Bulnes from Poncebos by the Canal del Texu

The walk starts at Poncebos, beside the lower station of the funicular. Cross the Río Cares by the old stone Puente de la Jaya and climb the Canal del Texu, a steep, narrow valley, on a stony mule path beside the Río Bulnes. Near the top the path crosses the stream at the Puente del Zardo and comes into Bulnes, a cluster of stone houses under limestone walls. A short climb further leads to the upper hamlet, El Castillo. Return the same way.

It is 8.4 km there and back with 421 m of climbing; allow about 3½ hours. The grade is Moderate: short, but steep and rough underfoot all the way.

Rockfall is a real risk in the Canal, above all near the Puente del Zardo and after heavy rain, and the path has been closed at short notice more than once: check the national park's alerts before you go. The rock is slippery when wet, there is no water on the way, and it is not a walk for snow.

The funicular from Poncebos, opened in 2001, runs to the village in a tunnel and is ticketed; some walkers take it one way. Parking at Poncebos is very limited: in summer a bus runs from Arenas de Cabrales.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.