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Walking in the Cordillera Cantabrica is a mountaineering guide to one of Spain's premier ranges, and includes detailed descriptions for 60 routes spread around the whole of this magnificent mountain chain. Based on selected valley bases, the routes are readily accessed, thus minimising travel time. All of the routes can be done in a day and all are circular, whilst in difficulty they vary from straightforward, half-day outings to strenuous, full-day ascents demanding fitness, good overall mountain skills, and the ability to deal with short sections of scrambling. This guide is complemented by articles on four specialist topics of interest to any who wish to know the range in greater depth: place-names, transhumance, the Civil War and alpine flora. The Cordillera Cantabrica is currently home to a total of nine protected areas, including three UN-designated areas.
Preface Chapter 1 - Introduction When to Visit Using the Guide Route Selection Chapter 2 - Practical Information Access from the UK Bases and Accommodation Mountain Accommodation Equipment Maps Timing and Grading Following Paths Dogs, Bulls and other Inconveniences Mountain Rescue Chapter 3 - About the Area Physical Relief Geology Climate and Weather Vegetation Wildlife Protected Areas Chapter 4 - Western Leon 4.1 Alcornon de Busmori from Degana 4.2 Catoute from Colinas del Campo de Martin Moro 4.3 Tambaron from Salientes 4.4 Arcos del Agua from Fasgar 4.5 Pena Correa from Abelgas 4.6 Muxiven from Lumajo 4.7 Montihuero from Torre de Babia 4.8 Pena Orniz from La Cueta 4.9 Ferreirua from Torrestio 4.10 Picos del Fontan from Torrebarrio 4.11 Cirbanal from Caldas de Luna 4.12 Amargones from Piedrasecha Place-names: the Magic of Words Chapter 5 - Western Asturias 5.1 Cornon from Santa Maria del Puerto 5.2 Cogollo de Cebolleo from Villar de Vildas 5.3 Pena Blanca from Aguino 5.4 Pena Chana from Valle de Lago 5.5 Lagos de Somiedo from Valle de Lago 5.6 Camino Real de la Mesa from Saliencia 5.7 Calduveiru from the Puertos de Marabiu 5.8 Cordal de la Sobia from Carrea 5.9 Gamonal from El Campo 5.10 Pico la Hoya from Proaza 5.11 Pena Rueda from Lindes 5.12 Ranchon from Bueida 5.13 Tapinon from Tuiza de Arriba 5.14 Pena Ubina from Tuiza de Arriba Transhumance in the Cordillera Cantabrica Chapter 6 - Eastern Leon 6.1 Estorbin Valverde from Tonin de Arbas 6.2 Pico Faro from Canseco 6.3 Fontun from Gete 6.4 Correcillas from Felmin 6.5 Pena Valdorria from Valdorria 6.6 Susaron from Puente de San Tirso 6.7 Pena Corada from Fuentes de Penacorada 6.8 Pico Cerroso from Santa Olaja de la Varga 6.9 Pico Yordas from Liegos 6.10 Mampodre massif from Marana 6.11 Pena Ten from La Una 6.12 Coriscao from Portilla de la Reina 6.13 Pena Prieta from Llanaves de la Reina The Cordillera Cantabrica in the Spanish Civil War Chapter 7 - Eastern Asturias 7.1 Pico Torres from Puerto de San Isidro 7.2 Retrinon from Felechosa 7.3 Pena Mea from Les Campes 7.4 Desfiladero de los Arrudos from La Encrucijada 7.5 Cuyargayos from Agues 7.6 Pico Trigueiro from Condado 7.7 Pilenes from Ventaniella 7.8 Tiatordos from Taranes 7.9 Vizcares from Riofabar 7.10 Pena Salon from Puente Vidosa 7.11 Pienzu from Cofino 7.12 Hibeo from Villanueva Alpine Flora of the Cordillera Cantabrica Chapter 8 - Palencia and Cantabria 8.1 Cardano Cirque from Cardano de Arriba 8.2 Espiguete from Cardano de Abajo 8.3 Curavacas from Vidrieros 8.4 Santa Lucia from Vidrieros 8.5 Pena Mayor from Colonia Sierra del Brezo 8.6 Valdecebollas from Santa Maria de Redondo 8.7 Pico Tres Mares from Piedrasluengas 8.8 Bistruey from Caloca 8.9 El Cornon de Pena Sagra from San Mames GLOSSARY OF COMMON MAP TERMS APPENDIX 1 - Useful Information APPENDIX 2 - Guidebooks in Spanish APPENDIX 3 - Emergency procedure in the Cordillera Cantabrica INDEX OF SUMMITS
Like so many people that love the mountains I began at an early age. As a family we holidayed in the Pennines, and later at secondary school two brave and generous teachers took a group of us climbing. Weekends in the Lakes became a way of life, and from there I went on to walk and climb throughout Britain, all spiced with the usual sorties abroad. In 1981, however, I got the chance to work in Spain, and what began as a year 'off' ended up as a total change. The whole of northern Spain is mountainous, and the chance to explore the region was too good to miss, and I decided to stay. As a climber the walls of the Picos de Europa drew my attention at first, culminating in Walks and Climbs in the Picos de Europa. Slowly, however, repeated trips to the Cordillera CantA brica led me to grasp the potential of this hugely underrated range for mountain walking, and gave to Walking in the Cordillera Cantabrica.
