Top 10 routes near Oviedo

Today we put on our boots to discover 10 natural spots near Oviedo/Uviéu at our own pace.

The best way to get to know the beauty of Oviedo/Uviéu and its natural side is hiking. And beyond its rich heritage, its architectural beauty and its bustling streets, the capital of the Principality invites you to enjoy an infinite number of natural treasures that immerse you in a unique environment surrounded by green mountains, imposing forests, mighty rivers and beautiful waterfalls.

Some of these most attractive places can be discovered by following the 10 easy routes near Oviedo/Uviedo that we propose below, which are built around nature and rural tourism, creating an appealing experience for the whole family.

We will start our tour exploring the beauty of the Guanga Waterfalls, discovering the magic of a unique natural environment. This is a trail, which is less than 5 km long and is especially recommended for the spring season.

From the village of Perlavia there is a wide and well signposted path that heads towards San Andrés de Trubia that leaves us at the foot of Peña Castiellu, where, turning slightly to the right, the Guanga waterfall hides. A precise waterfall that slides down forming a curtain of water that flows into a pool surrounded by vegetation.

This spectacular waterfall can also be reached from San Andrés de Trubia, along a signposted path that enters a leafy forest of Atlantic vegetation, but it is more demanding and not recommended for families with small children.

Among the easy routes that can be done in Oviedo, Monte Naranco is a classic. Here you will find the Centro de Interpretación del Prerrománico Asturiano (Asturian Pre-Romanesque Art Interpretation Centre), where a path starts, which, in less than 5 minutes, takes you to Santa María del Naranco and a few metres further on to the church of San Miguel de Lillo, two excellent examples of Asturian Pre-Romanesque art, both of which have been World Heritage Sites by UNESCO since 1985.

The more adventurous walkers can explore the trails of Monte Naranco and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views it offers, as there are several trails in the area. The most popular is the one that climbs up to the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús monument, located on the Paisano peak, just 2.1 km from Santa María del Naranco.

We will discover the fascinating landscape of the Torreón de Peñerudes, exploring a medieval building from the 12th century, which has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. A simple mountain route that starts in the beautiful village of El Campo belonging to Peñerudes, in the council of Morcín, located just 1.5 km from the pleasant recreational area of the Alfilorios reservoir.

Although the excursion can be started in the recreational area itself, the best option if you are travelling with small children is to drive to the village of El Campo, and park near the monument to the Mountaineer and the football pitch facilities. In fact, just in front of these sports fields, a wide path leads off which, after about 800 metres, will take you to the mound on which the remains of the Peñerudes Tower stand. They are not fully preserved, but they do offer ample views of the Sierra del Aramo and the central Asturian mountain range.

This is a short but very beautiful excursion that takes our imagination back to medieval times.

We will immerse ourselves in the Senda del Oso, the best known and busiest greenway in Asturias. A route that combines nature, history and the opportunity to see bears in semi-freedom. It is an easy route, especially if you do it by bicycle, which runs for about 29 km along the old route followed by the mining train that linked the town of Tuñón (Santo Adriano) with the villages of Entragu (Teverga) and Santa Marina (Quirós).

An excursion through simply extraordinary tunnels and gorges, which invites us to immerse ourselves in a magical nature of quiet valleys and pleasant villages following the tracks of the bear.

We will explore the Finnish trail, which offers a unique experience for nature lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts. Located on the southern slope of Monte Naranco, this pedestrian path, which has alternative sections for bicycles, is one of the favourite green areas for Oviedo residents to take short walks in contact with nature.

With a length of 5.5 km, and a flat terrain, it can be walked with a pushchair, and allows you to enjoy beautiful views of the city of Oviedo/Uviéu and the sighting of some rodent animals in their natural habitat such as the funny squirrels.

The header photo, whose author is Juan de Tury, corresponds to the Covarones of the river Tuernes.

We will venture along the Covarones del río Tuernes Route, discovering the rich landscape and culture of the council of Llanera. It is a simple and pleasant path that can be done on foot, by bicycle or even with a pram and that starts in the recreational area of Los Covarones.

Only 1 km separates this leisure area from the karstic environment perforated by the river Tuernes. It has taken billions of years for nature to carve out these capricious formations that have given rise to caves, arches and natural tunnels that invite you to explore them.

But in order to enter the hollows safely, it is necessary to wear non-slip water shoes and a headlamp or torch. This way you can experience a real underwater adventure, entering a short stretch of caves and hollows that immediately lead to the river Nora. However, if you are going with small children and do not wish to expose them to this experience, the best option is to enjoy the surroundings, which have ethnographic remains such as the cave-shelter of La Nora or the remains of the mill of Casa Pina de Tuernes, and look out over the large cavity that leads to the Covarones.

We will walk along the Fuso Greenway, enjoying a quiet path, about 9 km long, which follows the route of the old railway line. A simple route, suitable for cyclists, walkers and pushchairs, which will take us through green and serene landscapes.

This walk, of reduced difficulty, starts in the Oviedo/Uviéu Winter Park and heads towards La Manxoya Station, where after crossing a wooden bridge and several tunnels of up to 250 m in length, we will reach Fuso de la Reina station, where the route ends. But if this is not enough, we can continue to the village of Las Caldas, and even to Santo Adriano, to connect with the Senda del Oso, so that we will extend the excursion to 16 km (one way).

The river path of the Nora River, in Siero, allows you to discover the serenity of the natural environment that follows the course of the Nora River to the nearby town of Lieres along a route of about 9 km.

It is a tarmac path, with no significant slopes, which can be covered on foot, by bike or with a pushchair. It also offers the possibility of returning to the point of origin by Feve local train.

This is one of the most unknown routes in Asturias, but it is not lacking in beauty, as it has a great scenic value that delights the visitor with a magical and fascinating natural place.

We will venture along the Caldas Route, exploring this path that will take us through enchanting landscapes and historical destinations to the banks of the mighty river Nalón. A circular route, about 6 km long, which follows a very simple asphalted river path.

It is an ideal walk to do with the family and enjoy the vegetation and fauna that surrounds us, as there are several benches to sit and rest and bird observatories from where you can see an endless number of birds such as robins, kestrels, sparrows and mallards.

We will conclude with a walk through one of the recommended villages to see hórreos in Asturias, Güeñu/Bueño, immersing ourselves in traditional Asturian architecture and local history. This pretty village, as well as holding the Exemplary Village of Asturias award since 2012, has an enviable architecture with more than 50 old hórreos and paneras (granaries).

To get to know these buildings better, you can take a circular route from Güeñu/Bueño, barely 4 km long, which takes you through orchards, fruit trees and cornfields to the large recreational area of Llosalín and the Güeñu/Bueño Hórreo Interpretation Centre. Here a free guided tour shows us the functionality of the hórreos with information panels and videos.

The privileged location of Oviedo/Uviéu makes it possible to go on very attractive excursions. These hiking routes are sure to be a success because they are easy and suitable for the whole family to enjoy the fresh air and attractive nature with an immense variety of flora and fauna. What do you say! Aren't they beautiful places to discover with your family?