Hi,
A few days ago with my mother, my aunt and uncle and my cousin we decided to travel for about 45 minutes from our homes to the village of Oneta (Villayon-Asturias) to make a very simple and little known mountain route to the Cascadas de Oneta.
Beginning of the route
The beginning of the route is very simple, as we will start walking from the village of Oneta along flat paths near pastures and cornfields.
This small mountain village is within the so-called vaqueira area, a territory in which it was common for entire families to move annually depending on the seasons and livestock farming between different parts of Asturias, to take advantage of the pastures.
Along the route we will be able to see some typical Asturian traditional aerial granary structures known as ‘Horreos’.
When we have been walking for about 400 metres approximately, we will find the first mountain route signpost and as you can see by its colours it indicates that it is a simple and short route. This route is approximately 1.5km long, but you will see that it is a route of great natural beauty.
After passing the signpost of the mountain route, the first significant change is that the type of path changes and we begin to walk along a grassy path for about 200 metres. In this area we come across a small snake but the nerves that reptiles cause me did not allow me to take a photo of it because the snake was more afraid than I was and escaped through the undergrowth on one side.
First waterfall (Firbia)
Guided by the sound of the water falling from the waterfall we continue our way, and we enter a forest of beech, oak, ash, chestnut and other characteristic trees of the area with a beautiful green color due to the abundant rains that we have in Asturias almost all the year round.
And without even wanting to, we will approach the first of the waterfalls and the most spectacular of all due to its height, the Firbia waterfall, which despite being in the middle of summer, has a spectacular flow.
In this waterfall of about 15 metres high, we will find in the vicinity large stones that partially close the passage of water and that are ideal points to climb them and take several pictures with the waterfall in the background.
There is also the possibility of walking along the side of the wall, although it is very damp and the risk of falling increases so that you can stand practically under the waterfall.
And of course, helped by the large stones, there is a small pool of water that would allow you to enjoy a natural swimming pool. It's a pity we hadn't brought our swimming costumes for the occasion.
But because there were two girls bathing there I avoided taking photos that might cause problems with their parents who were in the vicinity.
Ulloa waterfall
After visiting the first waterfall, we retraced our steps some 150 metres along the river bank to an old water mill in order to visit the second waterfall.
The path at the beginning was easy, a little wet and muddy. But nothing dangerous. And above all pleasant to be surrounded by the vegetation and the sound of the waterfalls and the flowing river in the background.
The route to the waterfall is very well signposted, with signs every few metres. And at first the route was very simple. Completely flat walking through an apparently almost walled area which attracted our attention.
But soon the situation became slightly more complicated, with some slopes with large loose stones, but nothing out of the ordinary that could stop us until we reached our objective, which was the Ulloa waterfall.
Along the way we had to negotiate some fallen trees, but already covered with moss and ferns, which made the route even more charming.
Until we reached the Ulloa waterfall with a bit of tiredness as you can see on my mother's face.
I stayed there for a while taking photos until my uncle arrived with my cousin. Despite having a certain fear of heights and slopes, he arrived at the vicinity of the waterfall with the satisfaction of a job well done.
And with due caution, we went back to where we had come down and as you can see the slopes were steep but with due calm we finally arrived back in the village where in a small bar we drank water and soft drinks to go back home.
