Giant of Valle Estrecho Trail

The trail starts from a signposted car park on the left of the reservoirs road, at kilometre 15.5, just past Santibáñez de Resoba if you are coming from Cervera de Pisuerga. You reach the highest point within the first twenty minutes, and the rest is an easy stroll across upland pasture, with cattle grazing at certain times of year.

The first stop is the Peñalbilla viewpoint, on the watershed between the Carrión and Pisuerga basins. The path is wide and well waymarked, with the valley you drove up on one side and the narrow Valle Estrecho, watered by the Rivera river, on the other. A short climb brings you close to Peña Negra (1,445 m), which you skirt on the right. To the north you can make out Peña Labra, Tres Mares and Cuchillón on the border with Cantabria.

The walk ends at the Caldacio viewpoint. Legend says the giant's daughter put him to sleep with a potion so she could escape, and that he eventually lay down on Peña Redonda to wait for her return. His tears, they say, still feed the Fuente Deshondonada spring. You come back the same way, facing Espigüete (2,450 m). The official leaflet recommends it all year round.