The Picu Urriellu is the most emblematic mountain in the Picos de Europa: 2,519 metres of vertical limestone at the heart of the central massif. Its west face, smooth and almost without holds, is one of the legendary walls of European mountaineering. The first ascent was made by Pedro Pidal and Gregorio Pérez, known as “El Cainejo”, in 1904.
There are two usual ways to reach its foot: from Poncebos via Bulnes (the longer one, with 1,500 m of ascent) or from Sotres via Pandébano and the Camburero gully (shorter but more technical). The Urriellu meadow, with its staffed refuge, is the usual base camp.
This is not a climb to attempt unprepared. The approach alone is a demanding mountain route, and reaching the summit by any line is proper mountaineering, calling for a rope and real experience. If you don’t climb, the plan is to walk up to the meadow and take in the monolith from its base, which is reward enough to justify the trip. We’d recommend hiring a qualified local mountain guide.
