Roca Verde

Las mejores guías de Escalada Deportiva de la Cordillera Cantábrica. Sport climbing guides to north-west Spain: Asturias, Leon, Cantabria. Me contacten / Contact me: richie@rocaverdeclimbing.com

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Thinking of a Roca Verde – here’s what Josh Wharton had to say…

March 4, 2020 by Roca Verde Climbing Leave a Comment

Here’s a review of the Roca Verde region from the renowned American alpinist Josh Wharton, who stayed at Casa Quiros with his family last year..

“I’ve been fortunate to travel a lot as a climber, and through all that travel I’ve learned that climbing areas, at least in part, live up to their reputations. Ceuse does have immaculate rock, and a big hike. Catalunya does have thousands of crags in every style, and generally soft grades. And Rifle does have enough hard routes to keep you occupied for a lifetime, and enough kneebars to justify shaving your thighs. Conversely, when breaking off the well trodden paths, you expect something to be a little lacking. The rock might be great, but it rains all the time. There are only ten routes actually worth doing. Or rest days consist of staring at your navel.

And that’s exactly why the Asturias region, and Teverga in particular, was so shockingly good. Since I’d never met anyone that had climbed in the area I expected something would be missing. The routes would be dirty, the approaches epically long, it would rain the entire trip, something was bound to be up. Instead it was one of, if not the best, family sport climbing trips I’ve ever been on. First off, the scenery was green and beautiful, with rolling green mountainsides that reminded me of Switzerland.

Josh Wharton on Samba pa ti, 8a, El covachon, Teverga

There were lovely bike paths on many of the approaches, which often allowed my daughter to ride her bike to the crag. And the climbing was amazing, varied, and never crowded. At the Entecampos I was delighted by 40 meter vision quest wall climbs, where one pitch felt like an entire days worth of climbing. At Bovedas, I was served a slice of humble pie on near horizontal tufas and pockets. And when it did rain there was the incredible, and completely protected Muro Techno stacked with even more routes. On rest days we drove an hour to the coast, and were treated to a beautiful rugged coastline with empty secluded beaches. My daughter splashed in the waves, and afterwards we feasted on four course seafood lunches for ten euro, and toured charming little cities.

But of course there are all sorts of reason you shouldn’t go too. Because of the lack of traffic there aren’t gobs of chalk and tick marks, so on sighting is a little tough. It certainly does rain a bit more than in southern Spain. The wifi is spotty, and the area is too sleepy to have developed its own hashtag. And the water at the beach was a bit chilly in June. Yeah, if fact, the place is total rubbish. Don’t go at all. But if you do bother, please leave your draws on Manumission, I’d like to have another go on that one!”

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Filed Under: Blog, Climbing, Reviews, Teverga Tagged With: Asturias, Climbing in Teverga, climbing northern spain, Cordillera Cantabrica, escalada asturias, escalada deportiva, escalada roca verde, family climbing, Josh Wharton, northern Spain, roca verde climbing, rock climbing, rock climbing asturias, spanish climbing, sport climbing, Teverga, tourist tips, travel, tufa climbing

James Pearson Guest Blog – Roca Verde Road Trip – Day 1 + 2 Eastern Asturias

January 22, 2020 by Roca Verde Climbing Leave a Comment

“Sometimes our trips are meticulously planned and sometimes they just happen, often at the whim of others. Our Roca Verde road trip was the latter. Touching down at night in late October to Santander after a week of work in England we were looking forward to a climbing break – but we hadn’t a clue what to expect – all we knew was that we had seven days guided round the region.  

