Etapa 6: Villamayor - Espinaréu

Go to Image Stage 6: Villamayor - Espinaréu
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GR109 - Inland Asturias - Stage 6

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Stage 6: Villamayor - Espinaréu
GPS: 43.35846824801908, -5.307167518266962

Villamayor - Melardi - El Mecín - Porciles - Espinaréu

Villamayor - Espinaréu 13,40

The route starts at the Villamayor square, located at the entrance to the village, where the information panel at the beginning of the stage is located, which can be reached by turning right towards Torin and Rodiles. Before setting off on the route, we can visit the Romanesque church of Santa María, of which only the chevet and part of the main nave remain. The church was part of a 12th century convent of Benedictine nuns, now disappeared, which was closed in the 14th century by the Bishop of Oviedo under the accusation of sinful and licentious life. The nave of the church was demolished in the 19th century and the building that replaced it was first a prison and then a school.

From the square in Villamayor, following the signs, we shall set off along an asphalted road that we leave shortly after crossing a small bridge over the river La Cueva and past several houses, to continue along a track.

We will ascend slightly along the track, bordered on the left side by small groves of oak(Quercus robur) and chestnut(Castanea sativa) trees, and by meadows on the right side. Between the groves we can make out the alluvial plain of the river Piloña.

At the end of the track, take the road to the left, following the signs, in the direction of Melardi. Once in this village and following the signs, the route continues ascending moderately along the track towards the rural village of Valle.

Once in Valle, the path descends through the narrow streets of the village, through granaries and stone houses, leaving the church of Santa María Magdalena on the left.

On leaving Valle, the path continues its descent along the road, crossing a small bridge from where you can see an old stone mill on the riverbank, and then ascends through meadows and pastures to Cardes, passing through an area of the village known as Taradiellu.

A few metres later, the route rejoins a gravel track that climbs steeply towards the Sierra Bedular. The path passes through grazing pastures, continues among oak, birch and chestnut trees, as well as areas of bracken and heathland, and crosses the Saliencia irrigation channel. During the ascent, we can enjoy wonderful views of Infiesto and the Sueve, Aves and Sellón mountain ranges.

Once at the pass known as La Tayada, shortly before reaching Porciles, the dirt track begins to descend, at a point where we will also find signs for the GR-105 path, until we reach a water tank, from where the path now runs along a concrete track.

After crossing Porciles, the track joins the road and descends through meadows and small forests of chestnut and oak trees to Espinaredo, a town known for its large number of granaries. Following the signs, the route ends next to the village church, where you will find the sign for the end of the stage.