An old mining railway line turned into a greenway: flat, wide and firm underfoot, threading between limestone walls and following the river. Walk it or cycle it, and halfway along there is an enclosure with rescued brown bears.
The route has a Y shape with several sections: the most popular goes from Tuñón to the enclosure and the village of Proaza, where there are bars and fountains. There are tunnels, bridges over the river, and sections carved into the rock that look like something out of a film.
It is ideal for children: flat, no cars, and bikes can be hired with trailers.
A little history
Before it was green it was black: from 1883 to 1963, the train that carried coal from the mines of Teverga and Quirós ran through these valleys. When the railway closed, the route was abandoned until it was converted into one of the first greenways in Spain. The name comes from Paca and Tola, two orphaned bear cubs rescued in the 1990s that became the symbol of the valley.
- From the house
- 35 min by car
- Duration
- 4 hr
- Admission
- Free
Getting there
Without a car
Regional bus from Oviedo to Tuñón or Proaza; the trail starts from the village itself.
By car
Three quarters of an hour from the house. Signposted car parks at Tuñón, Proaza and Entrago.
Before you go
- Bikes are hired in Tuñón and Proaza, with trailers and child seats.
- It really is flat: the gradient is a railway's, and it works with a pushchair.
- There are short unlit tunnels. Take a light if you are cycling.
- The bears are not always in view: the enclosure is large and they get on with their lives.
Prices and opening hours link to the official source; they are never copied onto this site.