The Pome forest is a microcosm that fully reflects the atmosphere of the Atlantic forest due to the beauty of its tones, its lushness among meadows and crags, and its origin of fog and rain.
Halfway between the inhabited landscapes and the limestone massifs of the Picos de Europa, the Pome forest is deeper and shadier in spring ; in autumn it stands out for the golden leaves, while the sunlight penetrating between the branches allows us to enjoy wonderful backlighting.
To enjoy its beauty, we must take a walk of about five hours , round trip.
Pome Forest Route
We start from the Enol meadow , next to the lake of the same name, the largest of the famous Lakes of Covadonga . We walk along a well-marked track that leads us to the Mirador del Rey viewpoint , about two kilometers away, located just above the forest. Down below, between the Pomperi, Pelabarda, and Beyera (or Osu) rivers, lies the forest, covering a hillside in the Pelabarda valley.
The view from the Mirador del Rey leaves no doubt about our destiny, although there is no marked path and when we go down, it becomes arbitrary. That does not scare us, it is a gentle slope between weeds and very soon we get inside the forest behind an anteroom of ferns, brecinas and bushes of strawberries and blueberries.
From here, we can continue along our own random route, since we're in the heart of the forest and it will be the corners of Pome that most enchant us that will dictate our steps. However, we should always use landmarks to avoid getting lost, because there's a big difference between being metaphorically lost in the woods and literally getting lost and having a bad time.
Our references should always clearly indicate the place where we entered and the place where we must exit to return to the Mirador del Rey.
The ground in the forest is quite good and clean, probably due to the activity of the wildlife that inhabits this area. And as background music, especially in spring, there is a myriad of birdsong and trills. Beech trees are predominant, but there are also oaks, holly, chestnut, birch, ash, and others, with a very rich and varied native flora. It also shelters abundant wildlife: chamois, roe deer, capercaillie… it's difficult to see them directly, although it's not so easy to identify the traces of their anonymous passage through this beautiful place.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
