Montegrande Beech Forest and Xiblu Waterfall

The route starts at the Braña La Puerca car park, in the council of Teverga, just off the AS-228 road. From here begins a wide dirt track that leads into the Montegrande beech forest, one of the best preserved in Asturias. At the very beginning, a small accessible section with a wooden footbridge allows wheelchair users to follow part of the route.

A few metres further on, a signpost indicates the turn-off to the Lepers' Spring, a spring with a healing tradition where the sick used to come in search of relief. This point introduces the walker to the mystical and natural character of the path.

As you go on, the path enters a dense forest of hundred-year-old beech trees, where lichens such as the "barbas de viejo" (old man's beard) testify to the quality of the air. The undergrowth, rich in holly, rowan and ferns, envelops the path in green and damp tones. The murmur of the river Fundil or La Verde, which accompanies a good part of the route, adds a constant soundtrack that reinforces the serene atmosphere of the surroundings.

At around kilometre 4 there is a slight slope that becomes steeper shortly before reaching the waterfall. Here the track becomes a narrower path, where extreme caution is necessary, especially on wet days, as the ground can be slippery. Along this climb you can see small waterfalls and smaller waterfalls, such as Navalín, which anticipate the final spectacle.

The route culminates at the imposing Xiblu Waterfall, a set of three waterfalls, which are boxed in between moss-covered crags, with a total drop of almost 100 metres. Its name comes from the whistling sound produced by the wind as it crosses the gorge in certain conditions. The roar of the water and the mist suspended in the air create a scene of wild and breathtaking beauty.

Although it is usual to return along the same route, there is the option of continuing on to the village of La Foceicha, extending the route to about 8 kilometres, with a similar profile in terms of difficulty and scenic beauty.

This itinerary, without great technical demands, offers an immersion in the purest nature of the Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve of Las Ubiñas-La Mesa. It is the perfect walk to enjoy the silence of the forest, the freshness of the water and the natural legacy hidden in this corner of the Asturian mountains.