Photography Holiday, Picos de Europa
Picos de Europa Sunrise
Geraldine will be co-ordinating this holiday for Light & Land who specialise in landscape and wildlife photographic tours.
Dates: 14/09/2008 – 21/09/2008
The Picos de Europa is one of the most wild and spectacular mountain ranges in the Northern Hemisphere and it is astonishing that Light & Land have not been here before!
Soaring to nearly 9,000 feet and barely 20 miles from the Atlantic coast of Northern Spain, the three main massifs of this outrageous mountain region are divided by deep valleys and gorges created by sharp spurs of ice from ancient glaciers and the powerful force of river water. This bizarre lunar landscape is further enhanced by soft, morning mists and shifting light rising out of high pastures. Far removed from the dry and overpopulated southern ‘costas’ this little-known part of Spain remains an enigma with isolated villages and dense forests. A wild, rugged coastline, and a strong Celtic culture contribute to make this a truly magical destination strongly reminiscent of Tolkien’s ‘hobbit land’.
Spread across the principalities of Cantabria, Asturias and Leon The Picos de Europa (Peaks of Europe) were so named due to their altitude and proximity to the coast making them an ideal European landmark for sailors returning from the Americas. It is a prime region for mountaineering and rock climbing and increasingly popular with those of us who want to absorb energy and peace from some of the last austere wilderness landscapes in Europe.
This will be an Explorer tour that Paul has developed for Light & Land. We begin and end the week at a gentle pace photographing small autumnal copses, the harvesting and the gentle pace of village life in the foothills. In between we will make a three-day traverse of the Picos beginning with a precipitous and spectacular path through the Cares Gorge. We then climb through La Helguera meadows for dawn and dusk under the huge granite rock tower of Picu Urreillu. Herds of Rebecco deer, eagles and Egyptian vultures are often sighted in this area.
Two nights at mountain refugios will give us the opportunity to linger in the heights and photograph this spectacular mountain environment. Paul will be joined by Geraldine Westrupp, a qualified mountain guide who knows these mountains intimately. A love of the mountains, previous mountain hiking experience and your photographic antenna are all that is needed to thoroughly enjoy this exciting new Light & Land exploration.
Picos de Europa
Sea, Mountains and Dinosaurs: A family holiday in the Picos de Europa
Dates 2008
- FPE.1 Sun 24 May – Sun 1 June (closed)
- FPE.2 Sun 27 July – Sun 3 August (some places)
- FPE.3 Sun 3 August – Sun 10 August (some places)
- FPE.4 Sun 26 October – Sun 2 November
- 2009 Sun 24 May – Sun 31 May
Northern Spain’s Green Coast with its spectacular backdrop of the Picos de Europa, unique timeless culture and friendly welcoming people is an ideal setting for a family holiday. A totally different experience from the crowded ‘Costas’ of Southern Spain.
Walker coming out of tunnel in the Cares gorge
Our adventure begins in Arriondas where the rivers Sella and Piloña converge in a picturesque wooded valley surrounded by mountains. Here we will have an opportunity to make a Canoe descent of the Sella and mountain bike on one of the many beautiful trails in the area.
Moving into the high mountains of the of the Picos de Europa’s Western Massif we will trek to a well situated mountain ‘Refugio’. From this base we will spend a day exploring the area before transferring to the ‘Dinosaur coast’
Now for some coastal walking, hunting for dinosaur footprints along the way, a visit to see prehistoric cave paintings in Spain’s most famous cave, Altamira.
A final ascent Pienza in the Sierra del Suave gives us a panoramic vista of the Picos de Europa and the rugged Costa Verde.
To view a detailed itinerary, booking information and prices visit KE Adventure Travel
For an informal chat about these holidays telephone Geraldine 0034985661762 or mail her.
Picos Traverse with KE Adventure Travel
Dates 2008
- SPE.2 Sun 20 Jul – Sun 27 Jul
- SPE.3 Sun 31 August – Sun 7 Sept
In 2007 Asturian Spirit ran three KE Picos Traverse holidays, check out the latest picture galleries
Trekking high in the central massif of the Picos de Europa
The scenery in the Picos de Europa is spectacular. Immense slopes and dramatic gorges, lush green valleys and beautiful forests, crystal clear streams and jagged peaks, soaring dramatically to 2,600m. dominate the horizon. Added to this there is a wonderful variety of flora and fauna and one of Europe’s last remaining habitats for both wolves and bears. Vultures and Eagles soar in the skies, mountain pastures are filled with a wealth of wild flowers and butterflies.
The region is also rich in culture, a traditional style of farming and small settlements of attractive old stone buildings clinging precariously to steep hillsides.
