La Forquita Peak

The route begins next to the tourist office in Caravia, from where it leaves the town centre heading south, along the path to La Trincherona. This first section crosses an enclosed forest, where native species such as chestnut and oak trees predominate. The path ascends progressively, allowing you to gain height without great effort and offering, in some clearings, partial views of El Castro peak and the gentle undulations that make up the surroundings.

As you gain altitude, the forest opens up and you reach a hill, from where you can take a short detour towards the Castro de Caravia, the most important prehistoric site in the council. Also known as Picu'l Castru, it was a fortified settlement occupied between the 4th or 3rd centuries and the 1st century BC, in the middle of the Iron Age. The enclosure was surrounded by a powerful stone wall, and remains of Romanisation have been found there. Excavated by Aurelio del Llano in 1917-18, the castro has yielded a valuable collection of archaeological artefacts, such as iron tools, decorated pottery and bronze ornaments, including a fibula in the shape of a horse, now in the Archaeological Museum of Asturias.

Returning to the itinerary, the route continues along a short stretch of road, where a small viewpoint offers an unobstructed view of the peak of El Castro. Shortly afterwards, you leave the asphalt to continue along a path that once again enters a forest of varied vegetation.

The last part of the ascent takes place in a more open environment, along a well-defined path that leads directly to the summit of Pico La Forquita. From this high point, the landscape opens up in all directions: to the north, the Cantabrian Sea; to the south, the inland valleys and the peaks of the Sueve mountain range; and to the east, the traces of ancient human settlements that bear witness to the history of the area.

The descent is by a different, more direct route, which crosses stretches of forest track and woods that show the transition between the high and mid-mountains. The route concludes back in Caravia, after a route that, without great technical demands, allows you to enjoy a varied environment, wide views and interesting heritage elements, in one of the least known and most surprising corners of eastern Asturias.