Peña Careses

The Peña Careses Route is a circular itinerary that combines nature, geology, historical memory and popular tradition in the council of Siero. The route begins in La Quintana and advances through open fields in the direction of La Parte, with the limestone silhouette of Peña Careses as a constant reference point.

After crossing the village of Moyeos, you reach the Aveno tunnel, one of the remains of the railway project that is the subject of the well-known song: "Hay una línea trazada, San Martín del Rey Aurelio que pasando Lieres arriba, atraviesa La Collada..." (There is a line drawn, San Martín del Rey Aurelio that passes Lieres up, crosses La Collada...). This song refers to the long-awaited railway San Martín del Rey Aurelio - Lieres - Gijón - El Musel, promoted by the company Ferrocarriles de San Martín - Lieres - Gijón - El Musel from 1906, whose infrastructure was almost finished, but never came into operation. Today, the La Viona Green Path (PR AS-277), which forms part of the route, has been laid out on part of its route.

From there, the route continues to Castañera, where a detour leads to the Cueva de San Pedrín, an 80-metre cavity crossed by the river Rufiañu, which is of great geological value. A few metres away is the Chapel of San Pedrín, linked to a deep-rooted legend: it is said that a small image of Saint Peter, found in a crack in the cave, miraculously returned to the current meadow after each attempt to move it to the church of Narzana. The original figure was lost in a fire, but a plaster reproduction is preserved today.

This tradition gives rise to the popular festival of San Pedrín, declared to be of Tourist Interest, which is held every third Sunday in August with a folkloric procession and Asturian mass sung by the Santiaguín Choir.

After the visit, the path continues along the AS-331 in the direction of Peón, until it reaches the Castañeda quarry, where the final climb to the summit of Peña Careses begins, along a wooded path that leads to the meadows near the summit. From the top, crowned by a large iron cross and a mountain letterbox, there is one of the most extensive views of the central area of Asturias, stretching from the Cantabrian Mountains to the Cantabrian coast.

The descent is along the opposite slope, bordering the crag and passing the Fuente la Xana and its recreational area, until it joins the PR AS-216, Camín de Careses, which leads to the entrance of the old La Viona tunnel, another visible vestige of that frustrated railway project which, although it is not passable for safety reasons, is still a symbol of Asturian industrial heritage.

From this point, the route ascends briefly to Ordiales and descends again to La Quintana, completing a route full of contrast and landscape, cultural and historical value, ideal for those looking for a walk with its own identity in the heart of Siero.