Potes to Ponferrada
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Nick Carthew - (MRA Master)
Last edit: 10-04-2025
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Verdict
Duration
8h 10m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
343.99 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review Nestled in the mountains of León lies Portilla de la Reina, a dreamy village that seems like something out of a legend. Its houses nestled against the cliffs and its clean air make this place a paradise waiting to be discovered at an altitude of 1,243 m. The village is sheltered by four rocky outcrops: Cuervo, Cuesta, Cruz, and Cincho. The Yuso River runs through the centre of the village and it is the entrance area from León to the Picos de Europa National Park. The road surface is generally good and there are several hairpin bends to negotiate.
The high peaks of Torre del Hoyo de Liordes at 2477 metres, with the slightly shorter Torre de Salinas 2447 metres to the right are in front of you dominating the skyline.
I have suggested a coffee stop in the mountain village of Posada de Valdeón, noting better than sipping your coffee in fresh mountain air surrounded by mountain peaks at over 2000m.
There are viewpoint after viewpoint and you have to decide which ones to stop at, I have highlighted a few.
The Puerto de las Señales at 1625 metres above sea level is the highest point of this route. Las Señales is one of the highest mountain passes in the Cantabrian Mountains in an environment which has a great wealth of fauna and flora , as well as natural viewpoints of great scenic beauty. From its summit, you can also observe the natural surroundings of the Cantabrian Mountains.
Then you'll be passing through the ski resort of San Isidro which has the border between Castilla y Leon and the Principality of Asturias running right through the middle of it.
The route follows river valleys, with mountain peaks and meadows on a mixture of roads but all have a reasonable surface.
I have suggested a lunch stop in the mountain village of Bárzana, there are several places to choose from but you'd be hard pushed to better Casa Jamallo which offers delicious local cuisine at affordable prices.
After lunch the route uses the AS-228 and follows the Rio Teverga to a tunnel, when you emerge from the Túnel de Valdecerca after 498 metres, you'll be in the Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park. The great biological richness of Las Ubiñas - La Mesa Natural Park makes it one of the few places where you can still see the magnificent brown bear. There's thought to be only around 400 individuals roaming wild, but you're in the heart of bear country so keep a look out.
Once again, the views and scenery are spectacular and the roads have some good, fast sweeping bends and a good surface, making this route ideal for motorcycles.
As the valley tightens up, you can stop for fuel and then you will pass through the rugged Gorges de Paramo, a narrow gorge with sheer cliffs either side of you and a short rock tunnel too, another great motorcycle road.
There are viewpoints all along this section of the route and as the road is not busy, it is easy to stop to take pictures. Mirador de Ubiña gives a great view of Peña Ubiña at 2417 metres it is one of the highest peaks.
The route travels on the Puenta de Las Palomas or Pigeon Bridge that crosses over a deep ravine carved out by the River Sil. The route will follow the Sil for the next 72 kilometres all the way to the finish at Hotel Ponferrada Plaza.
Enjoy
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Asturias
About this region
Asturias (, Spanish: [asˈtuɾjas]; Asturian: Asturies [asˈtuɾjes; -ɾjɪs]), officially the Principality of Asturias (Spanish: Principado de Asturias; Asturian: Principáu d'Asturies; Galician-Asturian: Principao d'Asturias), is an autonomous community in northwest Spain.
It is coextensive with the province of Asturias and contains some of the territory that was part of the larger Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages. Divided into eight comarcas (counties), the autonomous community of Asturias is bordered by Cantabria to the east, by León (Castile and León) to the south, by Lugo (Galicia) to the west, and by the Cantabrian sea to the north.
Asturias is situated in a mountainous setting with vast greenery and lush vegetation, making it part of Green Spain. The region has a maritime climate. It receives plenty of annual rainfall and little sunshine by Spanish standards and has very moderated seasons, most often averaging in the lower 20s celsius. Heatwaves are rare due to mountains blocking southerly winds. Winters are very mild for the latitude, especially near sea level.
The most important cities are the communal capital, Oviedo, the seaport and largest city Gijón, and the industrial town of Avilés. Other municipalities in Asturias include Cangas de Onís, Cangas del Narcea, Gozón, Grado, Langreo, Llanera, Laviana, Lena, Llanes, Mieres, Siero, Valdés, Vegadeo and Villaviciosa (see also List of municipalities and comarcas in Asturias).
Asturias is also home of the Princess of Asturias Awards.
Read more on Wikipedia
It is coextensive with the province of Asturias and contains some of the territory that was part of the larger Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages. Divided into eight comarcas (counties), the autonomous community of Asturias is bordered by Cantabria to the east, by León (Castile and León) to the south, by Lugo (Galicia) to the west, and by the Cantabrian sea to the north.
