An 8.8-kilometre circular trail, views of the coast and traces of mining and prehistoric history give Canales a varied character. There are different options to consider when planning a trip: the Sendero Real is a circular route, while Route 7 leads from Canales to the Ermita de San Esteban on Monte Corona. The Mina de San Bartolomé and Cueva de Las Cáscaras add insights into the area’s history to the landscape.

Hiking trails with different destinations

The Sendero Real starts in the Barrio de Canales, is 8.8 kilometres long and is recommended for hiking and mountain biking. Its circular format sets it apart from Route 7, which starts in Canales and ends at the Ermita de San Esteban on Monte Corona. This makes it easy to compare the routes: a circular trail of a specified length with two recommended activities, or a route with a named destination.

Canales is also home to the Ermita de San Juan, which is listed as a sight. It should not be confused with the Ermita de San Esteban at the end of Route 7. Before setting out, it is advisable to check the current trail conditions for the Sendero Real and the access conditions for Route 7; both may change.

Coastal views near Comillas and Oyambre

The Sendero Real offers views of the coast near Comillas and Oyambre. Canales also has a panorama of the Cantabrian coast, with views of Oyambre and the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. There are views from Cueva de Las Cáscaras, too: of Comillas, the beach and the university. Taken together, the views described range from the coast near Comillas and Oyambre to the beach and the Universidad Pontificia.

Mining history in Canales

The Mina de San Bartolomé is an open-pit mine in Canales. Roman objects and coins found there attest to Roman activity in the Udías valley during Late Antiquity. The specific site of the mine is thus linked to a history that extends beyond Canales to the valley.

Mining may also be reflected in the place name: Canales could derive from the Latin canalis and refer to channels used to wash ore. Ore has been mined in this area since at least Roman times. This etymology remains a possible interpretation; it adds a linguistic connection to regional mining history alongside the finds from the Mina.

Archaeological finds at Cueva de Las Cáscaras

Cueva de Las Cáscaras is located in Canales and contains an archaeological site with a collective burial. Radiocarbon dating shows that at least one person was buried there in the Neolithic, in the 4th millennium BCE. This places the finds far earlier than the Roman activity.

The finds include skulls, lower jaws and shells; there is also evidence of arrowheads embedded in some bones. The human remains are housed at the Museo de Prehistoria de Santander. Together with the views of Comillas, the beach and the university, these archaeological connections make the cave a subject in its own right, alongside the hiking trails and mining.

The different things to explore in Canales can thus be clearly distinguished as nature and history: the Sendero Real and Route 7 offer different route profiles, while Mina de San Bartolomé and Cueva de Las Cáscaras shed light on the history of mining and archaeological finds. Views of Oyambre, Comillas and the university add specific landscape features to these themes.

Discover more destinations: Valoria.

For the full travel guide: Udías.