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Spain’s most popular routes for travelling alone
Spain’s most popular routes for travelling alone
One of the greatest surprises of travelling solo is the people you can meet along the way. That's why it could be useful to put together a list of some of the most-travelled and best-known routes for travellers in Spain. These trails can be enjoyed by expert hikers and novices alike. Whichever category you fall into, we hope that some of these routes will entice you to set off on your own journey!
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Senda del Oso Greenway, Asturias
The Senda del Oso (Bear Trail) is an old railway track that has now been tarmacked over, but which stills runs through the same rocky tunnels once used by the trains. This route winds through the region of the Valles del Oso, with various starting points and paths to choose from along the way. One of the most popular routes is an 18-kilometre path that runs from the small town of Entrago to Buyera. Not far from Buyera, you also can visit the bears Paca and Tola at their enclosure! Fancy walking a little further? The route can be stretched out up to 58 kilometres, which is why you’ll often see a lot of cyclists along the way. Senda del Oso is a forest trail that has been especially equipped for walkers and cyclists with picnic areas, drinking fountains, and bridges that span the region’s various rivers and incredible rocky gorges.
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The Pantaneros de Chulilla Route, Valencia
This route starts and ends in Chulilla, an attractive whitewashed village in Valencia. Over the course of around 10 kilometres (there and back), you’ll experience the excitement of crossing the river Túria on wooden rope bridges hung between the canyon’s 80-metre-high cliff faces. Not to mention Los Calderones natural park and the Loriguilla reservoir dam. From there, you can make your way back to Chulilla by taking the same route travelled daily by the workers who built the dam back in the 1950s.
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Route of the Monasteries, Galicia
The Ribeira Sacra offers a variety of routes that demand you get your backpack ready and head out to take in the fresh air. The Ruta de los Monasterios (Monasteries Route) is a great example. It brings together art, history, nature and hikers who want to discover the landscapes that form the backdrop for the medieval monasteries along the way. For example, you’ll be able to admire the dizzying views of the cliffs in the canyon of the River Sil.This route can be extended up to 72 kilometres, so if you’re not used to hiking over several days, you might want to choose just a few of its trails.
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Route of the Circ de Colomers Lakes, Lleida
Imagine taking a leisurely ramble through the Catalan Pyrenees and stumbling upon one of its lakes, reflecting the sky like a mirror. Although this hike may be a little tougher than those mentioned above, the path leading to the seven lakes of Circ de Colomers is one of the most frequently travelled through the Valle de Arán. This trip will take you on a journey of discovery, leading to the floor of the Aiguamoix valley and the seven lakes. Did you know that the water flows down from glaciers in the Pyrenees?The route is 16 kilometres long and normally takes around seven hours to walk. However, if you follow the yellow signs, there is a shorter alternative route that will take you half the time and allow you to admire four of the lakes.
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The Cares Trail (or 'The Divine Gorge'), Picos de Europa
The Cares Trail is one of Spain’s busiest – and no wonder, as it also forms part of the famous Picos de Europa National Park. This trail runs between the villages of Poncebo (Asturias) and Caín (León) over a distance of 24 kilometres for the round trip. Head into the ravines in the Picos de Europa, where you’ll find impressive sights everywhere you look: above, you’ll be surrounded by a wall of imposing peaks, while below, the river Cares runs alongside you throughout the whole journey.