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This classic traverse takes us through the rocky heart of the Picos, making use of superbly-located mountain refugios and including the straightforward ascent of several excellent viewpoint peaks. Starting out from the pretty country town of Cangas de Onis, our trek begins with the ascent to the Vegarredonda refuge, high on the slopes of Pico Cotalba (2026m.).
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Taking a high level route across the Western Massif, we drop down into the 1500 metre-deep Garganta del Cares and follow one of the great Picos walks as it descends this precipitous gorge by a cliffside pathway. Climbing back up into the central massif, we overnight at a refuge below the awe-inspiring Naranjo de Bulnes (2519m.) and continue across a lunar landscape to the superb viewpoint at the summit of Pena Vieja (2613m.). A picturesque final days hike to Potes at the Eastern end of the range concludes this exciting walking holiday with KE Adventure Travel
View images taken on KE holidays.
To view a detailed itinerary, booking information and prices visit KE Adventure Travel
For an informal chat about these holidays telephone Geraldine 0034985661762 or mail her.
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Walking in The Picos de Europa with High Places
The Picos de Europa lie only 15 kms from the sea but the peaks soar dramatically to 2600m. The range is split into three massifs separated by rivers and deep gorges where golden eagles, griffons, and egyptian vultures are a common sight, in fact, a veritable natural paradise for a diverse variety of flora and Fauna.The region is also rich in culture, a traditional style of farming and small settlements of attractive old stone buildings.
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With a group of no more than twelve, the trip includes some truly classic mountain walking with long days on rocky and exciting terrain. We spend the first two days hiking in the mountains and gorges of the Eastern Massif, returning to our comfortable valley base each evening.
Now we move west to the isolated village of Cain from where we walk through the precipitously awe-inspiring Garganta del Cares. Following an overnight stay in Poncebos we climb to the base of the Picos’ most celebrated peak, El Naranjo de Bulnes, Picu Urriellu where we will spend the night. An exciting traverse that takes in the summit of Pena Vieja (2613m) for an unrivalled panorama of the area followed by a night in a unique mountain hotel.
Dates 2008
- Sun 22 June – Sun 29 June (full)
- Sun 29 June – Sun 6 July
- Sun 24 August – Sun 31 August
- Sun 7 September – Sun 14 September
To view a detailed itinerary, booking information and prices visit High Places
For an informal chat about these holidays telephone Geraldine 0034985661762 or mail her.
Snow Shoeing Holidays in the Picos de Europa
During the Summer months the Picos de Europa are a popular venue for a variety of walking holidays including gentle strolls, adventurous walking and scrambling.
Snow shoeing in the Picos de Europa.
During the Winter months the snow transforms this complex and majestic range into a winter wonderland where skis and snow shoes provide the only viable way of journeying through the soaring limestone pinnacles and remote snow-fields of these awe-inspiring mountains.
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For more information on snow shoeing and skiing holidays in the Picos visit Casa Gustavo Mike Stuart’s vast experience and knowledge of the area, particularly where snow conditions are concerned, ensure that snowshoers and skiers are often able enjoy the unique experience of journeying into areas that are largely unvisited while snow covered.
Additionally you might like to visit the Save Spanish Bears site as unknown property speculators are hoping to build a ski resort in an important corridor of access for the last remaining bears in Northern Spain so threatening the continued, precarious survival of the Brown Bear in Spain.
Iceland Contrasts – Walking Holiday
The glacier lagoon (Jökulsárlón), south coast Iceland
This exciting Walk with High Places visits three of the most wildly contrasting and beautiful parts of Iceland. Including fjords, mountains, canyons, waterfalls, glaciers, lava deserts, crater lakes and geothermal areas. Birds and wild flowers are prolific during our walks and we finish with a whale watch boat trip close to the Arctic Circle.
The fjord mountains of East Iceland rise dramatically from the sea to over 1000m. The valleys are green and lush, but snow streaks the hills even in mid summer. As we trek from fjord to fjord along the shoreline and over high passes which may still be covered by winter snowfields, our baggage is transported by small boat and jeep.
A bus journey takes us far into the interior, a primeval, volcanic landscape. At Kverkfjöll we climb high for great views of Vatnajökull icecap, where wisps of steam hover above hot ice-caves. We hike to the warm crater lake at Askja (and swim?) then head for the largest canyon in Iceland & the immense waterfall Dettifoss. Finally we reach Myvatn, a natural geothermal wonderland: lava, steaming fissures, ash cones and sulphurous boiling mud, with always a chance that the next big eruption takes place while you are there!
For a detailed itinerary, dates and prices visit High Places
For an informal chat telephone Geraldine, 0034676713676 or mail her
Images from Iceland: coastal, volcanic landscapes
Geothermal Springs in Hveragerði Gjósta Valley