Pomar de las Montañas

The Pomar de las Montañas route, starting and finishing in the town of Bisuyu, in the council of Cangas del Narcea, is a 10-kilometre route that combines nature, ethnography, history and literature in one of the most authentic corners of south-western Asturias. It is a simple route, well signposted and of great scenic value, ideal for enjoying autumn, when the forests are tinged with golden and ochre tones.

Bisuyu, the starting point of the route, is a small mountain village steeped in history. It was here that the playwright Alejandro Casona, whose literary work is deeply inspired by these valleys, was born and spent his early years. Some of his most emblematic plays, such as La casa de los siete balcones, take direct references from the village and its traditional architecture, such as the Casona de Besullo, where the school was located. The author himself wrote: "I believe I have found paradise on earth in my own valleys". Today, several places linked to his life and work can be visited.

But Bisuyu is also a land of forges and fire. It has an outstanding iron-working past, visible in the Mazu d'Abaxu, an old restored hydraulic mallet that can be visited shortly after starting the route. This remote rural village was also unique for its religious life, as it was home to a church, two Catholic chapels and, in addition, the first Protestant community in Asturias.

The route begins in the western part of the village, along a track that runs parallel to the Pumar river, surrounded by a leafy riverside forest. A few metres into the route you can visit the mazo, and further on you cross the river over a picturesque wooden bridge that takes you to the village of El Pumar, which is now semi-abandoned but still conserves valuable examples of traditional architecture.

From El Pumar begins a progressive ascent towards San Fliz and El Pozu, with a zigzagging ascent that intensifies between kilometres 3.5 and 4. As we gain height, the forest changes and the views open up, allowing us to see the councils of Cangas del Narcea, Allande and Tineo. At the highest point, around kilometre 7, the track becomes an excellent natural viewpoint over the western Asturian landscape.

The return is through the upper part of the mountain range, along a forest track that crosses pine, birch and chestnut forests, where lichen is a clear sign of the purity of the air. In this part of the route you will find ethnographic remains such as mills, forges and cuerrias, traditional structures for preserving chestnuts, still used during the autumn harvest.

This circular walk ends again in Bisuyu, where hikers can end the day by reliving Casona's legacy, strolling through the village's narrow streets or visiting the remains of its mining and ironworks past. A route for all ages that unites nature, literature and tradition, in a land where each path tells a story.