Watermills of the Rio Profundo Route

We've heard good stories about this route before and wanted to do it already for a long time. However, the total route is 14 km go and back, and this is just a bit too much to do with two kids of 3 and 5 years old. However, friends of ours convinced us to join and just walk as far as we could and back, and I am so happy we went there last weekend!

The Watermills of the Rio Profundo Route (Molinos del rio Profundo) starts close to Villaviciosa. When driving to the starting point, you'll soon understand why Villaviciosa is part of the cider region; there are orchards and Sidrerias, the places where the famous Asturian cider is made, everywhere!

At the start of the route, there are around 15 parking spots opposite of the road, and around a dozen more 100 meters before. When you follow the signs from the information panel, it's almost impossible to get lost (don't try to enter the old stony gate on the right of the panel, that's NOT the right track).

Soon, you'll find yourself walking along a murmuring river with crystal clear water and surrounded by all shades of green, even in winter! This is caused, for example, by the moss covering the rocks and trees, and ferns on the ground. Take care, it can be VERY muddy, so please wear appropriate shoes! Now and then, you'll find a wooden figure representing one of Asturian's mythological figures. The damp, green environment really makes you understand why these figures were, and still are, so much present in Asturian culture!

After about 1.5 kilometers you pass a farm where blueberries are sold in summer. Also, you find the remainders of old watermills along the way. There are 18 in total along the route! If you do the whole track, you're rewarded by finding a waterfall at the end. We, however, went back the same way after 2.5 km, but it was enough to relax and disconnect a bit in this green Asturian fairytale land!