Connecting cycling route. From Navia to Grandas de Salime

We set off from Navia, crossing the estuary to join the AS-12 road, which we’ll stay on for the entire route. The first stretch to Cuaña is relatively straight. Here we can visit the Castro de Coaña, the most famous of the known hill forts in Asturias and an iconic example of an Iron Age fortified settlement.

We continue along the route running parallel to the Arbón reservoir and begin a climb of around 7 km to Boal/Bual; just before reaching Boal/Bual, we can stop at the viewpoint at the Castro de Pendia, from where we can see the castro nestled in the valley.

Immediately afterwards, a winding 9 km descent begins down to the Doiras reservoir, before we start climbing for about 7 km up to Mount Cachafol, where we continue towards Illano, cycling a further 7 km or so on a gentle gradient, halfway up the hillside with plenty of bends and a breathtaking landscape thanks to the steepness of the slopes.

We arrive in Santesteba and, from the viewpoint, we’ll take in stunning views over the River Navia, the Santesteba cliff and the villages ‘clinging’ to the hillside. The village of Santesteba has been declared a ‘Historic Site’ as it has preserved its traditional hamlet in exemplary fashion; it consists of houses built directly onto the rock, forming a colourful ensemble where the streets are less than 2 m wide.

We continue our route, descending for 6 km to the bottom of the Agüeira river valley, nestled between steep slopes. We cross the bridge and begin the climb of around 5 km up to Pezós/Pesoz. In Pezós/Pesoz, we can see Ron Palace. If we have the energy, we can take a detour to visit the hamlet of Argul, which has been declared a Historic Site.

From Pezós/Pesoz, we cycle another 6 km uphill to Santa María, where there is then just a descent of less than 2 km to Grandas de Salime, the end of the route and the start and finish of the stage on the Primitive Way of St James. Here, the Collegiate Church of San Salvador and the Ethnographic Museum – one of the most important in Asturias – are well worth a visit.