ES BRAÑA DE LA PORNACAL
La Pornacal, Somiedo's great thatched braña
Braña de La Pornacal is one of the largest and best preserved in Somiedo Natural Park, and the one with the most teito huts: more than thirty stone buildings thatched with broom, on the banks of the Pigüeña river. You cannot drive there: it is a walk of just over an hour from Villar de Vildas along an easy track.
La Pornacal in figures
- Where it is: in the Pigüeña valley, on the western side of Somiedo.
- How to get there: on foot from Villar de Vildas, on the Pigüeña valley route (PR.AS-14.1).
- Time: 1 h 10 min uphill, a little over 3 km.
- Difficulty: easy.
- Huts: 34, in four neighbourhoods.
What to see in the braña
- The teito huts. They are rectangular, with stone walls and a roof of plant material, broom or piorno.
- The four neighbourhoods: El Cabo, El Medio, La Prida and El Río. The Pigüeña splits the braña in two.
- The Las Sendas beech wood, across the river to the west: a large forest that shelters the most representative wildlife of the region.
- The La Prida spring, almost at the southern end of the braña, to refill your water.
Brañas are seasonal herders' settlements. For how people lived in these huts, see the brañas of Somiedo.
How to get to La Pornacal
You leave the car in Villar de Vildas, reached by road up the Pigüeña valley from Aguasmestas (more in how to get to Somiedo). A track leaves the village heading south, crosses the river almost at once at the Cotado bridge and climbs, with no way to go wrong, along the left bank of the Pigüeña to the braña. This is the Pigüeña valley route (PR.AS-14.1).
Times from Villar de Vildas, according to the official route sheet:
| Point | Time |
|---|---|
| Cotado bridge | 5 min |
| Braña de La Pornacal | 1 h 10 min |
| La Prida spring | 1 h 20 min |
| Corralón waterfall | 1 h 50 min |
| Braña Viecha (or de los Cuartos) | 2 h 15 min |
Carrying on to Braña Viecha
Beyond La Pornacal the track continues gently up the valley, leaving the La Requexada meadows on the right. Early in the day or at dusk you may see red deer or chamois grazing on the slopes. Then the valley narrows, the climb steepens and you reach the Corralón waterfall and, soon after, Braña Viecha or de los Cuartos.
This is an older type of braña: circular huts, the corros, roofed with stone slabs. The route ends beside the Los Cuartos spring, with views of the Cereizales valley. In all it is 6 km and 2 h 15 min from Villar de Vildas, and you return the same way.
Before you go
- Stay on the path. The route runs through a narrow strip of farmland surrounded by special restricted-use areas that are closed to the public.
- When to go: the Asturias tourist board recommends spring, summer and autumn.
- Water: there is a spring at La Pornacal (La Prida) and another at Braña Viecha (Los Cuartos).
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive to La Pornacal?
No. You leave the car in Villar de Vildas and walk up from there along a track.
How long does it take to reach La Pornacal?
1 hour 10 minutes from Villar de Vildas, according to the official route sheet; about two and a half hours there and back, not counting the visit.
Is it a walk for children?
Yes. It is a wide, easy track; the Asturias tourist board considers it suitable for mountain bikes too, including families with children.
How many huts does La Pornacal have?
Thirty-four, according to the Natural Park's official sheet, spread over four neighbourhoods.
What is the difference between La Pornacal and Braña Viecha?
La Pornacal has rectangular huts thatched with broom. Braña Viecha, one hour further up, is older: its huts are circular, the corros, and roofed with stone slabs.