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Picos De Europa Arenas |
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A Wonderful daywalks in Europes largest National Park |
Ref: EX-DSP
8 days
from £559 (minimum 6 passengers)
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Destination:
Spain
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Wonderful daywalks in Europes largest National Park
The Picos de Europa forms the apex of the Cordillera Cantabrica and is the third highest mountain range in Spain after the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada. The highest point, the summit of Torrecerredo (2,648 m.), crowns this spectacular range of limestone peaks. The lower reaches live up to their local name, 'Green Spain', with the lush valleys providing excellent pastures and the higher meadows bedecked with wildflowers in the spring. The high ground is a 'moonscape' of dramatic rocky terrain almost devoid of vegetation. It was the wildness of the terrain that stopped the Moors from conquering this part of Spain. There are still villages in the mountains that have no access by road; this inaccessibility and wildness has provided some of Europe's more exotic wildlife with a safe haven. Bears, wolves and boars all still survive here, chamois are often seen across the range, and due to a total hunting ban are not at all shy, allowing us to approach well within camera range. Fire salamanders, a beautiful black and yellow or orange striped lizard, are often seen after rain. The abundant bird life is dominated by the golden eagles and griffon vultures that are constantly soaring around the rocky outcrops, but smaller kestrels, redstarts and wall creepers are all equally of interest to the ornithologist.
Extend your stay:
extra nights can be arranged (subject to availability) at the hotel Torrecerredo in Arenas. The cost depends on the season and is £30-£41 for a single room and £50-£70 for a double. A £5 booking fee will be added to your invoice.
Further Information
Special equipment required:
daypack, walking boots, (with ankle support and good soles), waterproofs, warm jacket/jumper, water bottle, sun protection and warm hat and gloves for October to April departures.
Extra Expenses:
for meals not included you should allow 30-50, depending on where you eat. For snacks, drinks and souvenirs 80-100 should suffice. Optional activities on the free day cost approximately 15-25. Guggenheim Museum 10.
Meals Included:
7 breakfasts, 5 picnic/cafe lunches and 6 evening meals.
Transport:
is by minibus, though occasionally we may use a public bus to travel to a trailhead or the beach.
Children:
children under 16 cannot join the group departure but it is possible to book this destination on a fly-drive basis.
Group & Staff:
Min. 6, max. 16, plus leader.
Accommodation:
Our choice of hotel was an easy one to make. The Torrecerredo is a small family-run one-star hotel, which is the only hotel in Arenas with views of the High Picos. It has a very pleasant garden terrace attached to the cafe bar and is the base for our representatives Jim Thomson and Pilar Saiz. The panoramic restaurant gives views up to the High Picos. All the rooms have en-suite facilities and the hotel is situated in a rural setting a five minute walk from the centre of the village, which is well serviced with banks, cafes and shops.
Food:
Famous for its gold-medal-winning blue cheese (Queso Cabrales), matured in some of the thousands of deep limestone caves that dot the hills, the region also has several less well known but equally appealing specialities, such as the local trout cooked in cider (Truchas a la Sidra) and the wholesome bean stew (Fabada Asturiana). Please be aware that while we can cater for vegetarians in the Picos, a meat and fish diet is the norm. Fresh fish comes from the coast at Llanes and Ribasadella, half an hour's drive away. The local wine is very drinkable (and provided with all evening meals), though after a long hot walk a glass of the local cider can be more refreshing.
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Day 1 | Depart London Heathrow for the flight to Bilbao and travel to Arenas by minibus, a drive of about 2 hours. Those with land only arrangements meet the group at the hotel in Arenas. | Day 2 | We include five days guided walking including a walk up the spectacular Cares Gorge. We have planned a varied programme, but some flexibility is necessary to suit the weather and the local conditions. In the foothills of the Picos walking is relatively easy on shepherds' trails across rolling pastures or on well-maintained paths along valleys. The path along the Cares Gorge is wide, flat and well maintained. A proportion of the time will, however, be spent on rough, rocky limestone terrain on less well-marked routes higher in the massifs. There may be some relatively steep ascents and descents. We generally walk 10 to 15km each day, normally taking between 5 and 7 hours. Routes may include a visit to the ancient battlefield of Covadonga, where the Moors were first defeated by the Spanish in 722, a walk to the base of the stunning Naranjo de Bulnes, the huge slab with a 400 m. rock face, or we may attempt a walk to the top of Pico San Carlos, at 2,214 m. one of the highest mountains in the eastern massif. Away from the Naranjo and the Cares gorge, we will come across few other walkers. Some of the walking may involve transport at either the start or end of the day, others will be circular walks and some will bring us directly back to our hotel. On the free day it is possible to arrange a day trip to the coastal village of Llanes, famous for its beaches and fish restaurants or you always have the option of an additional walk. For those seeking an "outdoor thrill", numbers permitting (and heart desiring), you have the choice of canyoning, canoeing or even caving. | Day 3 | As above | Day 4 | As above | Day 5 | As above | Day 6 | As above | Day 7 | As above | Day 8 | Transfer to Bilbao where, with favourable flight times, we may have time to visit the Guggenheim museum before the flight to London. Those with land-only arrangements leave us in Arenas or Bilbao. |
Departures Between | Price from | 10 Oct 04 | *£559 | 17 Oct 04 | *£569 | 21 Dec 04
28 Dec 04 | *£589 | | *Prices subject to confirmation |
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FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PRICE
Local payment 130 (approx. £90)
Single room supplement £95 (August departures £125)
Insurance £25
This holiday is operated by Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582.
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Picos De Europa Arenas
A Wonderful daywalks in Europes largest National Park
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