Walking and wildlife holidays in Asturias
- Capital: Oviedo.
- Area: 10,604 km²
Asturias is a region that boasts an impressive rugged coastline with towering cliffs, sandy beaches, and hidden coves and caves that beckon to be explored.
Its equally breathtaking inland mountainous area is framed by the majestic Cordillera Cantábrica mountain range, which forms the region’s southern border.
The coastline of Asturias is simply stunning. As can be seen in this drone footage accompanied by some haunting Asturian music.
One of the most spectacular mountain ranges in Asturias is the Picos de Europa in the east. Not only are these mountains stunning in their natural beauty, but they are also a vital haven for a wide range of plants and wildlife. In fact, the Picos de Europa was the first National Park to be declared in Spain and is shared between Asturias, Castilla y Leon, and Cantabria. The highest peak in this magnificent range is the Torrecerredo, soaring to an impressive height of 2,648 meters.
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker, an avid nature lover, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the great outdoors, Asturias’ Picos de Europa are sure to capture your heart and leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.
Useful books for exploring Asturias
The mountains usually have snow from November to May (possibly with snow pockets throughout the year) despite the fairly mild winters along the coast. It shares the title of Green Spain along with Galicia and Cantabria with which it has borders.
Due to the humid, warm climate, large areas of apple orchards supply the local cider industry. (Cidre)
There are many pre-historic sites that can be visited within Asturias, especially in the east of the region, around Cangas de Onís and Llanes. The Bustillo Cave in Ribadesella, La Peña Cave in San Roman de Candamo and the Llonin Cave in Penamellera feature some excellent cave paintings.
The predominantly-limestone Cantabrian mountains extend some 200 kilometres in total and offer opportunities for activities such as climbing, walking, skiing and caving. They span as far as Galicia province to the west of Asturias, and Cantabria province to the east.
Asturias is situated in a mountainous setting with vast greenery and lush vegetation, making it part of Green Spain. The region has a maritime and mediterranean climate. It receives plenty of annual rainfall and little sunshine (by southern Spanish standards.)
Heat waves are rare due to the mountains blocking southerly winds and winters are very mild for the latitude, especially near sea level.
Tours in Asturias from Get Your Guide
Asturias has a vast array of sites to visit and enjoy. Below are some of the options listed on the Get Your Guide website. (We recieve a small commission if you book a tour which doesn’t cost you more and helps us to keep Wildside Holidays up to date with the best information.)
Asturias has 6 natural parks and one national park
1 Fuentes del Narcea Y de Ibias. A stunning area of Asturias containing one of the largest oak forests in Europe.
2 Somiedo Natural Park According to recent studies, 40 to 50 percent of the total population of Cantabrian brown bear resides in the Cantabrian mountain range.
3 Peña ubina la mesa Natural Park. The entire park is an area of great biodiversity and is in an excellentstate of conservation with a third of its surface occupied by forests of high ecological value.
4 Redes Natural Park. The Redes Natural Park is mostly covered by large wooded areas, among which its endless beech forests stand out and is located in the eastern / central area of Asturias. At high altitude there is evidence of glacial erosion that occurred during the Pleistocene period.
5 Ponga Natural Park. More than a third of the Ponga Natural Park is made up of mature forests such as oak, birch, ash, maple and alder and the main forest in the area is called Bosque de Peloño. This is located in the southeast of the natural park and covers approximately 1,500 hectares.. Beech, however, is most predominant and together with other numerous forests scattered around the park they represent places of great importance since they are a vital habitat for emblematic and endangered species.
6 Picos de Europa National Park. The Montaña de Covadonga National Park ( now The Picos de Europa National Park) was established in Asturias in 1918, the first national park in Spain. The now much larger park covers three major massifs – Western, Central and Eastern which are all part of the Cordillera Cantabria range. The dramatic Cares river canyon, which is 1,500m deep, divides the western and central parts.
Natural and National Parks in Asturias, Natural or National Park?
In Spain, a natural park (Spanish: parque natural) is a natural space protected for its biology, geology, or landscape. As is to be expected, natural parks focus their main attention on the conservation and maintenance of flora, fauna, and terrain.
- Natural parks may be maritime or terrestrial and can be in the mountains, along the coasts, in the desert.
- Human habitation and Agriculture has affected in one way or another the habitats in a natural park area.
- A National park (Spanish: parque nacional) Has the same if not more protection status. More of a wilderness area less impacted by human habitation and exploitation.
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