A round or horseshoe walk from Soto de Agues, taking in Picu Cogollu (left summit on the photo - 1222m) and Guanolón (right summit on the photo - 1230m). The route includes some ridge scrambling, and navigation difficulties in certain sections.
Distance: 13 km
Total ascent: 985 m
Time: 5 hours and 20 minutes
Maps:
Parque Natural de Redes (1:40,000)
Parque Natural de Redes (1:40,000)
IGN 54 (14-05) Rioseco (1:50,000)
1. From Soto de Agues, follow signs to the Ruta del Alba at the southern end of the village.
2. Follow the Ruta del Alba past the fish farm (Piscifactoria del Alba).
3. Take the second farm track on the right, recently (April 2011) a sign has been painted on a rock indicating “Cogullu”.
4. Follow this track and cross the Bories river on a bridge by a small waterfall.
5. Follow a zig-zag track through forest to the "cabañas" or herdsman's huts at the Aviaos pastures, looking for yellow and white paint marks.
6. Carry on following the track through forest, looking for paint waymarks, until you leave the forest to come out on a ridge with views to the south.
7. Ahead on the ridge to the west is the first peak of Cogollu. Either scramble over the ridge, or take the obvious path on the left of the peak which leads to the huts of Cogullu.
8. To reach the main summit of Picu Cogullu (1222m) you can either continue scrambling up the ridge, or from the path choose a less rocky line on the south side of the summit. Avoid the west and northern sides where there are wooded cliffs.
9. From the summit there are good views over Peña Mea and other mountains to the west.
10. Return down the col at the foot of the ridge, go left under the north facing cliff of Picu Cogollu.
11. Contour through the trees under this cliff to the Collau Rovieya col. There is no obvious path, and this section can be very vegetated in the summer.
12. The Collau Rovieya col is passed more easily on the left.
13. Continue along the crest to the Recabáu col.
14. Scramble up the south ridge of Guanalón to the summit (1230 m). There is a steep cliff below you. This scramble can be avoided by walking down directly to the "cabañas" at L'Abedul.
15. Scramble down to the "cabañas" at L'Abedul, either directly, or go East along the ridge to the Heulla Guanalón pass and down.
16. Turn left or East along tracks to meet an improved farm track which takes you down to the Ruta del Alba in the valley, passing the buildings at "Les Bories".
17. Turn left and return to Soto de Agues.
Click here for a map of the route, based on a GPS track. To see the route in 3D, click on the Earth button.
