We are using the hikes recommended by the hotel and as before it was rather a small scale so I calculated the route on my phone. We drove to the hamlet of Brez, about 15 minutes from where we are staying and up a steep road with many hairpin bends.
This time the route was very well marked with occasional double stripes of yellow and white paint. We hiked through meadows and small wooded areas before the trail opened out and we were literally between the peaks of the mountains. We had surreptitiously made sandwiches at breakfast and at the halfway and turning point we continued for another 300 meters and were able to literally touch the unmelted snow trapped in a deep ravine. I was going to walk on it but thought better of it as there was a fast flowing river beneath the snow and a number of large holes. I found a single beautiful blue alpine gentian just near our picnic spot.
The sun shone the entire time and we soon realised that we should have totally ignored the pessimistic weather forecasts before we left as we actually got quite burnt.
On our way back we came across a herd of sheep on the path with an accompanying dog. We had been told about this by an English couple - apparently the farmers leave a dog with each flock of sheep or goats to keep them all together and to protect them. This dog was very friendly and after checking us both out just wanted to be petted. He was in a great condition and after a minute or two he set off with his flock guiding them to a new meadow.
Onwards and downwards past flocks of goats with bells and continual breathtaking views. I really feel we’ve got a good feel of the Picos and we certainly felt it in our knees when we eventually got back to the car (after meeting the friendly and very hairy village dogs!).
We drove onwards to Potes to explore as we hadn’t spent much time there on our way through. We caught the end of the local cattle market and enjoyed an excellent ice cream. Another tiring but great day.
