The road goes up and up from the Poncebos bridge, We went through small artisan tunnels, drilled into the rock with a little dynamite. The Duje River accompanies us. In the valley of Tielve, at 700 altitude meters and about 6 kilometers from Poncebos, we discovered the tradition of Cabrales as in few places of the council, the raw material of the cheese, the herds of goats and sheep can be seen among the rocks, the trees or crossing high in the same road, in front of our car. We see the Peña Maín, with heights that exceed 1.500 m., and just opposite the walls of Portudera, above the 1.200 m. The orography of the place is capricious and with a predominance to get up more and more, it only lets us see small valleys as provisional landings of a staircase that continues its unevenness in a serpentine way.
Sotres: Cabrales cheese and more ...
We arrived in Sotres, the highest parish in the Cabrales council, after 11 kilometers of sinuous road from Poncebos. Someone will tell us that here they live around 200 inhabitants, heirs of a harsh pastoral activity that once crowned the peak with no small effort. Currently climbing Sotres is no longer that kind of challenge, and once up there is not a mythical village of huts and pastures, but a core certainly urbanized, where farmers, adventurers and entrepreneurs live together. There is a high level of hospitality, mountain guides, and a high quality of handmade products, authentic jewels of the tradition, as much in alimentary matter (sausages, meats, cheeses) as in prized objects of the popular craftsmanship that is born between mountains. There is no shortage of cheese makers of Cabrales, in as much as In Sotres they have a large number of natural caves for cheese maturation, and in many cases they have received awards in official competitions for this product.
The peaks of Europe They surround this human promontory in such a way that within the inhabited core, walking along its paths and country roads, among the rustic houses, we encounter another law of gravity, a little more ethereal, less certain. We step on solid ground, but around us there are a thousand reasons for vertigo. If we follow the road a couple of kilometres further up, towards the neighbouring town of Tresviso, we come across a real flock of shepherds., cabins in their purest form from which we can see a wonderful panoramic view, if the weather permits, of the town of Sotres and the mountains that surround it. We can see how there are marked paths, trails, small scars, that from the outskirts of Sotres continue on a path into the Picos de Europa.
The peaks of Europe
In 1918, the first national park in Spain was declared in the Covadonga Mountain, today the National Park of… Read more
Sotres: an exemplary village
In the year 2024 Sotres receives the Award for the Exemplary Town of Asturias, as stated in the jury minutes:
«The jury for the 2024 Asturias Exemplary Town Award met in Oviedo… and agreed to award the 2024 Asturias Exemplary Town Award to Sotres (Cabrales) for having conserved and promoted, in a high mountain area, a traditional activity based on extensive and sustainable livestock farming, complemented by a quality agri-food industry and tourism. All of this, with the support of a thriving and young associative movement that maintains an interest in the preservation of heritage, the conservation of the landscape and the improvement of infrastructure, as well as a notable socio-cultural dynamic».
Exemplary towns of Asturias
The Princess of Asturias Foundation grants this award to the town, village, population center, space... Read more
Hiking routes from Sotres
From the Vega de Sotres we can take Pandébano direction to the same skirt of the Naranjo de Bulnes or Picu Urriellu. The road is long, but From the Collado de Pandébano we can see the first spectacular view of the Naranjo. We can recreate ourselves with those 2.518 m so well molded. An isolated tall python, of Paleozoic origin. Although the accesses to the Naranjo and the Vega de Urriello refuge were traditionally made from the Camburero Canal and the Jou Lluengo from Bulnes, or by Horcados Rojos from the Fuente Dé cable car (Cantabria); It will be from the 80s when Sotres and its Pandébano and Vallejo hills, from Majada de la Terenosa, become the best option. With this route in vogue, Sotres completed its wonderful location in the Picos de Europa and increased its prestige as King town of Asturian mountaineering.
Route from Sotres to Áliva
The Cabraliega town of Sotres is at 1050 meters above sea level, one of the human summits of Asturias. … Read more
Do you want to know the Naranjo de Bulnes and other areas of the Picos?
If you want to do guided routes through the Picos de Europa and see first-hand the extraordinary environment that surrounds this area, we offer you several circuits to fully enjoy the mountain. You can choose according to your physical condition, according to the days you can have free, if you prefer to sleep in mountain huts or hostels... there are several trips scheduled for this season, check the characteristics of each of them and have a good trip!
Great trekking of the Massif Central
In this trek we are going to tour the massif, following part of the Extrem Ring route, sleeping in its mythical refuges such as Collado Jermoso, Naranjo de Bulnes and Jou de Los Cabrones…. Read more
Great return to the Picos de Europa
A comprehensive tour with accommodation included through the Picos de Europa. Five days to get to know in depth the spectacular landscapes of this national park…. Read more
Vindio Picos de Europa ring with summits
Accommodation and half board in the shelters of Vega de Ario, Vegarredonda, Vegabaño and the Diablo de la Peña Lodge, and ascent to peaks… Read more
Trekking Picos de Europa 5 days
Tour the 3 massifs, sleeping in small hotels and in the mythical refuge of Collado Jermoso and enjoying the rich gastronomy of the area…. Read more
Accommodation in and around Sotres
Despite being a small mountain village, Sotres offers several hotel establishments, also in the immediate vicinity there is a wide and varied offer of rural houses, apartments and hotels to enjoy Cabrales. Discover them in our link ...
Accommodations Picos de Europa
The best rural houses, apartments and hotels in the Picos de Europa. Offers to enjoy in a unique environment. #TourismAsturias… Read more
Information:
The S-cape Travel agency It offers a self-guided hiking package that includes various trekking routes from Sotres. The trip includes:
• 7 nights accommodation with half board
• Luggage transport between the hotels of Sotres and Arenas de Cabrales
• Transfer to the beginning of the routes
• Detailed descriptions of the routes, maps and digital tracks
• 24 telephone assistance hours
More info on Hiking Trips in Sotres
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
