Enjoy the most fascinating viewpoints around Picos de Europa by motorbike.

Only 6 kilometres separate Colunga from Santiago de Gobiendes, the place where we will begin this adventure full of spectacular scenery and where any tourist will find a thousand and one reasons not only to fall in love with Asturias but also to return. Here we will visit its church, a jewel of the Asturian pre-Romanesque style, declared a Historic-Artistic Monument on 3rd June 1931. With a floor plan inscribed in a rectangle with three four-section headers, a triple narthex and two compartments at the sides of the first section of the naves, it is, together with the Interpretation Centre of the Sierra del Sueve, very close to it, a must-see.

From here, we will ascend along the AS-260 road to the first of the viewpoints we will visit and, possibly, the best known and most visited. You need little more description to know that we are talking about the El Fitu viewpoint, an enclave that has every reason to occupy the first position in this ranking.

From it, sea and mountain are one. The perfect combination of two elements that avoid boredom and attract dynamism and fun. Its appearance of a flying saucer or 'cazu' - as it is known by the locals, a structure that seems to be designed to rise above the ground and fly over the trees, offering the best panoramic view of the area. On clear days, we will enjoy privileged views of the Picos de Europa, but we must not forget that fog is frequent, a meteorological phenomenon that seems to have been able to protect this mountain range (the Sueve) from the passage of time.

Once in Arriondas, any self-respecting biker will make a stop at what has become a regular meeting point for many motorbike enthusiasts. Known as the Chiringuito Motero de Arriondas, it is run by Bea, a charming biker who guarantees a good atmosphere, fun and excellent treatment. This is the place to share adventures or even a hot meal to keep racking up the kilometres.

Cangas de Onís welcomes us with what is probably its most characteristic monument: the 'Puente Romano' (Roman Bridge). With 6 arches, one on the left side, 4 on the right and the central one from which hangs a reproduction of the Victoria Cross.

We leave behind us this 13th century jewel, declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931, to take the N-625 towards the council of Amieva. From the village of Sames, we will ascend to the Collada viewpoint. Situated at an altitude of 800 metres, it offers magnificent views of the Picos de Europa and the Angón valley, in an atmosphere of silence that can only be disturbed by the engine of a tractor in full swing or the tinkling of cattle bells.

The village of Amieva, dwarfed by the view from here, offers us the possibility of magnifying the surrounding environment even more.

If we retrace our steps, shortly after leaving Cangas de Onís, on the CO-2, we reach Següenco. At this point, those motorcyclists who are not lazy can get off their bikes and ride the few kilometres that remain to the viewpoint. From there, a window to the Asturian paradise opens up once again from which to contemplate: Covadonga, Picos de Europa, the Sueve? Without a doubt, it is well worth a visit! You will leave with the feeling of having been to one of the least known viewpoints in Asturias, but no less spectacular for that.

A visit to the Basilica of Covadonga, the Holy Cave and the Lakes is a must on this trip. These places are so popular that it is necessary to regulate road traffic at certain times of the year (for this reason, it is necessary to get information before setting off on your journey).

We are in an idyllic spot which, due to its orography, was the perfect setting for a crucial battle: the battle of Covadonga. Here we will forget about the clock and simply, next to the statue of Pelayo, we will go back in time to the years of the Reconquest and then worship the patron saint of Asturias, the Virgin of Covadonga, popularly known as La Santina. Readers of marriageable age should know that a popular legend says that "the Virgin of Covadonga has a very clear spring, the girl who drinks from it gets married within a year". So, if you are interested, you already know that the fountain known as the "fountain of the 7 spouts" is an obligatory stop on this occasion.

The visit is completed with the popular ascent to Los Lagos (outside the restricted periods, which you can consult here). Twelve kilometres of curves, unimaginable scenery and, once again, viewpoints. The first, the La Reina viewpoint and, at the top, overlooking both lakes - Enol and Ercina -, the Entrelagos viewpoint. The side of either of the two lakes, surrounded by hundreds of head of cattle roaming freely in the meadows, is undoubtedly a good place to take a refreshment and admire, once again, the beauty of the Picos de Europa in a picture that seems to have come straight out of a fairy tale.

We continue our route in the direction of Cabrales, via the Alto del Ortiguero, past Carreña de Cabrales we reach a large car park with another mythical viewpoint: the Pozo de la Oración. On clear days, the Urriellu, or Naranjo de Bulnes, will flirt with us, showing us an unmistakable silhouette for any Asturian. Back in Carreña, we only have to follow the signs to the village of Asiego to reach another point of interest on our trip: the Pedro Udaondo viewpoint. Once again, the Central Massif of Picos de Europa in all its splendour! It received this name as a posthumous tribute from the people of Cabrales to one of the legends of mountaineering in Picos de Europa.

We continue our journey through the Picos de Europa in Arenas de Cabrales, where we take the turn-off to Poncebos, the starting point of the Cares route. From this town, we climb up to the small village of Camarmeña, a steep climb full of steep, continuous hairpin bends that in just over a kilometre takes us to a viewpoint aligned with the Tejo channel, along which runs the path that climbs to Bulnes, the only access route until the inauguration of the funicular railway. A while contemplating this spot will make us feel like 'Lilliputians' in front of the magnificent works of Nature.

Finally, we will head towards the coast to reach the Picu viewpoint, in Pimiango, halfway to the Pindal Cave, which preserves one of the most important sets of parietal art in Asturias, set in an area of great cultural and natural value. From this viewpoint we can choose which way we want to look. On one side we can see the inimitable Asturian coastline, while on the other we can make out the outline of the Picos de Europa, which we have been caressing for practically the whole of our journey.

Finally, we will end this route with a stroll through Colombres, chosen as an Exemplary Town in 2015, where the mark of the Indians can be seen in the architecture. We will come across some palatial houses such as La Solana or La Quinta Guadalupe, today the headquarters of the Indianos Archive, whose doors we will pass through to immerse ourselves in a crucial part of Asturian history.

190 kilometres full of nature where we will feel the magic and attraction of eastern Asturias through a series of viewpoints that will become our link with a symbol of the Principality: the Picos de Europa National Park.

Text and photos: Sonia Barbosa Silva