Asturias is situated in a mountainous setting with vast greenery and lush vegetation, making it part of Green Spain. The region has a maritime climate. It receives plenty of annual rainfall and little sunshine by Spanish standards and has very moderated seasons, most often averaging in the lower 20s celsius. Heatwaves are rare due to mountains blocking southerly winds. Winters are very mild for the latitude, especially near sea level.
The most important cities are the communal capital, Oviedo, the seaport and largest city Gijón, and the industrial town of Avilés. Other municipalities in Asturias include Cangas de Onís, Cangas del Narcea, Gozón, Grado, Langreo, Llanera, Laviana, Lena, Llanes, Mieres, Siero, Valdés, Vegadeo and Villaviciosa (see also List of municipalities and comarcas in Asturias).
Asturias is also home of the Princess of Asturias Awards.
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Route Collections in this region Three tours in and around Picos de Europa Northern Spain
The Picos de Europa is a mountainous area in northern Spain, next to the Basque Country. In the middle is the village of Posada de Valdeon, which cannot be reached by motorbike from the north: you have to drive around the Picos via Potes or Sames. We stayed overnight in Posada de Valdeon in Hostal Casa Abascal. A great hotel with breakfast option. You can eat in a restaurant in the village with usually a choice of two menus.
There are all kinds of nature reserves around the Picos. These three routes take you through some of them. There are gorges to see, viewpoints, reservoirs and you can walk more than fine. If you like walking, bring your walking shoes.
But we come to ride and it's going great. Excellent roads with the occasional piece of unpaved so that you do not have to detour far for another attraction. You can eat delicious food and the people are very nice and hospitable. And because the route to Lourdes goes above the Picos, there are also pilgrimage sites and very beautiful churches and monasteries. The most beautiful thing in this area is the nature: breathtakingly beautiful with wild animals, rugged mountains and wild rivers.
All in all, you can spend at least 4 days here if you take a day of rest or go for a walk.
There are all kinds of nature reserves around the Picos. These three routes take you through some of them. There are gorges to see, viewpoints, reservoirs and you can walk more than fine. If you like walking, bring your walking shoes.
But we come to ride and it's going great. Excellent roads with the occasional piece of unpaved so that you do not have to detour far for another attraction. You can eat delicious food and the people are very nice and hospitable. And because the route to Lourdes goes above the Picos, there are also pilgrimage sites and very beautiful churches and monasteries. The most beautiful thing in this area is the nature: breathtakingly beautiful with wild animals, rugged mountains and wild rivers.
All in all, you can spend at least 4 days here if you take a day of rest or go for a walk.
View Route Collection
Ten Day Roadtrip from Spain to Portugal
This route collection describes a 10-day Road trip in the north of Spain and Portugal, a true paradise for motorcycling.
You drive over beautiful mountain ridges and through beautiful valleys. Along the way you drive through beautiful villages and countless nature reserves, great passes with countless curves, tunnels cut out of the mountains and azure blue reservoirs. The roads are fair to good, sometimes unpaved.
What you get to see along the way;
Spanish Pyrenees
Parc Naturel del Cadi-Moixero
Serra del Cadí
Serra de Moixeró
Pedraforca
Serra del Monsec
Collada de Clarà
Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido
Collados del Asón Natural Park.
Parque natural Saja-Besaya
Parque natural de Fuentes Carrionas y Fuente Cobre
Parque natural de la Montana de Riano y Mampodre
Picos de Europa
El Parque regional Montaña de Riaño y Mampodre
El Parque natural de Redes
The Sierra de la Culebra
Parque natural Montesinho
Along the routes there are more than enough nice places to stop for a short or longer period, these are described in the review and with a waypoint and POI included in the routes.
Have fun reading and planning your next motorcycle vacation.
If you have ridden these routes I would like to hear your feedback.
You drive over beautiful mountain ridges and through beautiful valleys. Along the way you drive through beautiful villages and countless nature reserves, great passes with countless curves, tunnels cut out of the mountains and azure blue reservoirs. The roads are fair to good, sometimes unpaved.
What you get to see along the way;
Spanish Pyrenees
Parc Naturel del Cadi-Moixero
Serra del Cadí
Serra de Moixeró
Pedraforca
Serra del Monsec
Collada de Clarà
Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido
Collados del Asón Natural Park.
Parque natural Saja-Besaya
Parque natural de Fuentes Carrionas y Fuente Cobre
Parque natural de la Montana de Riano y Mampodre
Picos de Europa
El Parque regional Montaña de Riaño y Mampodre
El Parque natural de Redes
The Sierra de la Culebra
Parque natural Montesinho
Along the routes there are more than enough nice places to stop for a short or longer period, these are described in the review and with a waypoint and POI included in the routes.
Have fun reading and planning your next motorcycle vacation.
If you have ridden these routes I would like to hear your feedback.
View Route Collection