Muniellos Forest: unspoilt nature that will fill you with peace and quiet.

If you want to get to know paradise, you must visit Asturias, as an advertisement to promote tourism in this charming autonomous community put it. A little piece of this immense Eden is the Reserva Natural Integral de Muenillos.The largest oak forest in Spain belonging to the Park of Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña and Ibias, which includes the mountains of La Villiella, Valdebois and Muniellos, which look like something out of a fairy tale for their breathtaking beauty, ideal for hiking and nature lovers who want to spend a different kind of day.

Muniellos is one of those landscapes that remain tattooed in your memory forever.One of those stories you tell your children over and over again, but how can you not? If we can get lost in the shades of its immense mountains; if the fauna that adorns the view does not make us reflect on finding happiness in simplicity, while the pure air that we breathe in this place does not compare with anything else. So much so that species such as the bear, wild boar, wolf, fox and otter cohabit here, all of which hide from the human eye during the almost 20 kilometres of the long route taken by most visitors, who ask for a permit in advance at the portal of the Government of the Principality of Asturias to get to know these lands of pure nature.

Muniellos is 500 million years old and has an endless history, an area that in ancient times was the patrimony of the Counts of Toreno, who felled the trees in order to use the wood to repair the Invincible Armada (a military force led by King Philip II, a monarch who was trying to invade England to take over its lands). Wars and environmental mistreatment were left in the past to create an earthly oasis that is easily accessible by car through the stunning Cantabrian Mountains.

Visiting Muniellos will will renew energies Let's not waste any more time and let's start this journey through this nature reserve protected by Unesco since 2000!

Pure life in Muniellos

The routes you can follow in Muniellos are impressive, because they have extensive wildlife that will make the 20-kilometre walk a little less arduous. There are several routes that can be done in eight hours, which is why you have to get to the starting point early: the information booth where you will have to present your documents to be one of the lucky few to visit this place. (Only a maximum of 20 people are allowed per day.(as it is an unspoilt area protected from human intervention).

To visit the forest of Muniellos you must request a permit from the website of the Government of the Principality of Asturias in the option that indicates the request for this document. To do this you must enter your personal details such as your name and surname, followed by your ID number. Afterwards, you must confirm your reservation between one month and two weeks in advance, so don't forget to check your email constantly.

Reference: muniellos.es

An imposing sun bathes these sacred mountains surrounded by lagoons where you can take a break to appreciate the wonders that nature has to offer such as the extensive flora of this nature reserve which boasts the largest sessile oaks in Europe, as well as beautiful pink oaks that welcome visitors during the autumn months and other species such as ash trees, alders, willows, cladonia, among many others.

People with reduced mobility can visit the Muniellos Forest without any problem, as it has an adapted route of just over 1 kilometre where you can see the immensity of the mountain from afar and smell the purest air of the Cantabrian Mountains. Take your camera with you to immortalise this memorable souvenir!

If you are a beginner in hiking, we recommend you to wear very comfortable clothes and carry a light backpack to start the route of the Tablizas River Route. It consists of about 15 kilometres The out and back of a slightly uneven but easy trail for those nature lovers who like to go slowly to explore all that nature has to offer. Its highest point is 1,238 metres, while the lowest is 617 metres, so you will have a good exercise routine if you decide to do this route.

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Another route that you can do if you are in good physical condition is the Valle de la Degollada, where the predominant presence of tall oak trees will make you feel as if you were in a film. The path is not complicated, as it is practically flat, but in some sections you will have to be careful with your climbing technique to avoid slipping and subsequently breaking your foot.

After walking about 3.7 kilometres you will come to the Fonculebrera area, which has a spring where you can get pure water for more energy, but this depends on the time of year you visit the forest, as in summer the stream usually dries up completely.

Along the Fonculebrera path we can appreciate the immensity and the fusion of the autumn colours of the mountain, as we ascend towards Las Tres Cruces, so called because of the three options it gives us to take when we continue hiking: the short one, the long one or the one that takes us to the impressive lagoons of Muenillos.

The long way is the one that started from the information booth, while the short way is the ideal one to descend after a physical work of more than 10 kilometres; but if you are adventurous and in search of action you have to know the lagoons of Muenillos: La Laguna de la Isla (located only 1 kilometre away from the Tres Cruces point); La Laguna de Fonda and La Laguna Grande, whose access goes unnoticed by many clueless tourists, as the fog can make invisible the passage through these natural jewels that are very close to each other.

Let's go along the Candanosa route!

If you love hiking, the Candanosa route is ideal for you. With an approximate duration of 5 hours, this route will give you the privilege of seeing one of the most beautiful landscapes of Asturias. It starts at the entrance of the village of Alguerdo, where you can park your car to start this wonderful walk.

The leafy trees of this forest will accompany you throughout the walk, which can be accompanied to make it more fun. Here, the vibrant colours of the flora that embellish the path cohabit with the intense green of the mountain range, which will take your breath away in seconds.

Previously, access to this route was impossibleThis is because this forest is a territory that has no human intervention and, therefore, there are areas that have not been cleared. A few days ago, the authorities carried out a clean-up operation that allowed the opening of this little-frequented path, but just as valuable as the others.

Very few dare to do the route through La Candanosa, because it is covered with undergrowth, but the reward in terms of natural scenery is unbeatable. On this route you will come across the river Arroyo de Valcárcel, right at the beginning of the route, which is surrounded by charming village houses built with stones.

At the top you will find a summit letterbox designed with a cross and, in the background, one of the most special panoramic views you will ever see, after having climbed over 1,200 metres in altitude. You are a cracker!

Let's go by bike!

If you don't manage to get a reservation for the protected territory of the Muniellos forest, don't worry, there are other routes you can do by bike. These will give you a view into these beautiful valleys without having to go through the bureaucratic red tape.

One of them is the Natural Park of Fuentes del Narceawhich surrounds the protected areas of the forest. Here you can breathe in the fresh air while being distracted by your new friends: the cows and goats that have made this place their home.

The park, Named a Natural Heritage Site by the Spanish Government in 2002, it is one of the many tourist gems that Asturias has to offer.

You will have to be careful not to disturb the bears in this park.You may be injured if you invade their personal space. If you want to document wildlife that is part of nature, it is recommended that you do so from a safe distance.

The journey is approximately 5.5 kilometres that you will be amazed by the ascending path of this park. It will make you appreciate the simplest things in life: the smell of the earth, the singing of the birds and the connection with nature.

Excluding the roads, the park has 555 kilometres in length Something unique and unrepeatable in life!

We hope this article has helped you plan your trip to Muniellos.A paradise in Asturias that everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime. Remember that for more tips, tourist guides and routes, you can read the content that only Travesía Pirenaica has for you.

Integral Natural Reserve of Muniellos / Cover photo: Tanja Freibott, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons