Etapa 11: Beyo - Santibanes de Murias

Go to Image Stage 11: Beyo - Santibanes de Murias
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GR109 - Inland Asturias - Stage 11

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Stage 11: Beyo - Santibanes de Murias
GPS: 43.13169850085909, -5.641232315547234

Beyo - Murias - Santibanes de Murias

Beyo - Santibanes de Murias 12,47

The route starts in the village of Bello, located about four kilometres from Cabañaquinta, capital of the council of Aller. In Bello we can visit the parish church, dating from the end of the 17th century, as well as the mansion of Los Solís Castañón, a representative building of 18th century civil architecture. It belonged to D. Francisco Solís Castañón, perpetual alderman of the council of Laviana, who rebuilt the house in 1784.

We will find the signpost at the beginning of the stage situated in a small park a few metres after entering Bello. Following the directional signs of the route, the path enters the village and, shortly after crossing the bridge over the river Bello, it leaves the rural nucleus along a track, which at first is made of concrete and then of gravel, which climbs steeply.

The first section of the path climbs steeply uphill, between meadows and small copses of chestnut trees(Castanea sativa), along a narrow dirt track, from which we have beautiful views of the Peña Mea massif.

Between slopes of bracken, bramble and areas of scrubland made up of heathland, the path continues to climb towards the Coto Beyo mountain range, until it reaches a high point, at an altitude of approximately 1,200 metres, where the route leaves the dirt track and joins the road.

At the point where the track meets the road, following the directional signs, the route climbs a few metres up the road until it reaches the Cotobello esplanade. The path runs along a dirt track that goes off to the right over the restored dumps, passing through small birch(Betula pendula) plantations and areas of pastureland.

The exploitation of these open-cast mines extends between the valleys of Nembra, Aller and Beyo (Aller). In 1979, work began on the coal extraction, which was completed in 1990 and is now being restored. Today, thanks to the restoration of the altered surfaces and the establishment of a vegetation cover, the mining past of the site is imperceptible.

Shortly after, the route leaves the old mining site and continues down a dirt track towards the rural village of Murias. Before reaching the village, there is a thematic table interpreting the panoramic views from this area (Tres Concejos peak, Rasón passes, La Boya pass).

Once in Murias, the path crosses the streets of the village and then joins the road to the left, heading towards the rural village of Santibáñez de Murias, the final destination of the stage.

On the way to Santibáñez de Murias, we have the possibility of turning off onto a path that starts on the left-hand side of the road and which, between meadows and chestnut trees, climbs up to the rural village of Villar (Vichar) and then descends again to the road, a few metres before the entrance to Santibáñez. We can also choose to continue along the road to the village of Santibáñez de Murias.

  • Cannot be done with a pushchair/stroller.
  • Can be done with mountain bike (high difficulty).