Family hiking: 6 routes with recreational areas in Asturias

“Asturias offers nature lovers plenty of easy walking routes, but not all of them start from pleasant recreational areas. Here are 5 easy routes for the whole family that tick this box”.

Asturias boasts extensive recreational areas and natural spaces where families can enjoy a lovely day out in the countryside. The extensive coastline, dotted with spectacular sandy beaches stretching from east to west, is complemented by idyllic mountain landscapes, where gentle meadows give way to dense forests of beech and silver oak. These protected areas are perfect spots for family hikes, with something to suit all tastes, allowing you to enjoy fun outings with children in idyllic settings.

Below, we’ll explore together six easy walking routes where nature takes centre stage, all of which can be started from one of the many recreational areas found throughout Asturias.
 

We’ll immerse ourselves in the beauty of the Foces del Río Infierno, exploring the natural surroundings from the idyllic La Pesanca Recreation Area. Indeed, one of the best things to see in Piloña, near the village of Riofabar, is this area, which can be reached via a local road. It is situated in a river valley surrounded by lush vegetation of ancient oaks, chestnut and hazel trees, which give way to an endless landscape.

But, without a doubt, the best way to discover this little piece of paradise and fall in love with it is to take an easy walk from the picnic area. From La Pesanca, several walking routes set off towards various natural sites along a main track that branches off towards Collado de Traslafuente and the peak of Vízcares; Los Tornos de Pandemules, in the Redes Natural Park, or towards the Foz de los Moñacos, also in Caso. It is not necessary to tackle the full length of any of these routes, as the easiest one covers a total of 14 km with a 600 m elevation gain. It is enough simply to plan a short walk with the children through the Foz del Río Infierno, depending on the conditions and the level of physical exertion you wish to undertake. To do this, you simply need to follow the crystal-clear waters of the river as they plunge into a stunning gorge with slate walls, where water and wind erosion have carved the gorge as they pleased, and through which small waterfalls and cascades of overwhelming beauty flow.

We’ll discover the Camín de la Reina, setting off on this route from the Trambesagües Recreation Area – in the municipality of Amieva – and exploring its historical and natural attractions. The first thing that catches the eye at this recreational area is its size, and the fact thatit features picnic tables, barbecues, a children’s play area and a fountain. There are also a large number of old Asturian buildings known as ‘corripas’. These structures, built on circular foundations, were traditionally used to store chestnuts in their husks. They were covered with leaves and chaff in October, allowing the chestnuts to be eaten right through to spring.

Taking advantage of this ethnological relic, we’ll set off along the pleasant Camín de la Reina, which owes its name to the fact that Queen Isabella II of Castile used this ancient Roman road to travel to Covadonga. And, whilst it isn’t necessary to venture right into the heart of the Picos de Europa National Park, we can certainly take a stroll surrounded by oak, beech and ash trees to the nearby hamlet of Precendi, following the course of the River Ponga, which flows into the River Sella a few metres further down. In this way, we’ll pass by the Beyu Pen gorge , near the village of Santillán, which is another route through Asturias that we recommend, although this one is more physically demanding than the Camín de la Reina.

We’ll set off along the Deva trail, exploring its enchanting landscapes from the La Brañona Recreation Area, situated on a bend in the River Deva and tucked away amongst lush vegetation. Asturias has many easy hiking routes suitable for families, and one of them starts at the Panes recreational area, which features wooden tables, swings, a fountain and barbecues.

This is a circular route of around 15 km with virtually no elevation gain and excellent signposting, which follows both the left and right banks of the River Deva-Cares, passing by some of Asturias’ most notable natural sites, such as the Palaeolithic rock art cave of La Loja, the Palace of San Román and the Romanesque church of San Juan de Ciliergo, which dates from the late 13th century.

However, if you don’t want to go on such a long walk, there is the option of a 2.5 km circular route starting from the recreation area along the riverside path of the Deva Arboretum, which features a forest ecosystem typical of the Picos de Europa. This option is much easier than the previous one and can be done by bike, with very young children, with a pushchair or by people with reduced mobility.

We will explore the Muros de Nalón Viewpoint Trail from the Espíritu Santo Viewpoint Recreation Area and the La Atalaya Recreation Area, enjoying panoramic views and unique experiences. From both of these areas – which are, in fact, two marvellous vantage points overlooking the Cantabrian Sea – we can enjoy an easy walking route that follows the coastline along a footpath. It doesn’t matter whether we head east or west, because, either way, unrivalled panoramic views are guaranteed.

On the eastern side of the path, we find the mouth of the River Nalón where it flows into the Cantabrian Sea, and the wide beaches of El Sablón and Los Quebrantos. Meanwhile, if we head west, the Miradores del Nalón trail offers breathtakingly beautiful views of the islets of El Paso and La Ñera, before ending at Aguilar beach. This coastal path runs along one of the most spectacular stretches of the central and western Asturian coast.

We’ll start the Cabo Blanco route from the Playa de Porcía Recreation Area ( in the municipality of El Franco), exploring this Asturian headland and its surroundings. Although the sandy beach practically disappears at high tide, it’s one of the most beautiful spots on the west coast of Asturias. The panoramic views of the coastline from the clearings scattered across the mountainside that drops down to the sea are truly stunning.

What’s more, if you fancy a walk, there’s an easy, well-signposted walking route that starts at the recreation area and heads towards the Atalaya viewpoint. From this headland jutting out into the sea, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the islets of Castelos and Chisliqueira and the cliffs of Amortiza. You can then continue along the coastal path – which is very easy to follow – to the vicinity of the defensive hill fort at Cabo Blanco, which dates from the 8th – 1st centuries BC, which is not the only fortified settlement from Roman Iberia in the area, as the Coaña hill fort is also nearby. Once you’ve finished this walk from the Cabo Blanco headland, all that remains is to return to the Porcía beach recreation area. If you’d prefer a longer route (13 km), you can also take the Castello–Porcía Coastal Path, which also ends at the recreation area.

This is one of the most beautiful walks you can do in Asturias with children, with a path that runs far enough away from the cliffs to be safe, whilst still offering stunning views of the Cantabrian Sea.

We’ll finish by exploring the Castro Route from the Malva Leisure Area – one of the top things to see in Somiedo – and discovering the charms of this historic route, which is situated near the Malva hydroelectric power station, which is over 100 years old. At certain times of the year, you can visit this building, which is a fine example of early 20th-century industrial architecture.

In any case, we encourage you to walk at least part of the Castro trail, which begins by climbing through an arboretum. In doing so, you’ll discover numerous species of trees that have adapted to the climate and soil of this part of the Somiedo Natural Park, where holm oak woodlands and deciduous forests of ash and chestnut trees predominate. With hardly any difficulty, you’ll reach the Malva Cave, from where you’ll enjoy splendid views of the Pigüeña river valley and where you can bring the route to an end, unless you wish to continue on to the charming village of Castro. Bear in mind, however, that the recreational area is 4 km from the village, and that the return journey must be made either by retracing our steps or via the road linking the two locations.

As you can see, Asturias is a paradise for nature lovers and those who enjoy the great outdoors. Here we’ve listed six easy walking routes that are suitable for young children, starting from pleasant recreational areas, but there are many more. Fancy discovering them?