Stage 3: Carreña - Benia de Onís

This third section of the Nature Trail, which begins in Carreña, in County Cabrales, is accessed via the AS-114. The route heads north towards Sierra del Cuera, then continues west for the rest of the way, until Benia de Onís, in County Onís. The route crosses several rural villages, like Asiego (Asiegu) and Puertas, where the remains of various flour mills can be found. It also traverses through vast arable lands in Puertas and Pandiello.

Near the entrance to Carreña, close to the town hall, is a start-end information panel. The directional signs painted on walls and lampposts lead to the opposite edge of the town, towards a track with a moderate slope that runs parallel to La Ría Brook.

Flowing down from the River Cuera, La Ría crosses Carreña from north to south, into the River Casaño, a tributary of the River Cares. The brook is crossed by the Puente Antiguo or Puente Conceyu, a tall, single-arch, medieval bridge in good repair. Over the bridge runs an old road, the Camino Real, which winds its way from Peñalmellera to Onís, through Casaño Valley, connecting eastern and central Asturias. It joins here the Camino Real de Liébana, which from Sotres crosses County Cabrales from south to north, to end at Meré and Posada de Llanes.

Carreña is home to the Casa de los Bárcena, a 17th century former palazzo, initially owned by the Bárcena family, and later used as barracks. The building, rectangular in shape, has an asymmetrical façade with the left side built in folk style, with an open wooden solarium, and the right ornamented with the coat-of-arms of the Bárcena and Inguanzo families. Opposite the house, attached to the church of San Andrés, is the chapel and pantheon of the Bárcena family.

In the first part of this section, the route climbs north towards Sierra del Cuera, always parallel to the River La Riega. The gravel track, which at times becomes a dirt road, continues upstream through meadows, sometimes wedged between old stone walls, and others through chestnut (Castanea sativa) and oak (Quercus robur) forests, leaving Picos de Europa behind.

After crossing a small valley, past several cabins, the dirt road veers and begins a moderate climb up the slope of Picu Canciello, dotted with Pyrenean oaks (Quercus pyrenaica) and chestnuts, towards Asiego.

In Asiego, the route crosses the upper reaches of the town to continue along a narrow track in moderate descent towards the River Ricáu. From here, the track begins to climb along a concrete path, amongst chestnut groves and meadows dotted with cabins.

The climb continues until the route reaches the Cruz de Raos pastures, an ancient crossroads that linked counties Cabrales, Onís and Llanes. This may also have been a medieval meeting place in Roman times.

The Cruz de Raos, or Errados, which belongs to the parish of Puertas, is named after the old cross that stood watch here, and was subsequently moved near Pandiello. The place name Puertas derives from the term Portam, which means “place of passage”. This term was used in the Romance language to designate different land or territory partition systems and penetration or access areas.

From Cruz de Raos, the route begins a slight descent along a dirt track to the road to Ortiguero (Ortigueru). Special attention should be paid to the directional signs, as the route will turn off the dirt track to continue along a narrow path. This path runs a few metres above and parallel to the road towards Ortiguero quarry, until it reaches the village of Salce. The next stretch of this section starts here, climbing through limestone walls, and leaving behind a cave used to age Cabrales cheese, towards the neighbouring County Onís.

>The last stretch of the route runs along a downhill track towards Avín, in County Onís. Fantastic views of the Güeña River Valley can be enjoyed along this stretch. At the edge of Avín, the road crosses the river, past the campsite, and traverses the village.

The town of Avín is divided in two by the AS-114. In the upper reaches, there is a small square where the walls of the chapel of San José, its belfry and a small sundial on the façade can be found. Opposite the chapel is the former Rectory, a fine example of a typical eastern Asturian building, now transformed into a house.

The track, sometimes wedged between old stone walls, ventures into chestnut and oak forests. In the village centre, there are several houses with a firebreak on their side walls. The remains of Puente Campu, a one-arch bridge with carved limestone ornaments that spans a now covered stream, can also be found.

The Cuevona de Avín is also an amazing place of interest. It is a natural cavity, similar to a widely open tunnel, with several side entrances that resemble columns. This unique feature, combined with the hole in the ceiling, allows natural light into the cave, enabling the growth of small trees within. The Avín Glacial Wildlife Interpretation Centre is located in Avín. A replica of a cave rhinoceros (Stephanorhinus sp.) fossil, found in the neighbouring cave of La Peruyal in 1974, can be seen at the Centre.

Leaving Avín behind, the path continues along the AS-114, towards Benia de Onís, the capital of County Onís, where the route ends. The start-end panel is located at the edge of Benia de Onís, next to the road.