A practical guide to reaching and enjoying the panoramic ridge of Pico Anguileiro in Asturias, Spain.
At 1,035 metres, Pico Anguileiro rises above the rolling hills of western Asturias between the Navia and Eo river valleys. Its open summit offers clear sightlines to the Cantabrian Sea on clear days and to the higher ridges of the Sierra de Ancares inland. The mountain remains far less crowded than the Picos de Europa, giving walkers a quieter experience of Asturias’ green, rainy landscape.
The most common ascent starts from the hamlet of Busmayor, where a forestry track leads to a saddle before the final rocky scramble. The round trip is roughly 9 km with 650 m of elevation gain and takes four to five hours for most walkers. The path crosses meadows dotted with gorse and heather before entering oak and birch woodland. Near the top the terrain turns to quartzite slabs that can be slippery when wet; a head for heights helps on the short exposed section just below the summit cairn.
Late spring through early autumn provides the most reliable conditions. May and June bring wildflowers and long daylight; September and October offer fewer insects and golden autumn colour. Winter visits are possible but require ice-axe and crampon skills after snow, and the access road often closes.
From Oviedo, take the A-63 motorway west to Luarca then the N-634 and local roads toward Tapia de Casariego. The final approach to Busmayor is narrow and winding; a car with decent ground clearance is useful. No regular bus service reaches the trailhead, so most visitors drive or arrange a taxi from the nearest town. Once on the mountain, the route is waymarked with yellow paint but carries no signposts, so a GPS track or 1:25 000 map is recommended.
After descending, many hikers continue to the coastal village of Tapia de Casariego for fresh seafood and a walk along the cliffs of Playa de los Campos. Inland, the medieval bridge and chestnut woods at Grandas de Salime make an easy half-day detour. For a longer stay, the Eo river estuary offers birdwatching and kayaking only 30 minutes from the trailhead.
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It is a moderate outing for fit walkers with some scrambling near the top; the main challenge is navigation rather than technical climbing.
Only older children comfortable with rocky ground and the short exposed section; beginners should consider a guided walk or a shorter out-and-back to the saddle.
No. There are no huts, toilets or water points; plan to be fully self-sufficient.
Wild camping is tolerated in Asturias outside protected zones, but the summit ridge is exposed and the lower meadows are used for grazingu2014pitch low and leave no trace.
Look for red deer in the woods at dawn, griffon vultures circling the ridge, and in spring the colourful butterflies that feed on the heather.
Climb this accessible peak near Aller for sweeping views across Asturias’ high valleys and rugged ridges.
A rewarding climb through oak woods and rocky ridges to panoramic views across western Asturias.
