Into the Gorge; hiking the Ruta del Cares

The Ruta del Cares trail, from Poncebos to Caín de Valdeón in the Picos de Europa in northern Spain, follows the Rio Cares (Cares River) as it winds into the Garganta del Cares (Cares Gorge) beneath bulking limestone mountains which form sharp, spiking summits and have huge caves hidden deep within their rocks. Not for the faint-hearted, it is arguably the best day hike in Spain. On a beautiful morning in September I headed out onto the trail to see for myself…