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1.START-END SOUTH:Triste on shore of Embalse de la Pena, Rio Gallego 2.START-END SOUTH ALT:jct with route to Puerto Oroel 3.TOP:Monastario San Juan de la Pena s(u) 4.Santa Cruz de la Seros 5.START-END NORTH:jct N240 Hu-V-2301, not far from Rio Aragon

Approaches

From South: A1205 leaves the river Gallegos and climbs to Bernues, a picturesque collection of old houses around a church. At the exit of the village, A1205 continues to Puerto Oroel. But the profile continues on A1603. An ever so gentle traverse follows up the maze of green aunt hills. Whenever you think you reach a summit, there is another one just a little higher, around the bend.

The turnoff to Botaya is one of those summt-appearance points, until you actually get there. By this time the road traverses the highest ridge, flanking the valley of the Rio Aragon, the main ridge of the Pyrenees forms an imposing backdrop behind the valley.

Before reaching the actual top the road enters a forest and heads straight for the facade of a hermitage in the forest. The Monastario San Juan de la Pena is the highest point, though you would not have guessed it from the deep forest surrounding it.The building itself strikes me as having a little bit of an institutional look, with a made-for-movies-like facade attached to one end.

From North. But this is the interesting side from a scenery pespective. It is not just the backdrop of the Pyrenees across the valley, but also the best distant views of Monte Oroel, which looks like the stereotypical view fo the Titanic sinking fast.

The second monastery looks maybe a bit more intriguing, at least to an average tourist like myself. It is a smaller structure built into an alcove.

Back on the bike, the road makes a large U turn traverse inside a low hanging valley with great views downvalley.It is a fast descend. Another village on the way down is worth a look: Santa Cruz de la Seros