From Gijón the route first goes south. After barely 15 minutes driving it turns into the mountains. The chosen road gradually becomes narrower, a good indication that less and less traffic can be expected here. Puerto de Tarna is the first serious mountain pass, several more will follow.

At the Riaño reservoir (Embalse de Riaño) in the village of Riaño is Bar El Mentidero. A nice place to stretch your legs and think about the construction of this reservoir. The construction took many years and is very controversial. Many villages disappeared under the water and the inhabitants fought hard to stop the reservoir.

After the break, the route continues into the higher mountains. Puerto de San Glorio is the next high mountain pass. Shortly after this, the route continues up a narrow road. Be careful: There is often free-roaming cattle here! When you arrive at the Collado de Llesba viewpoint, a viewpoint with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains, you will find el Monumento al Oso Pardo, the monument for the brown bear. The brown bear is almost extinct in Spain, but a few specimens still roam freely here. It is a short walk to the monument, but it is definitely worth it.
After a steep descent the route arrives at the village of La Vega. In this sparsely populated area Bar Yoly is the perfect place for lunch.

The route continues over several mountain passes with several viewpoints along the route. Upon arrival in Reinosa, Bar Las Ruedas is the place to strengthen the inner man. Once you reach the town of Reinosa, the real climbing is over and the descent towards the coast begins. Bilbao is another 130 km away. This is also a wonderful stretch to drive.

In Bilbao you can switch from the peace in the mountains to the hustle and bustle in a big city. Bilbao is a beautiful city in the Basque Country region. It is best known for its impressive architecture, rich culture and delicious gastronomy. Not to be missed in Bilbao are, among other things, the Guggenheim Museum, el Casco Viejo and the Santiago Cathedral.
The iconic Guggenheim Museum designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry is a must-see. The building itself is a work of art and inside you will find an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art. Bilbao’s old city centre, el Casco Viejo, is full of narrow streets, historical buildings and cosy pintxos bars. And finally, the Santiago Cathedral: This Gothic cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in Bilbao and an important religious monument. It is a beautiful place to visit and learn more about the history of the city.