Valcaba: Nature, Hiking Trails and Historic Architecture
Accommodation in Valcaba
Camino a Busquemao is a circular hiking route that begins in Valcaba de Soba. The 10.5-kilometre circular trail has an elevation gain of 530 metres and a moderate difficulty level. Its highest point, Rellano del Polvo, is located at an altitude of 1,100 metres; the refuge of the Club Alpino de Sestao is situated there.
Nature
The Los Collados del Asón Nature Park is located entirely within the municipality of Soba. Its landscape includes limestone outcrops, small beech forests, Cantabrian holm oak stands and pastures created by human activity. A nearby nature park visitor centre in La Gándara offers information panels and an audiovisual presentation. It also provides information about guided and self-guided visits.
Hiking and Landscape
A route starting from Valcaba leads to Monte Los Sotos, an oak forest dominated by Pyrenean oaks (Quercus pyrenaica). The activity at Monte Los Sotos includes a visit to a small waterfall formed on the Argumal River. Monte Los Sotos is considered a habitat for deer, foxes, badgers and squirrels.
Camino a Busquemao leads to a beech forest on the Argumal River. The Carricueta section offers panoramic views of the Valle de Soba and the mountain massif locally known as Len de Valcaba. Len de Valcaba is considered a typical Hazas formation with distinctive stepped slopes created by alternating layers of limestone and sandstone.
History and Architecture
The Camino a Busquemao route leads to the traditional Cabañales of Busquemao. Llaguio is a traditional Cabañal used for livestock farming. The route also follows an old path that connected Soba with the province of Burgos.
In a death record drawn up in Valcaba on 18 February 1796, Jean Gabriel Coulon recorded that he served as a French priest in the parish of Valcaba.
The Church of San Juan Bautista dates largely from the 16th century; traces of the 15th century can still be seen on the triumphal arch.
The Casa de los Zorrilla de la Concha was already mentioned in 1680 as a “torre y casa llana mayor” and bears two coats of arms of the Zorrilla de la Concha family. The villages of the Valle de Soba include a notable group of rural houses from the 16th century that is characteristic of the region. The Casa de los Ortiz de la Torre is also a house bearing a coat of arms.
For your stay in Valcaba, when choosing a hotel you can take your travel dates, the desired room category and the applicable cancellation conditions into account. The desired period and your personal travel requirements can also be assessed separately.
Other Trails
A mountain biking route through the Valle de Soba continues via Valcaba to La Gándara.
Other destination pages: Cañedo, San Roque De Riomiera, Hermandad De Campoo De Suso
To the higher-level travel overview: Cantabria.
