Juan Ramón Lucas says that "this is not Benidorm", in defense of the virtues of Asturias after the unfortunate comments of some clueless tourist that have spread like wildfire on the Internet. Our deep affection for Benidorm and the entire province of Alicante goes ahead, but we understand the meaning of the journalist's words, to the extent that we understand the diversity of our territory.
A diversity that the motorhome community knows well. And the thing is, if all of us who spend our getaways on wheels have something in common, it's that we love to discover even the last and most different corner, with the only limit of the end of the road.
This post is for all those road lovers who end up in those places where time stands still. And a tribute to one of those unique corners of Spain in landscape, in flora, in fauna and, also, yes, in smells.
Today we propose a look at the Natural Parks of Somiedo and Las Ubiñas–La Mesa, Biosphere Reserves a few minutes from Oviedo. A clear example that Asturias contains, in its approximate 10 thousand square kilometers of surface, one of the greatest examples of natural diversity that we can boast of.
The Port of Somiedo and the welcome of the bear
An excellent access route to the Somiedo Natural Park is to do it by the same Port of Somiedo. Naturally, it is a mountain cart that will take us to almost 1,500 meters above sea level when we arrive at the port.
If we opt for this route, it is a good option to have spent the night in the El Moriscal area, located in the province of León, just 20 minutes from El Puerto, the first population center already on the Asturian border.
It will not be long before we begin to receive signs that we are in the bear capital of Asturias. And it is that, according to the Bear Foundation of Asturias, there are currently 200 specimens from Los Ancares (which includes part of León and Galicia) to the central area of the Cantabrian mountain range.
We cannot say what the probability of meeting one of them is, but it is enough to speak with the inhabitants of Somiedo to verify that his presence is more than usual. Hence, in the area we are impacted by numerous recommendations of what to do if we come across the bear and that there are these warning signs.
Somiedo Lakes
Somiedo, Natural Park since 1988, was declared / Camper Area Cabo de Gata, Almería by Unesco in the year 2000. Some of its valleys are specially protected due to the diversity of flora and fauna they harbor. The simple activity of driving on its roads is a spectacle in itself, running largely very close to the bed of the rivers Somiedo, Saliencia and Sousas.
The nerve center of the Asturian council of Somiedo is the town of Pola de Somiedo. From here you can access one of the main hiking trails that constitute one of the most attractive points in the Park: the lake valley route.
After leaving the vehicle in the town of Valle de Lago, it is time to put on your boots and walk about six kilometers to the majestic Lago del Valle. A mixture of flora, fauna, geology and landscape that will put our senses to the test.
And it is that the hiking trails are one of the main attractions of Somiedo for lovers of outdoor sports. The other lucky ones are cycling fans, who will have the opportunity to climb some mythical cycling ports such as the High of the Farrapona. Place that can also be reached by road to channel another hiking route that will take us into the mountains to enjoy the Saliencia Lakes.
Ubiñas and the Path of the Bear
The Port of San Lorenzo, at 1,347 meters above sea level, marks the limit between the Somiedo and Ubiñas parks. This point deserves a mandatory stop, which has an enabled viewpoint, to contemplate both spectacular landscapes on one side and on the other.
One of the biggest attractions for visitors in Ubiñas-La Mesa is the 'Path of the bear'. A greenway of about 30 kilometers, which has two route options from Tuñón, perfectly enabled to be done on foot or by bicycle. And in which we can count on the services of adventure companies that offer means to facilitate stages and conditions for the whole family. The road also runs, in the surroundings of Proaza, through the surrounded by oseros; you can see the two specimens of bears that are in its facilities for not having been able to adapt to life in freedom.
Towns and villages of Somiedo
The Somiedo Natural Park alone has almost forty towns and villages. Some of them have narrow entrances to test the most experienced drivers. We recommend checking the access conditions, especially in the colder months, when weather conditions can make driving difficult. But they are, without a doubt, authentic paradises for lovers of absolute disconnection.
In them we can enjoy some of the true smells of the deepest Asturias. Yes, the cows, the clouds, the wet grass. The smell of caves, cheese, cider... in contrast to the smells of coastal Asturias: that of the sea, that of fish. The smell of life from the authentic natural paradise that Asturias. Whoever smelled it, knows it.
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Where to spend the night in a motorhome in Somiedo
We have already talked about El Moriscal Area as a great option to spend the night just 20 minutes from Somiedo. But, if the route through the interior of Asturias takes several days, you should not miss out on visiting the Oscos-Eo region as well. The easternmost area of the interior of Asturias offers us another dream environment in the vicinity of towns such as Villanueva de Oscos and Taramundi. You can find on our map of the area the space BV Park Asturias, which in addition to spaces for motorhomes offers a garden for camping.
Do you know more areas for motorhomes in Somiedo?
If you know more areas for motorhomes in Asturias that want to appear on our map and be part of our community, or you have a camping space, you can include it in areasautocaravanas.com through this formulario.
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