The Andara mines were one of the great mining complexes of the Picos de Europa between the late nineteenth century and the mid-twentieth. They mainly extracted sphalerite and galena (zinc and lead) deep in the eastern massif, at over 1,700 m, under extreme working conditions.
Today there are remains of the workings, huts, rails and mine entrances that you can visit on foot along a circular high-mountain route. The landscape is bare, almost lunar, and brings together geological interest and industrial heritage. The usual route starts from Sotres and crosses Vegas de Sotres and the Jou sin Tierre.
It’s a demanding mountain day, with considerable cumulative ascent and ground exposed to changeable weather. We’d recommend doing it with a local mountain guide and only between June and September.
