Distance
100 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
1,600 m
Rating
4.9 / 5
876 reviews
Picos de Europa — Lagos de Covadonga.
The N-621 through the Cantabrian mountain spine from the Hermida gorge to Fuente Dé — Spain's answer to the Dolomites, visited by a fraction of the crowd. The Potes valley, the Liébana monastery, and the cable car base at Fuente Dé closing 1,000 m beneath the high peaks.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance100 km
Days1
Total climb1,600 m
Fuel stops1 along route
DifficultyChallenging
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The route.
UnqueraStart · The coastal junction town where the A-8 motorway meets the N-621 heading south into the mountains. Fuel up here — last reliable services before the gorge road. The Cantabrian sea is visible behind you.
Desfiladero de la HermidaScenic Point · The Hermida gorge — 20 km of sheer limestone walls rising 800 m from the river. The N-621 is carved into the gorge wall with the Deva river immediately below. An entirely different scale of landscape from the nearby Picos peaks.
Panes JunctionFuel Stop · The village at the gorge entrance where the road to Arenas de Cabrales (also excellent) diverges. Fuel available here if needed before the final push to Potes.
PotesRestaurant · The main village in the Liébana valley — a medieval street plan of overhanging stone houses and Romanesque churches. The Fuente Dé cable car is 23 km west. Orujo (pomace spirit) is the local product; try it at any bar.
Monastery of Santo Toribio de LiébanaScenic Point · A Franciscan monastery holding a relic claimed to be the largest surviving piece of the True Cross. The approach road through the chestnut forest is steeply beautiful.
Fuente Dé Cable Car BaseEnd · The valley closes to a sheer wall of limestone at Fuente Dé. The cable car ascends 753 m in 4 minutes to the high plateau of the Picos at 1,823 m. The walk to the Mirador del Cable and back is 2 hours. An extraordinary end to the road.
From riders.
876 verified rides logged on this route.
4.9/ 5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
876 verified rides
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