Hotel Torrecerredo "The little hotel with the very big view"

Introduction Torretours, our activities dept is one of the leading providers of adventure activities in the Picos De Europa. Since the Company was established in 1992 it has been successfully providing a variety of adventure activities for groups and individuals, including climbing, caving, trekking, canyoning, biking and canoeing. Torretours is also one of the main providers for multi-activity, mountain biking and trekking holidays for Exodus, one of the principal UK Worldwide adventure travel tour operators. Over the past decade we are proud to have had over 5000 clients on a variety of different trips lasting between just one day and three weeks. Although our main base is in the Picos de Europa, we have led groups as far afield as Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala, various other locations within Spain.

All specialist equipment is provided, as required by the activity, and all activities are directed and supervised by experienced instructors. If your just staying in the hotel and not on one of specialist holidays, front suspension mountain bikes are available for hire by individuals on a daily basis.

Centre Based Walking Weeks The Picos de Europa form the apex of the Cordillera Cantabrica and are the third highest mountain range in Spain after the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada. The highest point, the summit of Torrecerredo (2,648 m.), crowns this spectacular limestone range that is often described as a moonscape, and with good reason, as much of the high Picos is devoid of vegetation. In contrast the lower reaches of the area fully live up to their local name, ‘Green Spain', with the lush valleys providing excellent pastures and the higher meadows bedecked with wildflowers in the spring. There are still villages here that have no roads connecting them to the outside world, and the wildness of the terrain meant that this was the one part of Spain that the Moors never conquered. Chamois are often seen across the range, and due to a total hunting ban are not at all shy, allowing us to approach well within camera range. Fire salamanders, a beautiful black and yellow or orange striped lizard, can often be seen, especially after a rain shower. The abundant bird life is dominated by the golden eagles and griffon vultures that are constantly soaring around the rocky outcrops, but smaller kestrels, redstarts and wall creepers are all equally of interest to the ornithologist.

Trekking Through the HIgh Picos A spectacular trek of contrasts through the lush green valleys and stark moonscapes of the Picos. The Picos National Park was the first in Spain, and contains some of the finest mountain scenery and walking on the Iberian peninsula. The high, jagged limestone peaks are interspersed with green valleys where a traditional way of life still goes on. We begin our trek by following little-known shepherd trails in the rarely-visited gorges of the eastern massif, spending the nights in simple pensions. Slowly the scenery transforms to the spectacular lunar landscapes of the central massif, where the huge half-domed bulk of the 'Naranjo de Bulnes' towers above us. Our nights here are spent in isolated mountain huts. Finally we return to civilization and head to the coast for two nights in a refurbished hacienda, which doubles as an watersports adventure centre.

Self Guided Walking Weeks Our self guided walking weeks allow you the freedom to come and go as you please. We provide route notes and maps for a varied selection of day walks in the picos and other nearby areas. These range from gentles strolls through the lush green meadows that surround our hotel, to tackling some of the highest peaks. If required , we provide transport to the start and from the end of the walks (especially useful on linear walks). Accommodation is based in our hotel and the price includes: Full board accommodation (pic-nic lunch), routes notes and map, advise on what walks to do and transport if required. Trips start on any Saturday. Prices from €399.00