There are routes that only by name already seduce us before we start walking and that seduce us even more when we start walking. The Route of Silence is one of them. It begins in a town away from everything and semi abandoned: San Cristóbal (at an altitude of 800 meters), and then passes through another such as Mourelle and Brusquete, where no one has lived for a long time. The path it is quite simple to follow but in certain areas the terrain can become clumsy and slippery, so it requires wearing good footwear. The canes are not too much.
The Ruta del Silencio is an approved path with the epigraph PR-AS 209.
A magical route in Los Oscos
Pass the church of San Cristóbal We leave the village by a descending path that already offers us views of the valley, covered by a thick blanket of native forest. Our route begins in the opposite direction to the needles of the clock and after the first kilometer (when descending to 500 meters of altitude), we enter a spectacular forest of chestnut, oak and strawberry trees, also with the presence of alders, elms, hazelnuts, birches or holly trees ... Mushrooms, heather ... Moss and lichens cover walls and corridors (small stone fences with a circular shape where chestnuts were stored). We also came across some truébano (old hives in hollowed out logs). The path is always wet due to the dense forest, and small watercourses everywhere, irrigations and streams that feed each other by flowing in whimsical ways across this rugged terrain.
Native forest and abandoned villages
Over a stone bridge we crossed the Bobia river. During a stretch we follow its course, always next to its energetic waterfalls. The path continues upwards through the interior of the forest. At one point the river is conspicuously encased and forms a small canyon. After a while we reached the abandoned village of Mourelle (We have climbed up to 600 meters of altitude). Its last inhabitants lived in the old way, without roads and without comforts, with a water mill and an iron mine as economic references. We continue up a stony track with good views of the canyon modeled by the Bobia river. This is the Braña de Balongo, a great natural viewpoint and an ideal place to regain strength between the ruins of ancient huts.
Celón and Picón waterfalls
We continue the path and once we have passed the abandoned village of Brusquete that hangs from the hillside (we have already traveled 8 kilometers at this point), we again enter a great natural tunnel formed by the tops of the trees (oaks). The path becomes downward and (often) slippery. Here we come across the diversion to the Celón waterfall. It is signposted and it is only 200 meters. Although the trail up an intricate and uphill trail is not entirely easy (especially when wet), it is worth the detour. The waterfall, 50 meters high, it's quite a show.
We continue descending cautiously through the forest. After crossing two wooden bridges we approached the Picón Waterfall. It is also signposted and represents a deviation from the main path of about 800 meters (round trip). To achieve it, you have to keep paying attention and avoid various trails. This second waterfall, 60 meters highIs a corner of special beauty, with a magnificent pool accumulating crystal clear water.
We go back to the main path and passing next to the ruins of Molín da Bobia A two-kilometer climb awaits us towards San Cristóbal, from where we had started. We ascend through the same oak forest, crossing over and over "regos" that spring up everywhere.
