Local Walk 7: The Big One

Time: 4 hours

  • Distance: 19.45 km
  • Time: 4 hours
  • Climb: 530 metres
  • Shoe type: walking shoes 
  • Surface: woodland path and asphalt
  • Type: circular
Bosque de Vallobal

This is a buitiful morning or afternoon out. The walk encumboses everyhting that is amazing about the location of el gran sueño. The majority of the route is on asphelt apart from a buitiful stretch of the Pilgrim's walk of Covadonga where the track is mainly used by walkers and cattle. The route can be enjoyes in both directions. If you choose to do it in reverse the hill climb is an extreamly good workout, that is 5 km up hill in one strecch.  

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1. Start at El Gran Sueño: Begin your journey at El Gran Sueño, heading out from the hamlet of El Caspio via the narrow lane adjacent to the carpark.

2. Towards Torazo: At the lane's end, turn left towards Torazo (Torazu in Asturiano), following this road for 5 km through woodlands and past various hamlets.

3. Two-way Road: After 4 km, the lane widens into a two-way road. Continue for another kilometre.

4. Hair-pin Bend and Track: At the 5 km mark, where the road bends sharply left, find a narrow track ahead. Take this track to La Cotariella, encountering a steep climb before the hamlet.

5. Through La Cotariella: In La Cotariella, bypass the first right turn, taking the second. Pass hórreos on your left and farm buildings on your right, descending to join the CB-10.

6. Alto del Peralín Crossroads: After 1.5 km, at the Alto del Peralín crossroads, turn right onto the CB-2 and follow for 2 km to Anayo.

7. Refreshment at La Bolera: In Anayo, stop at La Bolera for refreshments (check if open for lunch). Then, take the AS-332 downhill, leaving Anayo with the church on your right.

8. Shortcut Path: After 1 km, at a sharp left bend, take a small path (on your left) to cut off another bend, joining the AS-258 shortly after.

9. Covadonga Pilgrim's Way: Stay on the AS-258 for 700 meters, then cross the road to follow a path that is part of the Covadonga Pilgrim’s Way. Look for a shrine after 700 meters, taking the right path past a cattle shed.

10. Through Borines: Reach Borines, sticking to the Covadonga route. Take a steep right path behind a farm building, coming out near a house with a rock garden. Continue downhill to a group of houses with an old wash station.

11. Halfway Point: After refilling water bottles, proceed through the village, keeping houses on your left. As the road bends left, go around a house, keeping it on your right, and head downhill.

12. Towards Vallobal: Follow a track towards a stream, cross the bridge on the Covadonga Way, and head uphill to a crossroads. Go straight, bearing right towards Vallobal.

13. Casonas de Indianos: In Vallobal, admire the "casonas de indianos." At the road with Pintueles signposted 5 km away, turn right towards Cadanes, passing El Mortorio.

14. Cadanes to Pintueles: At Cadanes, at a crossroads, go right past the church. Then turn left, leaving the village and follow the road for 1km to the old school house, taking a grass track into Pintueles.

15. Skirting Pintueles: At Pintueles, take the right-hand fork, skirting the village edge. At a traditional house, take a left path up a steep hill.

16. Towards San Cristobal Church: Before the hilltop, head right towards San Cristobal Church. Pass the church, keeping it on your left, and continue on the next path.

17. Final Leg: Follow the path to a farmhouse, turning left, then a sharp right up a hill. Near the top, turn left along a farm track to the woods' entrance.

18. Back to El Gran Sueño: Enter the woods, ascend the slope, turn right, and emerge in Caspio la Vega plaza with El Gran Sueño in front of you, completing the El Gran Sueño Big One!