Our good friend Richie Patterson, the author of the first English language guide to a block of north-west Spain he’d christened Roca Verde, had invited us; but we didn’t really know where we were going or what the area encompassed. We’d actually not climbed in Spain for a while as we are always looking to go a little ‘off-piste’ as the crowds and polish of the major destinations,  don’t really appeal. So when Richie promised unpolished rock, empty crags and plenty of great routes – we were intrigued enough to give it a go!”  James Pearson

Day 1 – La Hermida – Cantabria

Arriving in the dark, never gives a sense of the surroundings so it was a big surprise to wake up in an enormous, steep-sided valley. Not only because it was filled with huge crags but also because it was incredibly green, tree-lined and not at all ‘Spanish’ looking.

The Desfiladero de La Hermida marks the Eastern border of the mountains of the Picos de Europa and is the one of the major tourist routes into the heart of the mountains. Our hotel, La Cuadrona, a beautifully restored traditional building, was a bit further north, at the centre of the climbing in the village of La Hermida itself. Known as the climber’s bar the owners were incredibly friendly, used to dealing with foreigners and knew to provide the sort of ‘mountainous’ breakfast that it turned out we were going to need for the day!

How big?!? Carcalosa is really impressive…

I say that because Richie had arranged a bit of a treat, a visit with one of the busiest local equippers, Alberto Hontavilla, to his latest work in progress. A stack of exceptional routes in the huge cave of Carcalosa. Imposing and tufa-strewn it’s also situated on the ‘wrong’ side of the river and perched above a slope that necessitates a 45 minute hike. Braving the icy water we crossed and made our way up the hillside, marveling at the dedication needed to even create the path, never mind to slog with all the gear needed for equipping.  Secretly we wondered if this was not the beginning of just another of Richie’s ‘brilliant ideas’, yet as we pulled on the last of the fixed ropes and the full extent of the cave came into view, we realised it was totally worth it.  A deep, seemingly bottomless hole flanked on either side by steep, tufa covered walls.  Not at all the type of limestone we were expecting!

Alberto Hontavilla on his project

All in all there are around 50 routes from 6a and up to 8b, with many projects still to climb. Slap bang in the middle of the main wall is Dimensión Paralela 7c+ and the “tram line” tufas just have to be climbed.  At 40 meters long, it is an endurance marathon, and doesn’t give up anything until just before the chain.  At the end of the day we couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised!  Perfect rock, brilliant routes, friendly locals, and superb views.  Luckily for us, this feeling would become more and more common as the week went on!

Caroline Ciavaldini enjoying Dimension Paralella, 7c+

Day 2 – Poo de Cabrales – Eastern Asturias

A second giant breakfast eased our discovery that rain had fallen in the night – you don’t get to be green and lush without a little water. Our intention had been to head straight to Poo de Cabrales, one of the most well known sport-climbing venues around the Picos. But, worried it may be raining there too, Richie suggested a quick-hit at the roadside of Urdon just a few of km from the hotel, to do a couple of routes while the weather settled.   He swore Urdón had a climate of its own and was ‘almost always-dry’, yet with the roads still soaking and the mist hanging low, I wasn’t sure I believed him.  Happily the walk in this time was short, around one minute, and there were no rivers to cross. We climbed a pair of excellent wall climbs, 6c and 7c, on solid orange and grey rock, that despite the falling rain were in perfect condition.

Heading out of the valley from it became pretty obvious that it had been a localised shower as clear blue skies greeted us at the end of the half-hour drive to Arenas de Cabrales, a short hop from the crag. Grabbing some bread, chorizo and a chunk of the famously fierce Cabrales blue cheese we were soon in T shirts and marvelling at the views of Picu Urriellu from the car-park below Poo.

Caroline on Infiltrados, 7a, one of the amazing tufas which cover sector Chorerras, Poo de Cabrales

As we arrived at the crag it was immediately obvious why Poo was so popular. A ten-minute hike leads up to a compact little crag, with several sectors ranging from slabby to steep. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the magnificent Picos, Poo is one of the most visually pleasing crags of the area, and the climbing’s not half bad either.  There are too many good routes to choose a favourite, and on national pride alone I should really mention Englishmen, 7c, opened in 1991 by our friends Nick Dixon and Andy Popp.  However the most memorable route of the day, if only for the never-ending discussion of the grade, had to be Lord Byron, an intense and athletic 7c(+) at the Horóscopo sector.

