El Mechero de Saús

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The Saús Lighter
GPS: 43.290897832329, -5.653717515511329

El Entrego - Alto La Camperona - Mechero Saus - Pozo Mosquitera - Tuilla - Pozo Candín - La Felguera - Alto de Trapa - Pozo El Tarronal - Mieres - Ablaña

El Entrego - Ablaña 37,39

The route passes through the councils of Langreo and Mieres, areas of great coal mining activity in the past. Nowadays you can enjoy the inherited landscapes and see how the vegetation conceals what used to be mine shafts, dumps and mining infrastructures (the restorative power of nature is amazing).

This cycling tour is linear, starting and finishing at different points. It runs along green paths, local roads with little traffic and is suitable for all types of bicycles. At several points along the route there are train stations that can shorten the route if necessary.

The route passes through the councils of Langreo and Mieres, areas of great coal mining activity in the past. Nowadays you can enjoy the inherited landscapes and see how the vegetation conceals what were once mine shafts, dumps and mining infrastructures (the restorative power of nature is astonishing).

The route starts in El Entrego to take the green path of Carrocera, a beautiful and refreshing spot among the trees. Unfortunately it is not very long and, almost at the end of the path itself, you have to leave and take the AS-338 to go up to the village of La Camperona. It is about 6 km long with a gradient of almost 400 m - the most difficult part of the route - and you may have to walk the first kilometre, but as you go on the climb becomes steeper. During this stretch you can stop to rest and admire the scenery.

Once you reach La Camperona, you can recharge your batteries in the recreational area or in a nearby bar.

The route continues through the area of El Plano - never better said - and a little further on turns off to the left onto the local SI-12 road, which is already descending, interrupted by a short stretch of ascent that is almost overcome by inertia. The route leaves this local road after the abandoned Saús power station and takes an asphalted track that leads to the Ruta del Trole.

This section runs through a leafy forest watered by the river Candín, up to the famous "Mechero de Saús". This was a natural phenomenon that appeared after a bush fire in 1978. Since then, a flame has been burning inside a small rocky grotto in the middle of a chestnut grove. The gas, initially thought to be firedamp, was constantly emanating, the flame reaching a height of more than a metre in certain circumstances. But due to a collapse inside the niche that was built to highlight the site, the burner has been extinguished.

The route continues along the path to the vicinity of the old Coruxona Well, where there are some houses that used to be mine buildings (offices, wash house, wash house) and a water fountain in the old mine shaft. At this point, leave the path and take the AS-323 road to La Felguera, which runs parallel to the railway line. Along the way, the route passes near the Mosquitera well installations, the village of Tuilla, or the Candín (or Lláscares) well installations. It is possible to visit several of these installations and see the remains of the mining industry in the area, its installations, materials, unionist protest graffiti, etc.

The route continues and in this last section we ascend from La Felguera to the top of La Trapa along the LA-4 road, although those who wish can shorten the route by taking a return train (FEVE or RENFE) in La Felguera.

These 3 kilometres and a bit of ascent are more bearable than those of La Camperona and if we look back during the ascent, we will be able to contemplate some beautiful views. Once we reach the village of La Trapa, a descent begins that leads to Mieres. On the way down is the village of El Tarronal, where you will find the forgotten mine of the same name, which for decades made Asturias a world power in mercury extraction.

In Mieres you can stop for refreshments in one of its many restaurants or continue on to the Ablaña train station, the end point of this route.