The Faedo of Ciñera and the Gorges of Villar

Route through the Faedo of Ciñera, a legendary place

The Bernesga Valley, in the Mountain Central Leonesa, has been, like so many other valleys in the area, a mining region. Today this industrial activity has come to an end in this part of the province of León, but it has left its mark on the people and the landscapes. These landscapes are home to priceless treasures such as the Faedo of Ciñera and the Gorges of Villar. The route that runs through this spectacular beech forest, considered one of the best preserved in Spain, and the narrow gorge of the Gorges of Villar, follows the route that the miners of Ciñera and Villar del Puerto used to take to and from the mine where they worked. This itinerary is also linked to the Way of Saint James, as the route known as the Forgotten Way passes through here. In short, a route that takes us through the history and legends that treasure these spectacular natural landscapes, a hiking route in León that will surely surprise you.

How to get to the start of the route through the Faedo of Ciñera

To get to the place where the Faedo of Ciñera route starts, we have to follow the national road N-630 that connects the city of León with Oviedo, passing through the mythical Pajares port. Just 40 km from León is the town of Ciñera, where this beautiful hiking route begins. Once in Ciñera, we will head towards the church, looking for a place where we can park our vehicle as there is no specific parking for the route.

Enter your place of departure

Itinerary of the route through the Faedo of Ciñera and the Gorges of Villar

From Ciñera to el Faedo of Ciñera 2,3 Km

The church of Ciñera marks the beginning of our route through the Faedo of Ciñera. We advance towards the outskirts of the village, heading towards the sports centre and the cemetery, located outside the village. The whole route is perfectly signposted, so we should have no problems following it. The path we are following goes up the course of the stream, taking us past a small rest area shortly before reaching the pithead. Here we will immerse ourselves in the vestiges of mining activity, the wagons, the photos of the miners and the altar, which the pithead has been converted into, in honour of the Virgin of Santa Bárbara, patron saint of Ciñera, form part of the museum that this mine has been converted into.

After crossing the Villar stream, the wooden footbridges begin to lead us into the rocky canyon where the beech forest grows. In this area we will cross the stream several times and we will also find another rest area with tables. There will also be several informative signs telling us about the particularities of the area, its flora and fauna. Almost without noticing we reach the beginning of the route through the interior of the Faedo of Ciñera. This forest, full of stories and legends, envelops us with every step we take, following the wooden walkway that helps to preserve this place. A forest where a beech tree of considerable dimensions has been growing for more than 500 years, declared a monumental tree and known by the name of Fagus. Unfortunately, the walk through the Faedo of Ciñera (0h 35min) takes much less time than we would have liked and we soon reach the bridge.

From Faedo of Ciñera to Gorges of Villar 0,4 Km

Many people turn back here, but we decide to continue across the bridge and enter the Gorges of Villar. This part of the route is rougher and requires us to climb some steps carved into the rock and then cross a somewhat aerial area equipped with a chain that makes the task easier. This section is not very complicated but it does require a certain amount of caution. After crossing it, a footbridge hanging from the rock face awaits us, allowing us to walk through the narrow gorge created by the stream. Again the experience does not last long and the Gorges of Villar (0h 50min) come to an end, although they leave us some nice waterfalls beforehand. Not to be forgotten are the Marmitas del Gigante, pools carved by the waters of the stream that make this spot even more beautiful. From here we can ascend the mountainside following the path that will take us to Villar del Puerto. From there we can return along the road that joins it with Ciñera, thus making a circular route of just over 11 km, or we can follow the same path. However, the stretch of ascent that separates us from the plateau where Villar del Puerto is located is quite steep and demanding, increasing the difficulty of the route.

Coordinates UTM Datúm WGS84

Profile of the route through the Faedo of Ciñera and the Gorges of Villar

Cartography

This schematic with the path is approximate and has been created from the derived cartographic base © Instituto Geográfico Nacional "Cuadrante 103-4 1:25.000".