Cycle tourism route. Oscos Tour

This route is situated in western Asturias, within the Oscos-Eo region, and combines landscapes of pastures and woodland with a distinct cultural and ethnographic character, where water, timber and slate shape traditional ways of life.

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Address Santalla, Samartín, Vilanova

Distance Distance: 41 kms
Difficulty Difficulty: Dura
Total ascent Total ascent: 1205 m
Maximum altitude Maximum altitude: 999 m
Minimum altitude Minimum altitude: 470 m
IBP index IBP index: 100

Route One-day routes
Type of bicycle Type of bicycle: Gravel,Road
Type of route Type of route: Circular
Return by Train Return by Train: No

Starting point Starting point: Santalla
Ending point Ending point: Santalla
Estimated duration Estimated duration: Un día

The route takes in the three most important towns – the council capitals – of the so-called “Tres Oscos”: Santalla (Santa Eulalia de Oscos), Samartín (San Martín de Oscos) and Vilanova (Villanueva de Oscos), and offers an alternative route providing the opportunity to visit some lesser-known hamlets and valleys of great beauty and tranquillity.

The route starts in Santalla, following the AS-362 local road towards Samartín, This section of the route is in good condition and passes through several villages, including Martul – a magnificent example of traditional architecture – and the beautiful setting of the San Juan Degollado and Tejo de Martul chapel, a churchyard well worth a visit. From here, the route winds gently on to Samartín, where you can explore the surroundings of the parish church, built in the local style using masonry and slate.

In Samartín, take a turn-off to cross into another valley and, via a local road – almost a tarmac track – visit some small hamlets such as Deilán, Vilamañe and Louxedo. Continuing along the track, you’ll reach a junction offering two options: carry on straight ahead on the tarmac until you reach the AS-11 regional road to descend to Vilanova, or take the unpaved track to the right. This track is made of compacted gravel in good condition and offers an optional route to the Pena Tascón Mine; it descends to the hamlet of A Ovellariza before also ending in Vilanova.

In Vilanova, continue along the AS-11, leaving it shortly afterwards at a junction on the left which takes you over the hill via Folgueirarrubia and Bustapena; further on, it rejoins the AS-11 and reaches the Alto de La Garganta. At this point, once again, you leave the main road and, as soon as the descent begins, take a local road on the right. This road is in a rather poor state of repair and is also very potholed. However, the surroundings are beautiful and offer magnificent views both towards the sea and towards Los Oscos. The stretch improves as the route approaches the El Couso pass and, from there, you continue along tarmac tracks in good condition until you reach Millarado, where you cross the AS-11 regional road and carry on along another tarmac track which, after passing through Carballeira de Millarado, leads to Santalla.