Now in its fifth year, the latest Goodmans adventure brought some of our team together with 16 clients this June to hike over 60km across the Picos mountains in Northern Spain. Here’s how it went.
First, if you’re wondering what the Goodmans adventures are and why we do them, you can read about why we go hiking with clients here. If you want to know more about what happened in our latest adventure, read on...
A new adventure
Last winter, we sent out an invitation to our clients to join us on a hiking adventure in June to one of Europe’s lesser-known gems, the Picos de Europa mountain range in Northern Spain. Clearly, Spain was a popular choice as it attracted the most interest yet!
We had 16 clients come on board, made up of six couples, two solo travellers and a mother/daughter duo – some repeat attendees, some new to our adventures. On the Goodmans side, they were joined by five of our team, led by our Managing Director, Andrew Moore. Ranging in age from 21 to 71, Team Picos had representatives born in all six decades, so you could say it was a broad generational mix!
Travelling from Lancashire, Wales, Gloucestershire, Bournemouth, Somerset and Plymouth, we all met at Bristol airport for our flight to Bilbao to start our adventure. Staying in family-run hotels in two authentic Asturian villages over six days, we’d be embarking on four challenging self-guided hikes.
Hike 1 – Arenas de Cabrales circular walk (13.7km, 5hr)
Our first hike was a gentle loop from our sleepy host village, or so we thought! Once we recovered from a humbling start up a very steep farm track, we welcomed shaded woodland and open pastures. Those early climbs rewarded us with sweeping views of the green Cabrales Valley and the jagged grey towers of the Picos above. Goats, cattle, cowbells and traditional grain stores set the rural scene, as the landscape opened up to an even wider panorama across the valley.
After refuelling at a café terrace in the humorously named hamlet of Poo de Cabrales, we took the farming tracks back to Arenas, returning hot, tired and happy. A few wrong turns, questionable wild cherries and café-table negotiations just added to the day’s stories as we enjoyed a – very late and very large – Spanish supper together.
Hike 2 – Tielve to Sotres (14.8km, 4hr30)
Starting in the traditional mountain village of Tielve, a sharp early climb soon led us into a beautiful landscape of meadows, heather, streams and old beech forest. Colourful butterflies flited by as we spied ancient caves used for ageing the local Cabrales blue cheese. Emerging onto open moorland dotted with gorse and wildflowers, we reached a high pass at 1,240 metres with sweeping views across the Picos, including the unmistakable Pico Uriellu.
There were plenty of memorable moments – from spotting incredible bee orchids and cooling off at a livestock trough to cheering on ultra-trail runners at the tail end of their 74km race. The day wrapped up with a descent into Sotres, one of the highest villages in the region and our base for the rest of the trip.
Hike 3 – Exploring the Eastern Massif (14.8km, 6h30)
Beginning with a steep ascent on a 19th century mining track, our third hike took in a striking landscape of limestone peaks, moon-like karst hollows, heather, pastures and wide mountain views.
Reaching a trail hut, we split into three groups based on appetite for heights. Some returned steadily to Sotres, the first to take the trail weaving past wild horses guarded by a massive, very friendly and slobbery mountain dog. The second group followed the loop around the mountain, Pica del Macondíu. The most adventurous team took on the peak itself. Scrambling up on their hands and feet to reach a height of 1,999 metres, they were rewarded with the sight of Griffon vultures swooping close overhead.
Clear skies brought views towards the Cantabrian Sea, accompanied by more vultures and eagles. A thunderstorm threatening in the distance quickened our steps for the long descent back to Sotres, where we regrouped on a sunny bar terrace with well-deserved beers to swap tales of our day.
Hike 4 – Cares Gorge (23.9km, 7h30)
Our final hike took us along the famous Cares Gorge, one of Spain’s most dramatic walking routes and our longest day walking yet from all five of our adventures!
Starting from Poncebos, the trail climbed steeply in a zigzag before levelling out high above the crystal-clear Cares River, at times crossing narrow bridges spanning the gorge. This is the maintenance path for the hydroelectric station built in the 1920s – once a virtual feat of engineering, now an ideal walking route through the breathtaking canyon.
Some of the group turned back part-way as planned, while the rest continued all the way to the village of Caín for well-earned (and massive) tortilla sandwiches and ice creams before retracing the route and seeing the gorge from a new perspective. This time it involved dodging several goats who had made themselves at home on the precipitous trail and enjoyed licking our legs! With jagged limestone peaks, sheer canyon walls, narrow bridges, low tunnels and dizzying drops it was an unforgettable finale.
Reflections on our Picos adventure
Across four hikes and 67km of mountain paths, our Picos adventurers shared steep climbs, aching legs, breathtaking views, plenty of laughs and the kind of little moments that stay with you long after you land home.
From Iceland and the Dolomites to Madeira, Transylvania and now the Picos, every Goodmans adventure has given us the chance to spend quality time with clients away from the office – sharing stories, pushing our comfort zones through the tougher climbs, celebrating outstanding views together and making lasting memories. For us, that’s what real wealth looks like: having the energy, freedom and confidence to make the most of life. And that’s exactly what good financial planning is here to support.
Thank you to the clients who helped make this another fantastic experience, we can’t wait to do it again next year.
If this has inspired you to think about the adventures, experiences or goals you’d like to make possible, get in touch.
Read about the other Goodmans adventures here
Thanks to Karen Thornton from the Travel Counsellors for helping us craft the Goodmans adventures.
Our clients can read more about our Picos adventure in the Summer-Autumn 2026 issue of the Goodmans magazine, Unleashed.
