Monte Picota Bunkers

The summits of Monte Picota, between the Alto del Cuco, in Mortera, and the Pico del Castillo, in Liencres, hold one of the largest networks of twentieth-century fortifications in Cantabria: Civil War bunkers, anti-aircraft trenches, machine-gun nests and powder magazines, 21 structures preserved. From the top you have the Liencres coast, the dunes and the bay of Santander.

The mountain

La Picota is the coastal massif that Liencres shares with Mortera and Boo. According to the Piélagos town council, its summits of the Alto de San Andrés, at 159 metres, and the Castillo, at 174, close the horseshoe of La Picota and separate Liencres from Mortera. Hay meadows run up its slopes, and below lies the village, among the neighbourhoods of La Iglesia, La Portilla, La Cruz and Somacueto.

What you see

The structures are spread over the upper slopes of the mountain: concrete bunkers, remains of trenches and machine-gun nests. From above you can see the broken coast of Liencres, the sands and the pine forest of the natural park, the Pas estuary and, to the east, the bay of Santander. It is a good viewpoint for understanding why this coast is called Costa Quebrada (the Broken Coast).

The route

You can climb from the Liencres side or from Mortera. Allow about two hours for going up, going round the structures and coming down. The official sources we have consulted do not describe a waymarked path or a distance: bring the route downloaded on your phone or ask at the Liencres tourist office before setting out. Choose a clear day: in fog, there are no views and the paths are hard to find.

Safety

They are unrestored military remains. Bring a torch if you want to look inside, but do not enter structures with roofs or walls in poor condition, and watch out for the mouths of the trenches, which may be covered by vegetation. With children, keep them in sight at all times. Wear mountain footwear: in rain, the meadows and tracks turn to mud. Dogs may come, on a lead.

Who it is for

For teenagers curious about history and for anyone who walks confidently. There are no facilities at the top: bring water and something warm, because the sea wind blows on the summits.

Getting there

Liencres is reached from exit 7 of the A-67, in the direction of Santander, along the CA-203, or from exit 9, towards Boo, along the CA-231. Also from the N-611, at kilometre point 198, with a left turn of about 5 km.

How to combine it

From the top you will see the next destination: the walk through the Liencres dunes and the Valdearenas beach, or the cliffs of La Arnía beach. For lunch, Burdo Restobar, in the centre of Liencres.