The beginning of Monte Moro with Ribadesella in the distance
Taking a short journey on the narrow gauge train always seems a nice way to start a walk and to start this walk you take the train from Arriondas to Cuevas following the River Sella. Not so many people use the train these days as it is a rather slow way to travel and stops at many small villages; I was the only person getting of at Cuevas and no one got on. The main access to the village of Cuevas (where the walk starts) is by a road which passes through a cave or “Cueva” that is over 200m long and gives its name to the village. I decided to visit the “cave” before starting the walk as it really is quite impressive to see how the road winds through this dimly lit limestone cavern with the occasional stalactite and traces of a small stream running through it.
The village of Cuevas
Once I had taken the small detour to see the cave I started the walk which is sign posted Monte Moro and starts directly from the village of Cuevas. It begins with a gentle but continual climb using forestry tracks which first pass through Eucalyptus forests and latter pine forests. There are plenty of clearings with views over the River Sella the surrounding mountains including the Picos de Europa and the coast. After a while you reach the gentle crest of this small mountain range “Monte Moro” and then carry on walking along the crest. I had forgotten just how good the views were in many places and as there were clouds forming over the Picos this made the views all the more spectacular.
Looking towards the Picos from Monte Moro
After a while you leave the forestry tracks and carry along the summit of a spur, conveniently cleared as a fire break, before descending down the mountain side to the edge of a farm. Carefully following the farmer’s tracks through the fields you come to “Busternales” a farm building nestled in a col and with its own small chapel now used as a farm store.
Views to the coast from Monte Moro
At this point you have to decide whether to carry along the crest to Pico Moro and back to the hotel which involves an extra 220 m ascent and is about 1 km longer or follow the cement track down to the road and back to the hotel. To go up to Pico Moro you follow a goat track which is a little overgrown in places but offers lots more spectacular views whilst the way back via the road is easier going, all be it 4 kms along the road. As I had to pick vegetable and serve dinners that evening I decided to go back along the road and was only passed by 2 cars.
Technical Information
Map Cuevas to Hotel Posada del Valle
Download GPS trail from wikiloc
Self guided walking notes and GPS trail available for guests from the hotel
| Type of walk | A to B |
| Starting Point | Cuevas |
| Finishing Point | Hotel |
| Acces | Starting a Cuevas railway station 20 min by train from Arriondas and returning by train from Ribadesella |
| Public transport options | Using narrow gauge railway FEVE |
| Grading | Medium to difficult |
| Total Length | 14´5 Km (15,6 Km returning via Pico Moro) |
| Total Ascent | 650 m (850m returning via Pico Moro) |
| Altitude | 10 – 500 180 |
| Total Walking time | 5 hour |
| Terrain | tracks |
| Navigation | Easy |
| Refreshments | Bar in the village of Cuevas |
| Map | Mapa Topográfico Nacional de España: Ribadesella |
