In the west of Cantabria (Spain), marking the edge of the Picos de Europa, we find the Hermida Gorge: a steep gorge 21 kilometres long, the longest on the Iberian Peninsula.
The river Deva flows through it, flanked by rock faces that reach a height of 600 metres, making the gorge an authentic scenic spectacle.
Apart from the river Deva, there is hardly any space left along the Hermida for the winding N-621 road that connects Unquera with Lebeña (the end of the gorge) and Potes, the capital of the Liébana valley. This route is the only road access to the valley from the Cantabrian Sea.
Inside the gorge you can enjoy several viewpoints located on the sides of the road, conveniently signposted, and others for which it is necessary to leave the gorge to get the best views. The most impressive is the Santa Catalina viewpoint. From the Santa Catalina viewpoint you can see the gorge from above, with the Picos de Europa in the background and, if you are lucky, you may even see the bearded vultures flying right in front of you. Quite a natural spectacle.
If you like adventure sports, you are in luck, because in the Hermida gorge there is one of the first Via Ferratas to be built in Cantabria, called the Hermida. A via ferrata is a climbing route with aids in the form of steel steps, so you can climb the mountain easily, without knowing anything about climbing, in total safety, as you will always be hooked to a safety cable.
