If you want to explore Las Ilces on foot, you can choose between two routes: the PR-PNPE 26 Hayedo de Las Ilces loop trail and the Sierra Beleña route. They have different route profiles and pass through different villages and landscapes.
Hiking Routes and Forest
The full PR-PNPE 26 Hayedo de Las Ilces loop trail is 10.4 kilometres long. As a loop, it returns to the starting point. The total ascent is 400 metres, and the total descent is also 400 metres. The route passes through an area of well-preserved beech and oak forests. The forest area around the route is among the best-preserved areas around the Picos de Europa.
On the ascent to Las Ilces, the path crosses the CA-185 and then passes the village chapel. Take this road crossing into account when planning your route: it lies on the approach into the village.
The Sierra Beleña route is 15 kilometres long, takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, and has 400 metres of elevation gain. Its difficulty is rated medium to high. It connects Espinama, Las Ilces, Pembes and Areños; Areños is a neighbourhood of Cosgaya. You can start the route from any of these villages. Compared with the 10.4-kilometre PR loop trail, Sierra Beleña is 4.6 kilometres longer. The distance and loop format therefore offer concrete points of comparison when choosing between the two, as do the approximate duration and difficulty of the Sierra Beleña route.
The Ermita de Santiago
At the Ermita de Santiago, architectural details can be distinguished on both the exterior and interior. On the outside, it has a square apse; a bell gable stands at the rear of the building. Inside, the chancel has a flat wooden ceiling. A semicircular triumphal arch leads to the nave, which is covered by a wooden gabled roof. The apse, bell gable and triumphal arch are distinct structural elements; together, they give a concrete impression of the layout of the ermita.
The ermita is said to have been built in the 17th century at the request of the residents, who found it difficult to attend religious services in Espinama. In 1735, the residents of Las Ilces had it rebuilt and furnished at their own expense for local religious services. The work cost more than 1,000 ducats. Thus, the 17th century refers to the presumed original construction, while 1735 marks the rebuilding.
Houses and Construction
The few houses in Las Ilces, which are fairly well preserved, also illustrate the traditional Lebaniego architecture of this area. Stone, brick and wood are the building materials that define this style. The houses therefore offer a distinct perspective on local architecture alongside the architectural features of the Ermita de Santiago: here, the focus is on the traditional construction of the houses and their materials; there, on the described layout of a single religious building.
Discover more destinations: Val De San Vicente, Penagos, Ruiloba, Casamaría, Anaz, La Concha, Barros, Saro.
For the regional travel overview: Cantabria.