You can check out James and Caro’s adventures in northern Spain in a short series of movies they made about the place: their Roca Verde Road Trip.
They’re all on Epic TV so here’s some links
Part 1 – https://youtu.be/n5bil2d1Br4
Part 2 – https://youtu.be/yq37n0zej9A
Part 3 – https://youtu.be/HQ6RheBVFog

 

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Filed Under: Climbing, climbing guide book, La Hermida, sports climbing Tagged With: Asturias, Cantabria, Climbing in Teverga, climbing northern spain, Cordillera Cantabrica, desfiladero de La Hermida, La Hermida, spanish climbing, sport climbing, travel, tufa climbing

Bird Bans are starting – from 15th Jan

January 17, 2020 by Roca Verde Climbing Leave a Comment

January is the time when climbing bans start as birds begin to nest – so in this table you can see the dates and sites affected.

Right now there are only restrictions in Teverga with the golden eagle in Peña Sobia and Peña Llana. But very soon, in March, there will be a bunch more affected areas and then we always have to keep in mind that we are not the only animals who like and need the cliffs!

I have all these bans marked appropriately in the guidebook but just in case you don’t have it then you can see them here…

 

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Filed Under: Climbing, sports climbing Tagged With: Asturias, bird bans, birds, Climbing in Teverga, Cordillera Cantabrica, Quiros, roca verde climbing, spanish climbing, sport climbing, Teverga, tourist tips, travel

Getting Roca Verde 2nd Edition to the printers > having a baby…

April 20, 2016 by Roca Verde Climbing Leave a Comment

After realising around last October that the original Roca Verde was going to sell out – in around 18 months only – I was obviously thrilled.

However, that also meant that I had to start again and so, after 6 more months of intense work here I am with the second edition on the presses in Aviles (in Asturias) as we speak.

The 'doctor' oversees the birth - it's a book...
The ‘doctor’ oversees the birth – it’s a book…

A manic weekend (as well as several manic days before that) led me to this position and the stress, sleeplessness and last minute panic somehow led me to the conclusion that producing a book is a bit like having a baby…

Now I am not saying that it’s equivalent but (and this is just what I have been told obviously) in so much as that women having their second one say they only do it as they have forgotten how bad it was first time.

And that’s the same with books.

You forget about the proofing, the endless fucking proofing: re-read = errors, re-read again = errors, then more errors until you even wonder if it’ll ever end. Then it goes to PDF proof from the printers, more errors; then your PC decides it can’t cope and won’t print…etc etc etc

And in the end you sit there say sod it and just push it out…LOL

Giving it the first once over...'it's a healthy 512 pages'
Giving it the first once over…’it’s a healthy 512 pages’

Anyway, despite all that the new version of Roca Verde is ready to go and I should have copies in store on the 2nd May.

Full details will be released at the end of the week save to say that it’s jam-packed with even more brilliant routes in this amazing region – and lots of stunning photos too!!

There are stunning new images like this across the book...
There are stunning new images like this across the book…

 

 

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Filed Under: Climbing Tagged With: Asturias, casa quiros, Climbing in Teverga, Cordillera Cantabrica, desfiladero de La Hermida, escalada asturias, escalada deportiva, escalada roca verde, northern Spain, Quiros, roca verde climbing, rock climbing, rock climbing asturias, spanish climbing, sport climbing, Teverga, travel

Roca Verde reviewed by Climb Magazine Jan 2015

January 27, 2015 by Roca Verde Climbing Leave a Comment

There is nothing that makes me more nervous that putting Roca Verde up for review.

