There are few occasions for the mountain to find a deep and deep pool. The San Vicente pot is worth visiting. We have not deceived you, the bathroom is guaranteed and the beauty of the place as well.
Surroundings of the San Vicente Pot
The Dobra river it is one of the most vertical of the Asturian orography. It is born on the Leonese slope of the Picos de Europa and ends its journey by yielding its waters to the Sella. Although its route is short, it allows different options to enjoy nature. In its highest basin it is only suitable for canyoning, creating a narrow and steep gorge. A few kilometers before its arrival in Tornín, in Cangas de Onís, the river crosses lush landscapes of Amieva. In this last section, the Dobra calms down, finds the flat and open terrain through which we will undertake the route on foot.
Baptized by the Celts as "Dubran", it means "water", the river has a proper name that comes to mind. On our excursion we will discover that water could well be called "Dobra", because in few places like this one better tribute to the liquid of life. No matter how many words and translations are used, after this mountain walk we will stay with «Dobra».
Before reaching the Olla de San Vicente we will find more pools and pots, deep and clear that is filling another moving water, with an extraordinary vitality. In our short tour we find all the possibilities of human hygiene: bathtubs, waterfall-shaped showers, jacuzzis, swimming pools… Vegetation grows around it, neat and nourished by the same water from the Dobra. On our way we see large patches of native forest blooming on the banks. Ash, maples, elms, alders, willows ... As we go up, the chestnut groves, oak groves and beech groves.
Water and forest in its purest form, and all this sprinkled with mountains. The Dobra River conserves crystalline waters among other reasons because it is exempt from all types of pollution, not having any human settlement in its watershed. That is why the route that we detail below entails an extreme respect. In your walk do not do anything to change their natural condition or cleanliness, after you will go others who want to find the Dobra and its shores intact, as a legacy close to the majestic Picos de Europa. Leave a mark, but only with your boots. Know that once in the Pot of San Vicente nature is at your disposal to remove sweat and perhaps stress. In addition to the great extension of the lagoon, in some points the water exceeds five meters of depth. Enjoy the bathroom.
Although its crystalline waters never get hot at all, between June and September they are in their best time for the bathroom and nobody will be disappointed.
How to get to Olla San Vicente?
We take the road that leaves Cangas de Onís in direction to Puerto del Pontón (N-625), and about six kilometers, after passing a village called Tornín you will see on the left of the road a restaurant-sale. Leave the car there same. The road starts very close.
How long is the Olla San Vicente route?
The walk will last between 30 or 40 minutes, the footwear must be comfortable but does not require great demands either. The first part of the route, following the course of the Dobra, runs through a track that will later become a path.
The road is perfectly laid until the San Vicente Pot and there is no mention of it. Besides the attractiveness of the river and the surrounding nature, we find good examples of traditional architecture in the form of cabins, and some other older construction like the Roman stone bridge or Puente Viejo, about 200 meters from the beginning of the route. Crossing the bridge begins another very attractive route, the path of the Archdeacon. From the Old Bridge we can entertain ourselves observing the course of the Dobra and the beauty of the place.
We will not deviate here, we will continue where we left off, following in parallel the fluvial route. We continue along the track until we come to a small valley called The Pandiella, where there are some cabins, meadow and small pomarada. A few meters (about 5 minutes) the road narrows to form a path stuck to the river and carved in the limestone. We arrived at the height of beautiful waterfalls. A little later we will cross an alder and hazel tunnel and we will reach the San Vicente pot. About it we discover an esplanade adorned with leafy lime trees, an ideal place to eat a sandwich or start bath preparations.
Books «Asturadictos» and «Routes through the mountains and the roads of Asturias»
If you want to know first-hand hiking routes through Asturias, we recommend you buy these two books: the book «Asturadictos», written by Ana Paz Paredes, journalist and writer, specialist in rural issues of all kinds, gastronomy and tourist routes in the region; Y the book «Routes through the mountains and the roads of Asturias» by Ángel Fernández Ortega, with 31 routes, crossings and ascents.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
