The PR AS-239 walking and cycling circular route starts at Puente Viejo in Villapérez and is intended for pedestrians and cycle tourists. Four rest areas for hikers and mountain bikers have been set up along the route. The starting point, permitted uses and places to rest provide concrete information to help plan an outing.

Walking and Cycling Routes

Another route is the Pista Finlandesa on Monte Naranco in Oviedo. The path is about 5.4 kilometres long; this figure includes the outward and return journeys. It is intended for pedestrians and cyclists. This distinguishes the information about the Pista from that about the PR AS-239: the latter focuses on its starting point, intended use and rest areas, while the Pista Finlandesa can also be described by its total distance.

The circular route on Monte Naranco from La Corredoria passes the Villapérez wastewater treatment plant and then follows the path to Puente de Gallegos. The return journey goes via the Pista Finlandesa and San Miguel de Lillo. This route therefore has a named starting point as well as landmarks along both the outward and return journeys. Another route description starts in Folgueres, in the parish of San Vicente de Villapérez, and leads to Canto de los Navalones.

Villapérez is also linked to a cycling route: “Abrazando al Naranco II (por Violeo)” passes through the village. The different place names help distinguish routes by their respective starting points or itineraries: the PR AS-239 starts at Puente Viejo, the route to Canto de los Navalones starts in Folgueres, and the Pista Finlandesa is on Monte Naranco in Oviedo.

The Nora and the Surrounding Countryside

The parish of Villapérez borders the River Nora. Nearby, the Senda La Acebera leads to the Villapérez wastewater treatment plant, running there between the railway line and the Nora’s right bank. The river, path and railway line are distinct reference points in the area described.

The Naranquín woodland is also nearby. Chestnut, oak, poplar, beech and cherry trees grow there. For those who want to consider the local landscape as well as the paths when planning an outing, this provides specific information about the tree species in this woodland.

Traces of the Naranco Railway

The history of the railway is connected with several of the places mentioned. The Pista Finlandesa follows the route of a former mining railway dating from the 19th century. The Naranco railway line was just over seven kilometres long and had a track gauge of 0.60 metres. Work on the line, built along the slope of Monte Naranco, began in Villapérez. In 1880, a train travelled along this route for the first time, carrying iron to the Norte railway station in Oviedo.

The two lengths refer to different things: the approximately 5.4 kilometres of the Pista Finlandesa are for the outward and return journey, while the just over seven kilometres refer to the historic railway line. This distinction puts the present-day path distance and the former railway line in context without treating them as the same route or measurement.

Another historical feature is the Caleru de Folgueres in Folgueres-Villaperi. The traditional lime kiln was operated intermittently. It offers a different perspective on local history from the railway line: one concerns lime burning, while the other concerns a railway used to transport iron.

When planning your trip, you can weigh up the places and routes described according to the kind of outing you want: for example, a walking or cycling route, a riverside experience, or the history of the Naranco Railway. The specific starting points and route details can help you choose the right activity for your stay in Villapérez.

Discover more destinations: Siones, Oviedo, La Manjoya, Faro, Santo Medero, Nava, Cortina, Santianes.

Back to the main travel guide: Oviedo.