Somiedo Natural Park, a protected area in the Cantabrian mountains, is one of the great treasures of northern Spain. Fancy a road trip through Somiedo?
This area is full of glacial lakes, brañas (seasonal pastures) with traditional teitos (traditional dwellings), mountain roads and a great biodiversity that includes the Cantabrian brown bear. The best way to get there is by car, from Oviedo Airport, as it takes just over an hour and a half through green valleys, small villages and mountain passes.
Below, we propose a road trip through Somiedo that you can adapt according to the time you have for your trip.
From Oviedo to Pola de Somiedo: the gateway to paradise
From the airport, head towards Oviedo and continue southwest on the AS-15 until you reach Pola de Somiedo, the municipal capital and a good base to organise the route.
Pola de Somiedo is small, quiet and cosy. For example, you can stop for breakfast, visit the Interpretation Centre of the Natural Park and check the status of roads and trails. It is a good place to start this road trip through Somiedo, because it has been a protected area since 1988 and declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
Valle del Lago and Lago del Valle: the most iconic points of Somiedo
From Pola de Somiedo, continue about 14 kilometres (9 miles) to Valle del Lago, one of the most beautiful villages in the Somiedo Natural Park. The road winds through mountains and meadows until it reaches a traditional village where hórreos (raised granaries) and stone buildings are still preserved.
Our recommendation is that you park the car and take a fairly easy hike to Lago del Valle, the largest natural lake in Asturias. The trail is quite accessible and good physical fitness isn’t an essential factor. What’s more, your reward is a landscape of glacial origin surrounded by peaks.
If you prefer a more relaxed option, simply enjoy the surrounding area. It is a good stop to enjoy nature, take pictures of the landscape or take in the essence of the park.
Puerto de Somiedo mountain pass and high-mountain viewpoints
Take the road back towards the Puerto de Somiedo, which connects Asturias with León. The ascent will allow you to enjoy one of the most stunning experiences of this road trip through Somiedo, with some curves, grazing cattle and amazing views.
If you are lucky enough to take this route on a clear day, the best views are from the mountain pass. In fact, if you like driving, it is a fairly quiet stretch where you can make as many stops as you like in the marked lay-bys. The great advantage of going by car is that you don't need to depend on fixed routes or timetables.
Continue the road trip through Somiedo: Saliencia and Saliencia Lakes
On your way back into the park, head to the Valle de Saliencia. The road takes you to one of the most impressive lacustrine areas in the region, the Saliencia Lakes.
From the car park, you can start trails on foot to discover lakes like La Cueva or Cerveriz. It is less popular than Lago del Valle. Moreover, driving here also has its own charm, with the advantage that it is accessible thanks to a very well maintained road network.
Traditional brañas: La Peral and Mumián
No road trip through Somiedo would be complete if you don't visit one of the brañas, the old mountain pastures. Two of the most famous and representative are La Peral and Mumián.
In La Peral, located at an altitude of more than 1,200 metres (4,000 feet), you can see the traditional teitos, huts with a roof made of natural vegetation that are part of Asturian heritage.
Mumián, closer to Pola de Somiedo, also has a beautiful landscape and cultural heritage. In fact, if you decide to stroll among its buildings, you will travel back in time, understanding what life was like a few centuries ago.
Luckily, Somiedo is not an overcrowded destination and that is its charm. You can make a road trip through Somiedo without a hitch if you rent a car with OK Mobility from Oviedo Airport, making all the stops you want at the viewpoints, combining sections of road with routes on foot and enjoying a beautiful environment.
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