The 'Ring of Picos' Challenge in Spain

Your host will meet you on arrival at Asturias Airport in Oviedo and drive you to the picturesque town of Cangas de Onis. Meet up with your guides for a chat about the challenge ahead and tuck into a traditional meal - go easy on the sidre and rioja tonight!

The challenge begins. Following a short drive to the Covadonga Lakes, start out with a trail that forms a classic day hike in this part of the Picos. Two hours in, the high peaks of the western massif will come into view and the terrain will get rockier. Curious chamois will watch as you pass along the track to Ordiales refuge, then you'll tackle your first summit to reach Cotalba peak (2026m). The founder of the Picos de Europa National Park is buried here - it's quite the final resting place, with stunning views of jagged mountains and a sheer 1000m drop below into the Angon Valley. Day 1 is completed as you head to Vegarredonda hut for dinner and to bunk down.

Today is the toughest day without a doubt. Leave the shelter and ascend to Collado Les Merines at 2100m, entering a huge limestone area through the Pozas Jou. Take a rest at the Prieta spring before continuing past the enormous peak of Vega Huerta and heading south down the Canal del Perro. Descend among the beech trees that surround the Vegabaño shelter, a welcome refuge after a killer day. Soak up this beautiful spot - next to the source of the Dobra River and by the thousand-year-old oak tree of Vegabaño - with sundowners, dinner and an overnight stay at the refuge.

Bid farewell to the Vegabaño shelter and enter the beech grove, going up a gentle slope and passing the habitat of capercaillie birds. Time for another summit: hike steadily up to Jario peak at 1913m. Separated from the rest of the massif by large meadows, you'll find an extraordinary viewpoint from which you'll see the summits of the Picos de Europa and the mountains of Ponga and Redes. Continue through the virgin woodland up to Dobres Rock, before starting your descent into the Valdeon Valley all the way to the village of Caldevilla. Follow the course of the Cares River to the village of Posada de Valdeón for a late lunch back in civilisation and a short taxi ride to the small village of Caín.

The only way is up! Another challenging day is ahead, with the most elevation to get through, but on an incredible route. Start hiking into the famous Cares Gorge, crossing tunnels and bridges through the spectacular canyon with steep drops towards the river below. Just before the bridge at Bolin, a sign indicates the start of the Canal de Trea, a steep ravine that offers no respite - there is a constant ascent until you reach the meadows of Vega de Ario, where you'll take a well-earned rest. Well done, you've completed one of the toughest stages of the Ring of Picos! The impressive views of the central massif are an excellent reward for today's push, accompanied by more sundowners and a hearty refuge dinner to refuel. Hopefully, you'll also be treated to an amazing Picos sunset.

One last push today, fuelling up on breakfast at the refuge before climbing to the summit of Jultayu (1940m) for unobstructed vistas of the entire central massif - home to the highest points in the Picos de Europa. Descend back to the plain of Ario and enjoy a steady downhill trail to the Collado del Jito (and yet more magnificent views), and then cross the Jou Llaguiellu to reach Lake Ercina - the end of the challenge. The Ring of Picos has been overcome! You'll be driven back to Cangas de Onis for a celebratory lunch, where you can toast an epic adventure and the completion of a memorable challenge, before your host transfers you back to the airport in time for evening flights.