Route of the Mazo de Meredo

Due to their remote location, many areas of western Asturias still retain that air of unexplored wilderness that is so appealing to those seeking to get off the beaten tourist track.

This is especially evident in the councils on the border with Galicia, where the Asturian and Galician cultures merge, creating a very special atmosphere dotted with legends and stories that embrace each other.

With the improvement of roads, more and more people are encouraged to discover this almost unknown territory. Just as we will do in this article, along which we will travel through part of the council of Vegadeo, located in the Oscos-Eo region, through the route of the Mazo de Meredo. Will you join me?

The Mazo de Meredo route (P.R. AS-107) is a simple route, although it could be considered of low-medium difficulty, due to its 542 metres of positive vertical drop.

It is circular (except for the 3 kilometres - 1.5 on the outward journey and 1.5 on the return - which correspond to the first and last sections), and is 13 kilometres long (about 4.5 hours).

The road surface is quite good, although many of the tracks are logging roads, so the condition can change from one day to the next. That's why I recommend that you wear shoes that can withstand a bit of water, humidity and don't mind getting dirty!

It is not dangerous at all, so you can do it with children who are not too young. However, they must be used to walking, as the slope to be overcome is a considerable effort. This should also be taken into account if you are planning to carry your child.

Due to the slope and the morphology of the paths, it is not suitable for pushchairs or people with reduced mobility; nor can it be done by bicycle, or at least not the whole route, as, in addition to the slope, some parts are narrow and are not compatible with bicycles.

On the other hand, it is a fantastic option to do with your dog if you feel like it, as it is not excessively tiring or long for them and, although there is not much water available during the route (there are some streams and fountains), in the area of Mazo de Meredo they will have a great time splashing around in the water.

The Mazo de Meredo route begins in the pretty village of Piantón, just 2 kilometres from Vegadeo/A Veiga, the capital of the council.

After parking in the village, cross the so-called Roman bridge (it actually dates from the mid-19th century and replaced another supposedly medieval bridge that was swept away by a flood of the river Suarón), where you will find the signpost to the start of the route, and take the path on the left towards Arcilo.

From here we climb through a eucalyptus forest until we reach Arcilo, where we take a detour to the right towards Cobre.

Once there, we cross the village in an uphill direction, although we can take a detour a few metres to the right to the hermitage of San Pedro, before continuing on our way.

Returning to the route, we can choose between two alternatives that will take us to the Mazo de Meredo: to the left, the short, more direct route (1.5 kilometres), or to the right, the long route (3.5 kilometres, passing through El Foxo).

If you are not too tired, I recommend that you choose the long option, as the trail is cooler. However, bear in mind that this part has a couple of steep downhill slopes, so don't forget your poles, especially if you suffer from sore knees or ankles in these situations.

After a final short but fairly steep slope, cross the road and continue downhill for a few metres towards the sledgehammer. Here you will probably see the closed gate, but if you are careful you can go round it to the left, next to a tree.

At last we reach the ethnographic complex of the Mazo del Suarón, which dates back to the 18th century (although it is believed to have been built earlier), where we will find different explanatory signs that will tell us some interesting facts about this place.

First we will learn to distinguish between the ironworks (where the iron was obtained from the raw ore), the mallets (where the iron obtained in the ironworks was worked to shape it and remove slag), and the forxas (where the final products were made).

In this complex we can see several constructions: the building occupied by the machine for beating the iron, and two other annexes (one may have been used for storage, and the other for storing firewood and coal).

The mallet worked as follows: water was diverted from a small dam into a channel that ended in a pond, and when it was released, it produced the energy needed to move the mallet.

The setting of the Mazo de Meredo (or Suarón) is of great beauty, and is dominated by a wide, bucolic waterfall, which falls forcefully from the dam.

Next to it, there is a recreational area with tables and benches made of slate slabs, and the path continues a few metres along the river Suarón in a lovely walk.

To begin the second part of our route, we will retrace our steps until we get over the steep slope on the other side of the road and, this time, instead of continuing straight on, we will turn right along the mountainside, along a narrow path that crosses a pine forest.

We will pass by the cave of Xanín, and continue for a stretch along a path that is less demanding than the previous route (in general), except for a fairly steep slope that goes up next to a stream, which we will have to climb at the end of the route.

We will pass around the mysterious and imposing Casona de Sestelo, although it is increasingly difficult to see it from the route, due to the growth of trees in the surrounding hills.

It has a very interesting history! It was built at the end of the 19th century, and was originally intended to be a paper factory. However, in 1920 the indiano Ángel Pérez bought the house and built a small hydroelectric power station.

Later, he had to go into exile because of the war, and the house became an orphanage.

Years later, his daughters Carmen and Raquel returned and lived there for several years, although they later sold it and, with a hotel project in between that was never achieved, it remained abandoned until the present day.

We'll say goodbye to the Mazo de Meredo route with views of the valleys of the council of Vegadeo, its meadows and farmland. Hey! But before heading home, be sure to take a stroll around the village, because the square where the church of San Esteban is located is well worth a visit.

And to top it all off, if you're still hungry for more, you can continue discovering the village on foot and walk to the nearby 18th-century Casa del Rego, a fantastic way to round off a day in the mountains!