Sendero Histórico: Asturias
The place
The Sendero Histórico de Asturias (GR E-02) runs through coastal and inland Asturias from west to east, from Ribadeo (Galicia) to Llanes over about 200 km. It crosses the Asturian rías, the coastal cliffs of the Ruta del Cantábrico, green meadows and the mountain villages of the Picos de Europa. Little frequented and remarkably varied, it combines beach, mountain and rural villages.
Why go
Ribadeo and its international bridge to Galicia. Luarca and its picturesque cemetery overlooking the sea. Torimbia beach. Picos de Europa (visible from the high points). Llanes and its bufones (blowholes).
A bit of history
Listed as a Gran Recorrido by the Asturian Mountain Federation, the Sendero Histórico retraces the 19th-century communication routes of rural Asturias that once linked coastal dwellers, miners and herders.
Getting there
Ribadeo: bus from Oviedo (2h). Llanes: FEVE train station (from Oviedo, 2h30). Oviedo is the regional access hub.
Recommended gear
Waterproof shoes (frequent rain in Cantabria). Rain jacket. Sunscreen for the coastal stretches.
Best season
May to October. Spring: green and in bloom. Summer: warm but breezy on the coast. Avoid November–March (frequent rain).