birds, butterflies & wildlifeFrom river-valleys at almost sea-level toalpine habitats in the high mountains,the Picos de Europa are home to awealth of animal-life. The graceful andagile 'rebeco' (or chamois) are often seenon higher slopes. Roe deer dart throughthe woodlands, where you might also seered squirrels. The marten, wild cat, stoat,otter, fox, badger, polecat and weasel willbe seen by the more alert amongst you. Evidence of wild boars is common butsightings are very rare - but not as rare,however, as sightings of the Cantabrianbrown bear!Golden eagles are regular visitors to theskies but it is more common to see theEgyptian and Griffon vultures riding themid-day thermals. The crimson wingedwallcreeper remains elusive but youmight see one on the remoter rock-facesof the national park. Of course, theubiquitous alpine choughs will loitercheekily at mountain refuges or knownpicnic spots. The cast list will alsohopefully include the black woodpecker,middle spotted woodpecker, treecreeper,snow finch, alpine accentor, eagle owland peregrine.Butterflies abound here, particularly inthe lower wildflower meadows. Some areendangered, such as the marsh fritillary,but others thrive and bring greatpleasure to walkers.a week of wildflowers birds & butterflieswith naturalist, Teresa Farino12 to 19 May or 19 to 26 May 2012 In May, when the spring flora is profuseand vivid, we have teamed up with well-known British naturalist, Teresa Farino, tooffer, as a separate package from ournormal programme of walks a dedicatedweek of immense natural history, interestand pleasure. The details are on Page 7but, in short, you will walk every day ofthe week (except Wednesday, a day off)with Teresa amidst the flowers,butterflies and other wildlife that sheknows so well and for which she hasdeveloped a renowned and respectedexpertise. Guests who opt for this specialweek can - if they wish -extend their staywith Collett's either side of the package,taking advantage of our usualprogramme of organised walks. Contactus for a factsheet.Dog's Tooth Violet Pink Butterfly OrchidBlack Pasque Flowerthe floral magic of the picosThe Picos de Europa represents aneasy and rewarding introductionto wildflowers and from thebeginning of our season in May,when the first spring flowers haveburst forth, until we leave inSeptember the real magic of thePicos de Europa (the wildflowers)is there for all to see.Designated a UNESCO BiosphereReserve in 2003 the diversity ofthe wildlife in the Picos de Europais second to none in the whole ofWestern Europe - there are over1400 species and nearly 50 typesof orchid, many flourishing in thehay meadows that are amongstthe richest of European habitats -Pink Butterfly, Bee, Spider, Burnt,Fly, Lizard, Man and Birds Nestare among the many botanicalhighlights.At low level under ancient oak,chestnut and hazel trees, growspecies such as wood anemone,wood sorrel, hellebores, dogviolets, primroses, and martagonlilies.Higher up, nestled between thespectacular limestone mountains,summer grazing pastures becomea floral paradise - the earlyblooms of Narcissus asturiensis -perfectly formed daffodils yet lessthan three inches high - give wayto gentians, orchids, androsaceand a whole host of blues, whites,yellows and pinks with everyshade in between throughout along season. Further still up the slopes, abovethe tree-line, small rock gardensplay host to hardy species likebellflowers, ferns, stonecrops,saxifrages, sedges and toadflaxes. In short, the Picos de Europa is anopen invite to visitors of allabilities to experience the joy ofalpine flowers, from the valleys ofthe Liébana to the extraordinarylandscape of sheer limestone cliffsthat awaits you at the viewingplatform at the top of theexhilarating 800m cable car atFuente Dé. 38

Such is the geography of the Picos deEuropa, walkers of all levels of fitness andambition are sure to thrive here. There arerambles through oak and beech coveredfoothills, walks which weave along ancient'caminos' between timeless mountainvillages, high peaks to conquer and highmountain circuits to complete. Collett's offers you the opportunity toexplore these landscapes in good companyon a series of organised walks, which arefree of charge and totally optional. Ourorganised walks also include the twounquestionable highlights of a walkingholiday in the Picos de Europa, the CaresGorge and Fuente Dé. See right column.moderate/easier level organised walksWith Collett's, moderate/easier level walkerscan venture out 6 days a week (notWednesdays) on a superb selection ofdelightful walks, which unravel in theenchanting foothills beneath towering peaks.You will discover woodland, rich with fauna;idyllic upland pastures, profuse and vibrantwith flowers; and picturesque hamlets,where time seemingly stands still.It is a pleasure to wander into anenchanting, sleepy hamlet and sit at thetable of a rustic café, gazing at the seeminglyunbroken rim of peaks that surround thevalleys and provide the high level walkerwith their own host of mouthwateringadventures. Occasionally, though, ourmoderate/easier walks will explore thismajestic high level terrain on some of theless challenging routes that can be found upthere.The wildflower season in the Picos isextensive and you will see flowersthroughout the summer. In May and earlyJune, however, the flora is phenomenal andat that time we expect the easier of our twoorganised walks to appeal to anyone with aninterest in flowers. walks for all levels of fitnessfascinating flora & fauna all season-longthe cares gorge & fuente déhigh level organised walksHigh level walkers will also thrive in the Picosde Europa and we look forward to helpingyou explore the exhilarating trails that willcomprise some breathtaking days out.Once any late lying snow has retreated, themore demanding of our two organised walkswill regularly feature local classics, such asthe mighty Peña Prieta (2539m), HorcadosRojos (2344m), Naranjo de Bulnes Circularand the great Vega de Liordes.Walking in the Picos de EuropaAmazing Diversity and Interests for Walkers of all Abilitiesthe cares gorgeOnce a week our walk organisers offeryou the most famous route in the Picosde Europa, the majestic path whichfollows the Cares Gorge (Garganta delCares) in the deep narrow canyon thatseparates the western and centralmassifs.Not for the vertigo-prone, this trackexists because of an amazing feat ofengineering. It was carved out of thecliff faces of the western walls of thegorge with a series of bridges andtunnels during the 1920's while buildinga 12km water canal for a hydro-electricstation in Poncebos. It is a 90 minutedrive to the start of the walk but thisunique and fascinating gorge is wellworth the trip.fuente déAnother weekly feature of our organisedwalks is Fuente Dé. A dramatic cable car ascent whiskswalkers between Fuente Dé and ElCable, perched precariously at 1800m inthe central massif with its expansiveviews south across the CordilleraCantabrica. From here there are optionsfor both medium and high level walkersand you cannot fail to be captivated atevery turn by the awe-inspiring scenery.Our walks are likely to either climbtowards the Horcada Rojos with itsawesome views of the signature peak ofNaranjo de Bulnes, or we will headtowards the historic Chalet Real and thegentian covered alpine meadows whichsurround Refugio Aliva, beforemeandering down to the idyllicmountain village of Mogrovejo.39