If we head towards the Texu winter pastures , in the direction of Aliva, we have to turn off a few meters before the entrance to the village of Sotres . Following the road to Aliva, we reach the Vegas del Toro or Vegas de Sotres, another corner of this unique paradise where we'll likely encounter flocks of sheep. There, the Moñetas valley begins. In this small winter pasture, on the right, we take a faint path that will lead us to the lake. Yet another of Asturias' paradises.
If we continue towards Aliva , along a wide track, we'll walk close to the border between the autonomous communities of Asturias and Cantabria , between the Central or Urrieles Massif and the Eastern or Andara Massif. This route is now used by hikers and off-road vehicles, although in the past, traffic here was primarily due to the area's mining activities. From Vega de Sotres, the track begins to climb, and after about 700 meters, it crosses the Duje stream, known as Vao Jumiello. The stream flows strongly here, making it a good spot to enjoy empanadas, potato omelet sandwiches, or whatever you fancy. Following the track for about 2.000 meters, a path branches off to the left. After 1.500 meters, you'll reach a hill where, to the left/east, you'll find the Hermitage of the Virgin of the Snows . From here, you can see the Aliva Refuge and the lead and zinc mines of the Royal Asturian Mining Company. From there, an easy route also starts towards the beautiful region of Liébana , already in Cantabria.
From the town of Sotres, we can also ascend to Lake Moñetas , a nearby and friendly peak. This will involve a climb of 800 meters.
If walking too much isn't your idea, we can opt to hire the services of a 4x4 in Sotres itself, and sit in the back seat contemplating the scenery.
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Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
