Senda del Oso Nature Trail. Santa Marina - Ricabo Section

Santa Marina - Rodiles

The route starts on the road that leads out of Santa Marina de Quirós towards Lindes, and heads towards a car park located near “El Cribu”, the old coal loading bay from where the mining railroad began its journey through Trubia Valley. The trail begins here, along a track to the right leading up through a lush, dense forest, with a variety of plant species, including chestnut, (Castanea sativa), holly (Ilex aquifolium) and hazel (Corylus avellana). These species serve as indicators of the excellent state of preservation of the Atlantic forest in the region.

Past a site known as "La Llaera", one can get a glimpse of Marina de Quirós through a clearing in the forest. The route soon reaches a steep, 370-metre slope. This is one of the hurdles in this path, in particular for cyclists. Past the hill, as the slope becomes gentler and easier, one can enjoy the rest of the Trail. After a gentle climb, the route reaches a small clearing from where one can see the town of Villamarcel on the opposite side of the valley, surrounded by meadows and hedges. Further on, the path crosses a forest track at a site known as "Los Corros", passing next to a small livestock building and an old, derelict wooden structure, a reminder of the mining activity that once existed here.

The route, clearly marked at all crossings, continues to venture forth through the dense forest, where ancient trees coexist with younger ones. The route soon arrives at its second hurdle, especially for cyclists. At this point, the path narrows and begins a short but steep descent on uneven terrain to the road from Santa Marina to Ricabo. Caution should be exercised when crossing the road to the opposite side as it carries motorised traffic until Rodiles. The route continues along the access road to the village. Once the route has crossed the River Ricabo ("deep river" in Latin) famous for the quality of its trout, the road arrives at Rodiles, home to an old mill that locals used in the past to grind grain. The town boasts fine examples of traditional architecture, including the 17th century Chapel of Santa Barbara, and a unique "hórreo" in the county, with carved human faces of excellent quality on both ends of the "liño"

The projecting ends are part of the "liños", the upper beams of the "hórreo" fitted on "colondras", vertical wooden boards that shape the box-like structure of the "hórreo" that is closed at the top.

Rodiles - Ronderos

The route now turns left onto the first offshoot road next to a watering trough. A post indicates Km 27 (from Tuñón) on the Nature Trail. The route now begins to climb up the sunny slope of the valley along the former route of the Camino Real. A gentle slope across meadows leads to a right bend, from where one can enjoy wonderful views of Ronderos with the impressive Ubiña Massif in the background. In this stretch, one can see the impact that continued human activity, across the ages, has had on the primitive forests that populated these meadows, of which only a few species remain along the fringes: chestnuts, hazels, Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica) and hollies, as well as wild roses, brambles, blackthorns (Prunus spinosa) and hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna)

Before reaching the town of Ronderos, one can admire the elegant silhouette of the 19^th century Church of San Vicente de Nimbra. A rocky path with a wooden railing leads up a small steep slope to the town. The route traverses along the main street, past the Shrine of Virgen Soberana, to an "hórreo" where it turns right and continues along Camino del Pradal.  

Ronderos - Ricabo

Past the village of Ronderos, the route traverses through steep slopes where meadows and scrubland coexist with low-density woodlands and rocky outcrops. The route soon arrives at Ronderos' water tank, next to a watering hole, where one can stock up on water for the rest of the Trail and enjoy the spectacular views of the valley. The path climbs down the Valdecueva Brook Valley, which empties into the pristine waters of the River Ricabo. One can enjoy this little corner of the Trail at a small wooden bridge across the brook. Past the valley, the route comes upon a small stone hut with a tile roof typical of this area. The sound of water and the impressive Ubiña massif accompany the route to the end.

The route continues up and down slopes, flanked again by impressive chestnut and hazel trees, which in autumn tinge the landscape with beautiful colours that are a remarkable sight. These dense forests play host to Asturias’ most representative fauna, including wolves, foxes, badgers, genets, squirrels, wild boars, grouse, and even bears in the highlands, as well as several mustelid and rodent species.

The route winds to the left along a rocky, former wagon road that leads to Cruz Fountain. The descent along this path until the first houses of El Pradal may be unsuited for cycling. From here, the descent continues along easy concrete streets leading to the road to Ricabo, where the Trail ends. This small town is home to the medieval Church of San Bartuelu located near "El Mansu" Recreational Area, which boasts a professional bowling alley where a famous championship takes place in August.