This route will bring us to the most emblematic places of the area of “Las Merindandes” such as Puentedey, Ojo Guareña and the mountain dwellers' environment.

The route that leaves from Villarcayo takes us into the Nela Valley and the Cantabrian Range.

After the journey of about 135 kilometres it will be difficult for us to forget the charm of the visited places.

In Villarcayo we will visit the Plaza Mayor (High Square), the area of “el Soto”, the boasted houses of Santa Marina and the monastery of Santa Maria la Real de Vilena.

Salazar is a nice village known for its palaces, houses and towers. Apart of that, the popular architecture is worth to be mentioned.

We approach Escaño following a bad road (we can also take direction Ciguenza ) to admire its slender Romanesque church.

In Nela we will be surprised by the wonderful natural scenery sculpted by the river. Next to the hermitage of Sobrepeña we find a marvellous panoramic.

The neighbours of Quintanilla Valdebodres have preserved the traditional architecture well. Than we have the waterfall of “La Mea”.

The river Nela took thousands of years to perforate the limestone rock and to create the unique place called Puentedey.

Above this impressive natural bridge we see a part of a farmhouse, a palace and a church.

On our way to Leva a stream flows into the beech trees and it is a nice place to enjoy.

The Velasco tower dominates the silhouette of Cidad.

An old dolmen can be found on our way to Busnela, an abandoned village next to the source of river Nela.

The Engaña tunnel communicated Burgos with “Valle del Pas in Cantabria, it is considered to be one of the longest tunnels of Europe, being nearly seven kilometres long.

Nowadays this deserted and ruined tunnel is the best sample of our forgotten lands.

Entrambosrios, alike so many small villages of Merindad de Sotoscueva, is a good example of integration in the stock–farmer landscape.

Seeing this privileged surrounding we shouldn't forget Ojo Guareña . This complex of cavities, up to 100 kilometres long, is nowadays a protected natural space.

The hermitage of San Bernabe contains an important collection of original wall paintings. Beneath we find river Guareña, shaping caves and galleries, introducing itself into the heart of the complex.

Around the tower of the “Velasco” we find the strongholds of the village in Quisicedo. Quintanilla del Rebollar is one of those villages that has taken care of its buildings.

If the route is too long, we can go back to Cornejo , leaving the rest of the course for another day. In Cornejo the dry riverbed of the “Trema” is bordered by solid houses.

From the road of Villarcayo, a split way will bring us to Butrera, its church is one of the regional Romanesque treasures.

By the “Plaza de Sancho Grande” we find the town of Espinosa de los Monteros , it conserves interesting defensive buildings and residential and religious constructions. The castle of the Velasco or the Palace of the Chiloeches announce the wealth hidden behind its walls.

Las Machorras is the centre of a way of life, in danger of extinction, that life is based on cattle driving

We have to mention the feast of “las Nieves” on the fifth of august.

If there is some time left we recommend to ascend one of the mountain passes of the area, for example Lunada.

The landscape is simply marvellous: cottages, grasslands and woods are unique in this particular environment.