The PR-AS 293 trail runs 20 kilometers between Barayo beach and the town of Navia . It is well-marked and signposted throughout, so getting lost is impossible . Furthermore, peace and quiet are guaranteed along the entire route.
For all audiences
This trail is suitable for all levels, with almost no elevation gain, allowing you to fully appreciate this route full of beaches, viewpoints, and cliffs. While its distance suggests dividing the hike into several stages, it's perfectly feasible to do it all in one go . To do so, simply let yourself be guided by the desire to discover new panoramas and move forward steadily and at a leisurely pace. In about 6 hours, you can reach the town of Navia . For this, you'll need someone to transport your vehicles from the parking area on the upper coast of Barayo to the town of Navia. However, depending on your schedule and availability, you can also aim to hike as far as you can and return to your car along the same path.
Barayo Partial Nature Reserve
The best beaches are often the most inaccessible, and Barayo Beach is no exception. To reach it, you must descend the cliff via a wooden staircase that leads directly to the sand. It's one of the most valuable natural areas on the western coast . This nearly 700-meter-long beach is a kind of culmination to a nature reserve that covers more than 3 square kilometers . Located on the border of the municipalities of Navia and Valdés, it has everything you need to enjoy nature and tranquility: river, sea, and forest. The area's high ecological value means you can find practically everything here. It encompasses reedbeds, meadows, and salt flats, creating an immaculate natural landscape.
Puerto de Vega
From here, we'll follow the coastline, admiring its cliffs and coves, until we reach the "Exemplary Village" of Puerto de Vega at kilometer 8 of our route. This village deserves a special visit , as its beauty is complemented by a rich cultural and historical heritage. Here we'll find the house where Jovellanos died, the first customs house in Asturias, the magnificent Baroque altarpiece in the Church of Santa Marina, typical narrow streets, promenades, squares, a charming fishing port, and above all, its friendly people. Two thousand residents live here, committed to preserving a unique urban layout that evokes a 2.000th-century romanticism rarely found in other Asturian villages. It's as if the Enlightenment thinkers of another era, with their togas and treatises, might just step out onto the street.
The path passes by the Chapel of La Atalaya , very close to the cliff , offering an unbeatable view of the town. It has a miraculous aspect, as it was founded by the Guild of Seamen and Merchants around 1605, erected in honor of Our Lady of La Atalaya, whose image one day appeared floating nearby.
Frexulfe Beach
Along the route between Puerto de Vega and Frexulfe beach (about 4 kilometers), the trail is of minimal difficulty . The only drawback will be the many times you'll need to take out your camera, and tripod if necessary, to photograph the beautiful and rugged landscape. Vega Island, famous for its barnacle colony, appears before us, offering one of the best views on the Coastal Path. The El Castiel hill fort provides unique panoramic vistas. In this section, springtime offers a striking contrast of colors, with the intense violet of the heather standing out. We'll pass by La Losera beach, Soirana Island, and the village of the same name.
Kilometer 12 of our route is a beautiful spot, and even without knowing its status as a Natural Monument, it captivates us. From a bird's-eye view, Frejulfe Beach, or Frexulfe in Asturian, lies between Cape San Agustín and Punta de Romanela. Its unusual golden sand makes it all the more inviting and romantic. The sandy cove, about 700 meters long, is home to significant dune vegetation and a dense pine forest at its far end.
Navia road
We still have 8 enchanting kilometers to go . We cross the parish of Andés, passing countless small and beautiful beaches: Fabal, Coedo, Las Rubias, La Bragada, La Cascareira, Las Barrosas, and Playa del Moro. We walk through forests and along riverbanks until we reach "Veiga de Arenas," the old name for Navia Beach, opposite which stands the Peña de la Virgen (Virgin's Rock). Legend has it that the Virgin of the Boat, the Patron Saint of Navia, appeared there. To the east is the Peña Furada (Holed Rock), another of the highlights of this route that sometimes go unnoticed by hikers, as do "La Peña Rubia" (on Las Rubias Beach), "La Cara del Home" (The Man's Face), and "La Pedra" (between Coedo and Fabal beaches), or also "La Ermitúa" (The Hermitage) and "El Picón" (The Peak) (between Fabal and Frejulfe beaches).
The Navia estuary opens up a secluded area where the vibrant greenery meets the Cantabrian Sea's floodwaters. Now we only have the final kilometer to go, which will take us to Navia, the municipality's capital, with all the amenities a modern town can offer visitors and all the added charm of Asturias' fishing villages.
Information:
The route starts at the 515, 5 of the N-634, at the junction with the NV-7 county road, taking this county and a few 400 meters find a dirt road on the right. Here begins the route itself. This road will take us to the banks of the Barayo River, which will accompany us to its mouth in Barayo Beach.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
