Wildflowers, Birds & Butterflies Walks
with Teresa Farino

In addition to our usual walking holidays in the Picos de Europa, Collett's are delighted to offer two specialist weeks of walks in the mountain flora and fauna, in May, with the well known British naturalist, Teresa Farino. You can choose to join Teresa, who will host your time out amidst the sensational flowers, birds and butterflies of the Picos de Europa, for a full week or just for a day or two, but places are limited so booking is highly recommended.

Click here for more information on the Wildflowers, Birds and Butterflies Walks with Teresa Farino.

Purple Vipers Bugloss
(Echium plantagineum)

The Picos de Europa National Park represents an easy and rewarding introduction to alpine flora. There is a real magic about these mountains. Is it the scenery with its contrasts between lush lowland meadows and fast flowing streams under spectacular limestone mountains? Or is it the winding country roads affording numerous opportunities to explore perhaps the most beautiful and floriferous landscapes in the world? Could it be the everwelcoming people? Or the food? Whatever it is, when the snow melts, and the first spring flowers burst forth, the real magic of the Picos de Europa emerges for all to see.

The early blooms of Narcissus asturiensis, perfectly formed daffodils yet less than three inches high, give way to gentians, orchids, androsace and a whole host of blues, whites, yellows and pinks with every shade in between throughout a long season.

In short, the Picos invites visitors of all abilities to experience the joy of alpine flowers, from the valleys of the Liébana to the extraordinary landscape of sheer limestone cliffs that awaits you at the viewing platform at the top of the exhilarating 800m cable car at Fuente De. The joy of seeing alpine flowers in their perfect setting never fails. And that's the real magic.

The flora of the Picos

Due to the diverse habitats within the Picos de Europa, a wide range of flora flourish with over 1400 species in the national park alone. The deciduous woodland and meadows at lower level are home to species such as white asphodel, semi-parasitic yellow rattle, heartflowered serapias, tassel hyacinths, early purple orchids, fragrant orchids - there are more than 40 orchid species in the national park! - masterwort and lungwort, to name but a few.

Higher up, nestled between the limestone, summer grazing pastures become a floral paradise - tall purple spikes of monkshood aconites, the Merendera montana lily, gentians, carpets of wild narcissus, snakeshead fritillary, burnt orchids, black vanilla orchids, and common spotted orchids, all making their homes here. Under ancient oak, lime, chestnut, walnut, hazel and elm trees, grow species such as wood anemone, wood sorrel, stinking and green hellebores, dog violets, primroses, and martagon lilies.

Above the tree-line, small rock gardens play host to hardy species like bellflowers, ferns, stonecrops, saxifrages, sedges and toadflaxes.

Birds, Butterflies & Wildlife

From river-valleys at almost sea-level to alpine habitats in the high mountains, the Picos de Europa are home to a wealth of animal-life. The graceful and agile 'rebeco' (or chamois) are often seen on higher slopes. Roe deer dart through the woodlands, where you might also see red squirrels. The marten, wild cat, stoat, otter, fox, badger, polecat and weasel will be seen by the more alert amongst you. Evidence of wild boars is common but sightings are very rare - but not as rare, however, as sightings of the Cantabrian brown bear!

Golden eagles are regular visitors to the skies but it is more common to see the Egyptian and Griffon vultures riding the mid-day thermals. The crimson winged wallcreeper remains elusive but you might see one on the remoter rock-faces of the national park. Of course, the ubiquitous alpine choughs will loiter cheekily at mountain refuges or known picnic spots. Also making an appearance during your stay will hopefully be the black woodpecker, middle spotted woodpecker, treecreeper, snow finch, alpine accentor, eagle owl and peregrine. Butterflies abound here, particularly in the lower wildflower meadows. Some are endangered, such as the marsh fritillary, but others thrive and bring great pleasure to low and medium level walkers.

A Week of Wildflowers, Birds & Butterflies with Teresa Farino

In addition to our usual walking holidays in the Picos de Europa, we are delighted to offer a dedicated week of mountain flora and fauna in the Picos de Europa. For this venture, we are lucky enough to be in association with the well known British naturalist, Teresa Farino, who will host your time out amidst the sensational flowers, birds and butterflies. You can choose to come either on 12th to 19th May or 19th to 26th May 2012.

Click here for more details on our dedicated week with Teresa Farino.

Red Squirrel

Chamois

Up close and personal with a Griffon Vulture