Because even though it’s been quite successful so far, and everyone’s been very complimentary, there’s always the feeling at the back of my mind that I’ve missed something and that someone, one day will point out the obvious thing I’ve missed! I’ll pick up the magazine and the review will read something like ‘the book was great but if only Richie hadn’t made that huge mistake on page 99’.

And all of that goes double when the review in question comes from Climb Magazine, and it’s author is Dave Pickford who’s not only been to Asturias but is a man of high standards.  So it was with great trepidation that I picked up my copy of the Jan 2015 issue where my book was being reviewed…

Climb Magazine Jan 2015
Climb Magazine Jan 2015

And it was an audible sigh I let out when I read it. No huge error had come to light and Dave seemed to like the book and certainly still had fond memories of Asturias and his visit.

Indeed, his words of encouragement to ‘just buy a copy of Roca Verde and book a flight to Santander’ echo my own and so I’ll say it again. This is a great spot hop on a plane and come and visit us…

Casa Quiros – It’s worth mentioning here that we have just opened a new guesthouse in the region so if you are thinking of a visit please check out our website for booking and prices.

Finally if you’re not convinced by that review here’s another – this time from the estimable Niall Grimes and if you’re still not convinced here’s another from Miles Gibson

 

 

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Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Asturias, climb magazine, Climbing in Teverga, climbing northern spain, Cordillera Cantabrica, escalada asturias, escalada deportiva, reviews, roca verde climbing, roca verde climbing review, rock climbing, sport climbing, travel

