The Nansa river trail is a low-difficulty route suitable for kids: it runs from Muñorrodero to the Trascudia hydroelectric plant, measures 6.8 km each way with barely 50 metres of elevation gain, and follows the river along wooden footbridges. You can do all of it or turn back when the little ones get tired.
Some routes with kids promise a lot and feel long after twenty minutes. This isn't one of them: the river is always beside you, the ground is even, and there are footbridges, stairs and ropes that turn the walk into a little adventure. In October, the riverside forest also starts to change colour.
We explain what the trail is like, how to get there from Bareyo, what to expect section by section and how to adapt it to different ages. Trail condition details can change after rain or storms, so check official sources such as the Mancomunidad Saja-Nansa if in doubt.
Nansa river trail with kids: what it's like and who it suits
The trail follows an old fishermen's path beside the Nansa river, in the municipalities of Val de San Vicente and Herrerías, and is part of the Camino Lebaniego. It's 6.8 kilometres one way, almost 14 round trip, with about 50 metres of total elevation gain and low difficulty. It suits families with children who already walk on their own and aren't bothered by stairs: the footbridges and rocky sections make a pushchair impractical. With small children you don't have to do the full 14 km: the trick is choosing your turnaround point. A good rule is to stop halfway at a bend in the river, have lunch there and decide, depending on the group's mood, whether to continue or head back.
How to get there from Bareyo and where to start
From Bareyo it's a little over an hour by car on the A-8 to the Pesués area. There you leave the N-634 and take the CA-181 to Muñorrodero, where the trail begins. The best-known stretch runs from Muñorrodero to the Trascudia plant, right beside the water. If you want more, there's an extension to Cades of about seven more kilometres, but with kids it's best saved for another visit. Bring food and water from home, because you shouldn't count on any services on the trail itself. Park in the Muñorrodero area, respecting driveways and fields, and start early to have daylight to spare on the way back.
Section by section: footbridges, forest and the Trascudia waterfall
The first section is the most entertaining for kids: wooden footbridges, a few stairs, rocks by the water and fixed ropes to hold on to. After that the path opens into the riverside forest, with firm ground and shade. At the end, at the Trascudia hydroelectric plant, the Supino river joins the Nansa with a small waterfall, a good spot to eat before heading back. With children aged six to ten, allow about five hours round trip with stops, and plan the return before the energy runs out.
Why choose October and what to bring
In summer the forest shade helps, but in autumn the trail comes into its own: fewer people, mild temperatures and trees changing colour. If you like the idea, round it out with our guide to autumn forests in Cantabria. Wear shoes with grippy soles, because the footbridges are slippery when damp, a light waterproof layer and enough water. Check the forecast: after days of heavy rain the river runs high and it's best to leave the route for another day.
Combining the route with San Vicente de la Barquera
The starting area is a few minutes from San Vicente de la Barquera, so the route combines well with a short visit to the town. Before heading back to Bareyo, a stroll around the harbour and the medieval old town ends the day without rushing. You'll find more ideas in our guide to what to see in San Vicente de la Barquera. For other plans closer to home, walks with kids in Bareyo are a good alternative if the day dawns uncertain.
What you need to know
Distance: 6.8 km each way, almost 14 round trip. Elevation gain: about 50 m. Difficulty: low. Start: Muñorrodero, via the CA-181. End: Trascudia plant. Time: about five hours round trip with stops. From Bareyo: a little over an hour by car. Pushchair: not recommended. Footwear: with good grip. Services: don't count on them on the route; bring food and water. After heavy rain, check the condition of the trail.
«A good route with kids isn't measured in kilometres, but in footbridges, ropes and a river that's always there.»
A day beside the Nansa leaves the little ones tired and the grown-ups keen to do it again. If you then want to return to somewhere quiet, Bareyo Residences is designed for that homecoming: calm, space and the Cantabrian Sea close by to end the day.
