Stage Pajares to Pola de Lena

The stage that descends from the Puerto de Pajares to Pola de Lena is one of the stages with the most negative gradient of all the Routes. The pilgrim faces a drop of over 1,000 meters, a considerable challenge for the joints. The road leaves Pajares and begins a vertiginous descent through the valley of the same name. The landscape is spectacular, an enclosed mountain valley of intense green, characteristic of Asturias. Unfortunately, the route runs on many stretches along the edge of the national highway, which requires extreme caution to be taken. Several small villages are passed through that hang from the slope. As one descends, the valley opens up and the landscape becomes less rugged. The arrival at Pola de Lena, capital of the concejo, is the end of the stage. This important village, located in the bottom of the valley, is a service center with a great offer of accommodations and restaurants. Its lively atmosphere and strategic location make it an ideal stop to recover from the hard descent and prepare for the final stages towards Oviedo.