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rocaverdeclimb

Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 1052022 Felices Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 1052022 Felices fiestas. Muy buen día en Teverga y casi no hay nadie. Soleado pero con un viento fuerte entonces dentro de la sombra hace frío. Va secando todo pero después de la lluvia hace 5 días hay bastantes tramos mojados, sobre todo las chorreras.
Stunning day but although it's sunny there's a strong wind so it's cold in the shade. Everything is drying off after the rain last week  but still quite a few wet patches, especially the tufas.
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing #escalada #escaladaenroca #paraisonatural @casa_quiros #climbinglife #sportclimbing @grupoagujasobia #asturias #rocaverde #meteo #weather #cordilleracantabrica #climbing_is_my_passion #klettern #desnivel #escalar #escaladadeportiva #Spain @teverga_paraiso @turismoasturias
♥️♥️♥️♥️. @climbatcenters ♥️♥️♥️♥️. @climbatcenters
Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 24042021 Despué Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 24042021 Después de la lluvia ayer ha empezado genial hoy, casi sin nubes ni viento. Obviamente habrá muchos sectores que quedan mojadas pero creo que se puede escalar en varios sectores que secan rápido como Entecampos, Placas del Sol, Muro Techo y tal...
After yesterday's rain its started off with blue sky and plenty of sun. Obviously lots of stuff will be wet but there should be a bunch of the quick drying routes in condition.
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing #escalada #escaladaenroca #paraisonatural @casa_quiros #climbinglife #sportclimbing @grupoagujasobia #asturias #rocaverde #cordilleracantabrica #climbing_is_my_passion #klettern #desnivel #escalar #escaladadeportiva #asturias #meteo #weather @teverga_paraiso @turismoasturias
Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 15042022 Una sem Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 15042022 Una semana Santa perfecta. Casi todo seco y listo para unos días de escalada buenísimos. Ya hace calor entonces igual una tarde dentro de la sombra puede ser la mejor opción.
Stunning Easter so far and gonna be a great weekend for climbing.
#meteo #weather #asturias #rocaverde #paraisonatural #escalada #escaladaenroca #climbingrocks #climbinglife #sportclimbing #escaladadeportiva @casa_quiros #climbinglife #sportclimbing @grupoagujasobia #klettern #desnivel #escalar #cordilleracantabrica
Meteo /Weather Teverga y Quirós 09042022 Día cas Meteo /Weather Teverga y Quirós 09042022 Día casi perfecto, pero porque llovió bastante anoche hay tramos mojados que necesiten un rato para secar. Pero con la combinación del sol y el viento creo que todo va a secar rápidamente.
Really nice day and good drying conditions after quite a bit of rain last night.
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing #escalada #escaladaenroca #paraisonatural #escaladadeportiva #asturias #rocaverde #weather #meteo @grupoagujasobia @teverga_paraiso @turismoasturias #cordilleracantabrica #climbing_is_my_passion #klettern #desnivel #escalar @casa_quiros
Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 08042022 Día de Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 08042022 Día de viento y cielo gris. Como 14 grados o más y con la posibilidad que va a llover. Lo bueno es que el viento va a secar bien las vias que quedan un poco mojado después del deshielo. Pero dan muy bueno el finde entonces merece la pena mucho venir.
Great drying day with strong winds and a good forecast for the weekend. See you on the crags.
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing #escalada #escaladaenroca #escaladadeportiva #asturias #rocaverde #weather #meteo @grupoagujasobia @teverga_paraiso @turismoasturias #cordilleracantabrica #climbing_is_my_passion @casa_quiros #klettern #desnivel #escalar
Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 06042022 Día ma Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 06042022 Día magnífico, y como ayer creo que por la tarde habrá perfecto para la escalada dentro del sol.
Stunning day and like yesterday I reckon it'll perfect for climbing in the sun this afternoon.
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing #escalada #escaladaenroca #paraisonatural @casa_quiros #climbinglife #sportclimbing @grupoagujasobia #asturias #rocaverde #cordilleracantabrica #climbing_is_my_passion #klettern #desnivel #escalar #escaladadeportiva #asturias #meteo #weather @teverga_paraiso @turismoasturias
He llevado los gatos de @tenayaclimbing para mucho He llevado los gatos de @tenayaclimbing para muchos años (son fantásticos) pero cada vez cuando tengo unos nuevos y abro la caja es como la primera vez: con mucha illusion probarlos. Porque para mi no hay un sentido mejor que gatos nuevos aplastando los pies. Escaladores y sus gatos, es un amor muy profundo 😍😍😂😂
I've been wearing Tenaya shoes for years now but everytime I get a new pair and open the box for the first time the feelings  just like that first time a giddy excitement to try them on. Because for me there's no better feeling than brand new shoes squeezing the life out of my feet. Climbers and their shoes, it's a deep, strange live. 
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing #escalada #escaladaenroca #climbingrocks #climbinglife #sportclimbing #paraisonatural
Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 05042022 Totalme Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 05042022 Totalmente despejado pero con la resulta que hizo mucho frío anoche y habia una helado bastante fuerte y unas temperaturas muy bajos. Ahora mismo el termómetro dice 0°. Pero hay sitios secos como Entecampos, Entecampos arriba, El rincón, Placas del Sol, Muro Techo y creo que dentro del sol hará bastante calor para permitir la escalada. Y como siempre en Quirós las placas secan y calientan rápidamente. 
Totally clear but very cold. Down to minus 5 last night but I reckon this afternoon in the sun it should be OK for a climb.
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing  #escalada #escaladaenroca #paraisonatural @casa_quiros #climbinglife #sportclimbing @grupoagujasobia #asturias #rocaverde #meteo #weather #cordilleracantabrica #climbing_is_my_passion #klettern #desnivel #escalar #escaladadeportiva #Spain @teverga_paraiso @turismoasturias
Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 04042022 Mucho f Meteo / Weather Teverga y Quirós 04042022 Mucho frío, nieve y cielo gris. Un día para entrenar. 
Training day. Cold and grim.
#rockclimbing #teverga #climbing #escalada #escaladaenroca #paraisonatural @casa_quiros #climbinglife #sportclimbing @grupoagujasobia #asturias #rocaverde #meteo #weather #cordilleracantabrica #climbing_is_my_passion #klettern #desnivel #escalar #escaladadeportiva #Spain @teverga_paraiso @turismoasturias
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