From central America to Scotland to the Alps in one day

Lovely breakfast at the B&B but they must have found us a bit strange when we produced our oats, added hot water from the kettle (available for guests to use) and made ourselves porridge. One of our favourite places to stay and would definitely go back if we come again.

Another damp looking day with mist swirling around the mountains, however we escaped without a drop of rain even if the sun was a bit shy. The first 500m was downhill to the main road up the valley and then up hill for 18km to the Puerto de Tarna (1490m). The misty clouds and the dense vegetation gave the landscape the look of central America. There were cows in the road and part of the road was blocked by a landslide. Only a handful of cars passed by either way on the whole of the 18km climb. It took just over 2 hours to make the summit, which was a shabby junction of 2 roads with a closed down bar and a budding big enough to be a hotel but with no sign to suggest it was open for business.

It was pretty nippy at the top so we piled on the layers, however it didn't take long for both of us to start feeling very cold on the descent with Sally especially feeling it in her hands. We stopped for coffee and a defrost in the small village of Lario and then continued to Burón to look for a picnic spot. The village was a bit disappointingly grey and drab so we pressed on a stopped on a hillock with a view back over the loch - sorry reservoir, and had cheese, bread, bananas, crisps and whisky.

After lunch we took a left turn on the N625 and headed toward the Puerto del Ponton (1280m). Sally was a bit worried about the gradients on the route profile for this bit, but as usual the mapping turned out to be wrong because we were at the top before we knew it. The scenery instantly changed from Scotland to the Alps with the most fantastic views down into a deep valley. On went the layers again and down we went, though this time the temperature stayed above freezing and we even stopped a couple of times to take photos.

Shortly after the village of Oseja de Sajambre there is a small turning to Soto de Sajambre which lies down a 4km single track road which clings to the side of the mountain. We are staying at a walkers hostel, which is fine (though we haven't had dinner yet). The village is very picturesque and probably over-run with tourists in the summer, however we are the only visitors this evening.