Hotel Rural Casa Cipriano

At the end of the road, between two massifs

Sotres is the highest village in Cabrales and lies on the divide between the central and eastern massifs of the Picos de Europa, at the end of a mountain road that climbs from Poncebos. Casa Cipriano has been in the village since 1969: it began as a bar with a few beds and an eatery, and the same family has turned it into a second-category country hotel, with a restaurant and a guiding company.

Sleeping here makes sense if you come to walk. You leave the door for the Vega de Urriellu, beneath the Naranjo de Bulnes, and on your return you do not have to drive at night along the Poncebos road.

Sixteen rooms facing the central massif

There are fourteen doubles, one triple and one single, all with private bathroom, telephone and television, with views of the central massif. The website does not publish prices or photos of each type: the rate is requested by phone, by email or with the website form. Nor does it say whether pets are allowed or detail the breakfast, beyond saying that the house's pastries are served at breakfast and lunch: ask when you book.

Turismo Asturias records the establishment's closure only on 31 December and 1 January, so it is open in winter too, when the house organises ski-touring outings.

The house guides and taxi

Casa Cipriano's guide company is made up of high-mountain sports technicians and was a pioneer in Sotres. They offer hiking, crossings, climbing, ascents of the Picos peaks, caving and canyoning, and in winter ski touring. They do not publish prices: ask at reception.

The 4x4 taxi solves what the road does not: it takes you to the start of a route, picks you up at the end, takes you to other villages or drops you at a connection with other transport. Book at the hotel or on 630 916 032.

Eating, parking and leaving the bike

On the ground floor is the house restaurant, serving home-style Asturian cooking, with suckling kid and the fabada made with farm fabes as the main dishes, and options for coeliacs. The bar is rustic, with a fireplace and a terrace, and free wifi in the common areas. They have private free parking beside the hotel. Turismo Asturias lists a closed bike store and a workshop area with tools, useful if you come by bicycle.

From Sotres you can also walk to Bulnes via Pandébano, and going down to Poncebos you have the Bulnes funicular and the start of the Cares.