Picos de Europa campsites

[briwy]

Has anyone got any recommendations for sites in the Picos please.
Searching on the net brings up a few big sites but ideally we are after something smaller right in the mountains so that we can leave the van and go walking, possibly having a night or two in the refuges.

Thanks
Brian

 

[BerndRos]

It's all quite small compared to the Alps.....particularly the Italian into Austrian Alps.....nice though.....I free camped and was ok ish.....nothing to write home about

 

[IanE]

I would strongly recommend two campsites we used two years ago;

Campsite El Redondo, Fuente De

Camping La Viorna, Potes

Googling will tell all. Fuente De is literally surrounded by mountains with a cable car to give a head start. Awe inspiring location. The campsite is basic but really, so what! Lovely bar.

Potes is a small town with charm. The campsite has excellent facilities and ring terraced on the hillside, it's not difficult to get a pitch with superb views.

We had an excellent time!

 

[briwy]

Thanks for the replies.
I wasn't aware that wild camping would be an option, thought it might be frowned on in national park.

 

[KernowLad]

La Paz is very nearby on the coast; stunning views of the sea and mountains. We loved it and will be back in August!

 

[briwy]

As recommended we stayed at El Redondo at Fuente De, what a magic location and five minutes walk from the cable car.



Stunning scenery, a lot of snow left, not possible to get to some of the huts without winter gear.



We came across a site at Riano by chance, the view from the van





We were hoping to wild camp near the Cares Gorge on the western side and had found a good spot when the the Guardia turned up and made it very plain that wild camping inside the national park is a no no so we ended up at Camping Naranjo De Bulnes near Arenas
This means driving back about 6 miles to Poncebos for the start of the 13 mile walk up the gorge to Cain and back.
Well worth it.