The tranquil village of Sandinies

Took advantage of the fantastic weather and hiked between the villages of Sandinies and Piedrafita passing by Ibon de Piedrafita under the cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua. This is actually the final day of our Village to Village walking holiday and a beautiful days walk.

I started at Sandinies – a tiny tranquil village that time has forgotten. The route passes by the narrow canyon of Gorgol which is a popular canyoning venue.

Canyon Gorgol

After the canyon I entered the beautiful beech woods of Betato. There are lots of local legends that these woods are haunted by witches. The woods looked beautiful with the sunlight filtering through the beech trees.

The beech woods of Betato

Climbing through the woods the path enters alpine meadows with the cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua ahead. In early summer these meadows are full of gentians and orchids.

Heading towards the cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua

A red kite passed right overhead and for once I had my camera ready and got a good shot! In summer there are often a pair of Egyptian vultures near the lake as well as griffon vultures and occasionally a short toed eagle or Lammergeier.

Red Kite or Milano Real in Spanish

The lack of rain has left things looking pretty dry up on the meadows. The first flowers of the season were out and I saw a few early hepatica, some coltsfoot and lots of stinking helloborine which is always out early.

Ibon de Piedrafita and Peña Telera

Ibon de Piedrafita is set right under the killometre highcliffs of the Sierra de Partacua. As I was walking in a tshirt I was surprised to find most of the lake still frozen over.

A frozen Ibon de Piedrafita with the 3000m peak of Garmo Negro in the background

It was a beautiful days walking with fantastic views across the Valle de Tena. Come and walk it for yourself on our Village to Village walking holiday – we offer it either as guided or a self guided walking holiday and we move your bags each day so you just walk with a day pack.