When autumn grows strong, the nature around us transforms. From mid-October the landscapes change in an astonishing way, and the green tones of summer give way to a varied palette of yellows, ochres, oranges and reds. The days begin to get shorter, the air becomes cooler, the rains take center stage and the forest floor becomes covered in a blanket of leaves that crunch underfoot. It’s the perfect time to escape the routine and explore routes that seem designed to be enjoyed at this time of year.
In deciduous forests such as oak and beech forests, the colors become intense, but also where chestnut trees, poplars and poplars are found. With them, the autumn spectacle is served. Each corner offers a different postcard, in mountains or valleys, along roads that wind through the landscape passing small towns where it is always worth stopping.
So, if you want to enjoy autumn in a different way, we offer you six driving routes that travel through some of the most beautiful and picturesque landscapes in Spain. Each in its own way, offering something special, so you can see how destinations as different from each other as the Picos de Europa, the Jerte Valley, the Val d’Aran or the Sierra de la Demanda, come together. drop in the fall so you can enjoy. kilometer after kilometer.
Val d’Aran, in Lleida
Taking Vielha as the central point and leaving the C-28 road to the east and the N-230 to the west, the Val d’Aran can offer us some of the most beautiful views when autumn arrives in the Pyrenees of Lleida. Orange, ocher and golden tones dominate the landscape, while the rocky peaks of the Pyrenees range provide a majestic backdrop to our route. The highest points of the route, such as the Bonaigua pass which takes us to Pallars Sobirá, are the ideal stop to stretch your legs and try to reach the horizon with its view.
The Val d’Aran is also known for its picturesque mountain villages, such as Vielha, Bossost, Salardú, Bausén, Artiés, Bagergue, Unha or Garós, with their stone houses and slate roofs, so characteristic of the architecture traditional Aranese. The mix of wild nature and mountain culture makes this route one of the most complete for enjoying autumn in the Pyrenees.
Alto Nalón road, in Asturias
In the heart of the Redes Natural Park, the AS-117 highway offers a majestic autumn experience on Asturian soil. This stretch of road, which follows the course of the Nalón River, is bordered by thick beech and oak forests which, in autumn, transform into an explosion of color. The landscape is particularly attractive at this time of year, with mountains turning golden, meadows remaining green, and mountains becoming covered in snow as winter approaches. It is an ideal route for nature and photography lovers since each curve reveals a new perspective of the landscape.
If you leave from the port of Tarna, on the border with León, and follow the road that leads, for example, to Langreo, you will find on your way towns like La Foz, Coballes, Abantro, Anzó or Pola de Laviana, although you may not want to pass through Alto Campo de Caso to enjoy it and let yourself be conquered by some of the most typical delicacies of the rich Asturian gastronomy.
Sierra de la Demanda, in Burgos and La Rioja
The Sierra de la Demanda, located between Burgos and La Rioja, offers a beautiful route if you want to enjoy autumn from the road. Along roads like the BU-820, the LR-113 or the LR-415, you will find yourself surrounded by forests with changing vegetation, where you can find beeches, oaks and chestnut trees, while conifers populate the highest areas. If you want to stretch your legs while walking in a very special place, don’t miss the oak groves of the Tolbaños meadow, where you will find enormous century-old specimens.
An essential stop on this route is the town of Ezcaray, in La Rioja. A charming place that perfectly combines culture and nature, with traditional architecture that blends into the environment and a gastronomic offer that invites you to taste the typical dishes of the region. On the other side, in Burgos, Pradoluengo is famous for its textile tradition and its natural environment, so both are perfect for taking a break and enjoying the tranquility that characterizes this region in autumn.
N-260, in the Pyrenees
We’re going big and talking about the N-260, the national road that connects the towns of Portbou, in Girona, and Sabiñánigo, in Huesca, running along the foothills of the Pyrenees. It is 500 km long, so we are not going to tell you to travel its entire length, but at least it is highly recommended to visit some of its most beautiful sections. The N-260 passes through mountains, valleys and lush forests, many of which are populated with beech and oak trees that add a touch of color to the landscape once autumn arrives.
Also known as the “Pyrenean axis”, the N-260 is full of viewpoints where you can stop to enjoy the view. But if you want to add to the panoramic views of the trip some villages of particular interest, even if they are numerous, pay attention to the perfectly preserved Aínsa, Besalú, Vallfogona de Ripollès or La Seu d’Urgell.
Jerte Valley, in Cáceres
You probably know the Jerte valley for its cherry trees. In spring it becomes the fashionable destination due to the exuberant flowering of its trees, but in autumn it offers an equally impressive and much less known spectacle. The N-110 road that crosses the valley becomes one of the best autumn routes in Extremadura, as the cherry trees, chestnut trees and oaks that populate the valley acquire reddish and golden tones, which contrast with the evergreen greens and gorges through which water flows. .
This time here is known as “autumn” and the transformation of the landscape is accompanied by a good number of activities carried out in many of its villages. Cabezuela del Valle and Jerte, both with a marked rural character and surrounded by paths that invite you to walk through the forest, are some of the municipalities not to be missed. You will have the opportunity to discover that if the Jerte valley is famous in spring for its cherry trees, in autumn it is famous for its chestnut trees.
Port of San Glorio, in León and Cantabria
The N-621 highway and the San Glorio Pass are one of the most spectacular routes to enjoy autumn in the Picos de Europa. This road passes through the mountains that separate León from Cantabria, offering spectacular panoramic views on both sides. Entering the mountainous landscape, the road is surrounded by a wide palette of autumn colors. And from the port’s altitude, 1,609 meters above sea level, we get one of the most breathtaking views of the mountain range.
It is an ideal route to stop at a viewpoint, like that of Corzo, to breathe the fresh air and contemplate the immensity of the mountains. Potes, a medieval town full of charm and perfect for exploring the Liébana Valley, can set the limit of the route in Cantabria, while Riaño, known for its impressive views of the reservoir surrounded by mountains, can mark the other end inland Leonese.
