Senda de las Trincheras: Playa de los Quebrantos-Acantilados de Ranón-Playa El Sablón

The route begins at the car park at Playa de los Quebrantos, in San Juan de la Arena. From this point, a well-defined path begins a steep ascent that leads to an elevated position where the first fortifications are located. These constructions, erected by the Fourth Company of the Third Engineer Battalion during the Civil War, include four reinforced concrete casemates connected by underground tunnels. Their strategic location allowed visual control of the coast and the mouth of the Nalón, demonstrating their military value in the conflict.
Next to the trenches there is a viewpoint fitted out with a wooden platform, which offers an exceptional panoramic view of the surroundings. From there you can see the estuary of the river Nalón, the fishing villages of San Esteban de Pravia and San Juan de la Arena, and to the west, the immensity of the Bay of Biscay. The path continues along the crest of the hill, alternating wooded areas with open stretches, where there are natural viewpoints that invite you to stop and admire the landscape.
At the end of the cresting section, the route descends gently towards the Playón de Bayas, the longest sandy area in Asturias, almost 3 kilometres long. This natural area is home to one of the most important dune systems in the Principality, a habitat for a great diversity of flora and fauna. At the Ranón river, you reach the beach and head west, walking along the sand parallel to the sea until you return to the starting point at Playa de los Quebrantos.
The Senda de Las Trincheras offers an accessible walk that combines nature, history and breathtaking views of the coastline, making it an ideal option for those looking for a short route, but full of content and beauty.