00, 17:30
Sat, Sun, P.H. 10:00, 17:30

Potes - Fuente De Journey time around 40 min
Summer 2008
Mon-Fri 8:30, 13:00, (20:00 14/7 to 14/8)
Sat, Sun, P.H. 13:00

Fuente De - Potes Journey time around 40 min
Summer 2008
Mon-Fri 8:30, 09:15, (20:45 14/7 to 14/8)
Sat, Sun, P.H. 17:00

Potes - Leon Journey time around 3 hr
Summer 2008
Fri and Sun 11:00

Leon-Potes Journey time around 3 hr
Summer 2008
Fri and Sun 08:30

Panes - Arenas Journey Time around 30 mins
Summer 2008
Mon-Fri 8:10, 15:25
Sat, Sun 17:10

Arenas - Panes Journey Time around 30 mins
Summer 2008
Mon-Fri 08:45 ( actually leaves after 09:00), 18:35
Sat,Sun 12:35

Taxi numbers:
Potes: +34-659662771 (Jose speaks English)
Panes: +34-659056489 (or 985414023)
Arenas: +34-636360273, +34-985346487, +34-625201900, +34-616961202

Taxi costs do not seem to be as low as indicated in the book - for long distances on a good road they may be as low as 1 euro per kilometre, but otherwise they may increase to double that. Bus costs are incredibly cheap - for instance 7 euros from Santander to Potes

Maps: The yellow-covered maps mentioned in the introduction are good but as stated do not cover a large enough area. There are new ones produced by the national park to the same scale with much improved coverage - both sides of the paper are used. However the accuracy of path definition is poor and so is the paper quality. Unfortunately their price is high as a book is included. (User, 7/08)

Walk 1: At 30 minutes, the square mentioned is not a village square but an area filled with building materials in front of a small building. If you go past the bridge on the left, you have gone too far... The main problem with the walk description is at the summit. The viewpoint is not the col itself but at the col you have to turn right and climb steeply uphill for 100 feet or so to a peak where there is a seat with the stunning view. To continue the walk you have then to first return downhill to the col. The book does mention the right turn near the top but this is easily confused with an earlier fork in the path. Another couple we met were similarly confused... This return path has some red arrow markings... At the 2hr 40 min point a rather fierce dog persuaded us to avoid this turn but to continue into the village where there is a new (and very large) sign indicating the route. (User, 7/08)

Walk 2: There is no taxi now in La Hermida, so you either walk up the road to Beges (an extra 300 metres of ascent and 5 kilometres!) or take a taxi from Potes or perhaps bus and then phone for a cheaper taxi from Panes if you know their number (the tourist info at Potes didn't)... The concrete now extends from the start of the trail up to above the Invernal...
At the end of the walk the book mentions the bus stop for going to La Hermida but if you are going to Potes it is more convenient to know where the stop on the other side is - in the narrow gorge these may be in different places. (User, 7/08)

Walk 3: A source with good drinking water can be found at Tresviso ( on your road to the bar). After Invernales de Prias you reach a picnic place with table and a new concrete road up to the church. (User, 10/07)

Walk 5: Note that the buses only run on Fridays and Sundays...On the alternative walk there is a wooden unsigned barrier across the path at the 50 minute point. It is easily surmountable and does not appear to indicate any problem ahead - it is probably to stop cattle wandering... Note that the bus stop for the return to Potes appears to be by the Cosgaya turning off the main road - the other stop is used on the way to Fuente De. (User, 7/08)

Walk 6: Teleferico charges in 2008 were 8 euros one-way and 14 euros return. (User, 7/08)

Walk 7: Although the walk after Culiembro undulates, there is an overall ascent of 300 feet from here to Cain... The heat during the afternoon for the return journey on a sunny summer's day can be very great as the ravine walls radiate and reflect heat. (User, 7/08)

Walk 8: The cost of the funicular in 2008 was 14 euros single, 18 euros return. This is in a tunnel through the hillside and makes less impact on the external environment than either a road or a teleferico... The path to Castillo is now much better made and easier to find than
indicated... If you turn left at the end of Castillo instead of right downhill as described in the book, a short ascent along an good path leads you into a beautiful upland valley pasture with limestone blocks and pavements where the crowds around Bulnes do not penetrate. Cattle and goat bells are the only sounds and vultures glide overhead. This is an excellent lunch spot and a deviation worth mentioning in the book... We felt that the path was fairly vertiginous for some way below the concrete chute as well as above it. However there is little erosion of the path and it is generally level so that it is safer than some of those in friable terrain. (User, 7/08)

Walk 9: 3 Km after Sotres there is a new car park on the right at Jito de Escarandi, starting point for the walk. The walk is now signed white/yellow and PR PRN PE28 . Due to roadworks, the limestone block at Vega del Tonco is missing (20Min-point). At the 3h30min point, the left turn looks like the main track. Be sure to turn RIGHT: after about 100m you find the white/yellow mark and writing on the left indicating "Refugio de Andara 1/2h", confirming that you are on the right route. You also can see the new car park below on the right. The locals prefer to do the walk in the opposite direction by starting at the car park but taking the road up to Caseton de Andarra with starts from the corner of the car park ( Sotres side); 2h up to the refugio. (User, 10/07)

New walk: Although we realise that there is only space in the book for a limited number of walks, the omission of the popular and easy walk from Brez to the Canal de Arredondas is surprising. We only found out about this walk by chance. The Fuente De bus gives public transport access although it is even easier if a moderately priced taxi from Potes to Brez is used for the outward journey, and afterwards you walk downhill on the track from Brez through Lon to pick up the bus near Baro. The walk itself is well-signed and circular (two hours) and is very interesting and varied with impressive views into the mountains - even more impressive in overcast weather. A diversion can be made some way along the path into the 'canal' itself. (User, 7/08)