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Santo Adriano is the final stretch of the Ruta del Oso: Tuñón marks km 22 of the greenway, the pre-Romanesque church of 891 AD stands 300 metres off the path and the Xanas gorge trail starts in Villanueva.
What to see
The best of Santo Adriano fits in three stops: the pre-Romanesque church of Tuñón, the Buyera area with its bear enclosure and the gorges that squeeze the Trubia valley. Everything sits on the greenway itself or less than 300 metres from it, so you can visit with barely a detour from the route.
The municipality is also the northern gateway to the Ruta del Oso: this is where the coal came down on the mining railway inaugurated in 1884, and where, in May 1995, the first section reclaimed as a greenway opened — the 6 km between Tuñón and Proaza. If you come from Oviedo, this is the first piece of greenway you set foot on.
The church of Santo Adriano de Tuñón (891 AD)
It is the monument with the longest history on the whole route: a pre-Romanesque church consecrated in 891 AD, eleven centuries before the greenway existed.
- The signposted detour is 300 metres between the bear enclosure and Tuñón, five minutes on foot that repay the effort many times over.
Buyera and the Fernanchín bear enclosure
The Buyera recreation area, at km 18 of the greenway counting from Entrago, has picnic tables, a fountain and a seasonal bar; it is the classic stop before the final stretch.
- A kilometre further on, the Fernanchín enclosure covers 40,000 m² of hillside and is home to Molina, a rescued bear who arrived in 2013.
- The outdoor viewpoint beside the greenway is free and the chance of seeing her is around 70%, with the best windows from 9 to 11 am and 5 to 7 pm.
- This compound was home to Paca and Tola, rescued in Tineo in 1989 and here from 26 May 1996; Tola died in 2018 and Paca on 10 April 2025.
- Guided visit times are managed by the Fundación Oso de Asturias from the Bear House of Proaza.
- If you bring a dog, it cannot approach the viewpoint: the visit takes 15-20 minutes, so take turns.
- Buyera area — km 18: picnic tables, fountain and seasonal bar
- Fernanchín enclosure — km 19: 40,000 m² and a free outdoor viewpoint
- Tuñón church — 300 m detour: pre-Romanesque, 891 AD
- Tuñón — km 22: end of the greenway, around 40 parking spaces
The gorges of the Trubia valley
Upstream from Tuñón the greenway narrows twice, at Valdecerezales (km 15) and Peñas Juntas (km 12), the most spectacular passes on the greenway.
- If you would rather walk without doing the whole route, the loop from Tuñón adds up to 10 km and about 3 hours; you have all the variants in the greenway on foot.
The Xanas gorge
The municipality's other jewel is not on the greenway: the Xanas gorge starts in Villanueva, the capital of Santo Adriano, and has been a Natural Monument since 2002.
They call it the little Cares because the path is carved into the rock above the ravine, the legacy of an early 20th-century road project that was never finished.
The trail climbs to Pedroveya, already in the municipality of Quirós: about 8 km there and back, 500 metres of climbing and 2 to 3 hours of walking. It is a foot-only plan, no bikes or pushchairs, with the odd airy stretch where it is wise to keep children by the hand.
The plan we recommend in Santo Adriano: the enclosure viewpoint from 9 to 11 am, when Molina is most active and the Tuñón car park still has room, the church of 891 AD on the way back and, if your legs allow, the Xanas in the afternoon.
How to get there
By car from Oviedo take the A-63 to exit 9 (Trubia) and then the AS-228, the road that runs the length of the valley: it is 40 km and about 45 minutes to Entrago, with Tuñón much earlier, right as you enter the municipality.
From Gijón allow 70 km (1 hour) and from León, 85 km (1 h 15 min) via the AP-66 and the Ventana pass.
By bus, the Oviedo-San Martín de Teverga line stops in Tuñón, Proaza, Caranga and Entrago, with a full journey of around 55 minutes; timetables change by season and are published by the Asturias Transport Consortium.
By train, the nearest station is Trubia. And by bike you can get here from Oviedo linking the Parque de Invierno, the Fuso greenway and the Nora corridor: 34 km to Entrago, between 2.5 and 3 hours.
For parking, Tuñón offers around 40 free spaces beside the greenway, but in July, August and on long weekends they fill up before 10 am: start early or check alternatives in the parking guide. The detail of every access route is in how to get to the Ruta del Oso.
When to go and where to stay
The best months are May-June and September: kind temperatures and fewer people than in high summer.
In July and August the trick is to start early, with the bonus that the greenway's tunnels run 4 or 5 degrees cooler; in winter save the plan for sunny days, because the valley freezes. The month-by-month why is in the best time to do the route.
For sleeping, the beds are concentrated in Proaza, Teverga and Quirós, all within 10 minutes: holiday cottages, rural hotels, campsites and motorhome areas.
In July and August book 3 weeks or more ahead; many places pick you up on the greenway and store your bikes. You have the options in where to stay, and if you are missing a bike, rental starts at €28 a day with helmet, insurance and the return transfer from Buyera included.
Ruta del Oso