Saja-Besaya Nature Reserve

In this Reserve we can find the majority of the characteristics that define the traditional landscape of the inland Cantabrian mountains.

There we come across large areas of forest and indigenous trees of great ecological worth, alternated with areas of hillside covered in scrub and meadows.The original ecosystem has been changed by the actions of man, the area is populated, thereby creating meadowland used for grazing from the original forest.Nonetheless, the site is still in very good condition and is a fine example of the symbiosis between man and the environment throughout the Cantabrian area.There are excellent oak grove, beech tree grove and Brañas (Asturian town) adorned with holly tree groves. The oak groves of Bárcena Mayor, beech groves of Villasuso de Cieza and the hazel groves of Coo are particularly interesting.The exceptional fauna includes the griffon vulture and the capercaillie, together with the Egyptian vulture, roe deer, wild boar, peregrine falcon and golden eagle. We can encounter otters in Saja.The presence of wolves and, in some cases, brown bears has also been noted.