Travelling to Geras and the Alto Bernesga by Motorhome

Travelling to the Alto Bernesga by motorhome means heading deep into the Montaña Central Leonesa, on the León side of the Cantabrian Mountains. And Geras, a village in the municipality of La Pola de Gordón, is a great place to stay for a few days: it has its own camper spot in the heart of nature, forests and mountain roads all around, and traditional cooking that is famous well beyond the local area.

In this article you'll discover what to see in Geras and its surroundings within the Alto Bernesga Biosphere Reserve, what to eat, and where to park and sleep with your motorhome.

Geras, a mountain village on the River Casares

Geras lies at the far western end of the municipality of La Pola de Gordón, about 11 km from the town. You reach it through an enclosed valley where the River Casares flows before joining the Bernesga. The village has grown up along the road that runs through it and keeps its traditional mountain architecture.

People have lived in this area since ancient times. In the Cueva Feliciana cave, next to the Meleros stream, several iron objects from the Second Iron Age were found around 1920; they are now kept at the Museum of León.

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Nature in the Alto Bernesga Biosphere Reserve

Geras is part of the Alto Bernesga Biosphere Reserve. It sits in a transition zone between Atlantic and Mediterranean Spain, so trees from both climates grow just a few metres apart. This is brown bear and golden eagle country, and two of its most protected areas, known as core zones, are the Casares river valley and Aralla-Cabornera, right around the village.

The Geras-Cabornera beech forest

Also known as La Boyariza, it is one of the forests the reserve highlights as part of its natural heritage. It takes its name from Geras and from Cabornera, the neighbouring village, which makes it the closest forest escape if you're staying at the camper spot.

Hiking trails and cycling routes

The reserve has footpaths and cycling routes that cross protected areas, a great way to spot wildlife and plants at an unhurried pace. Before setting off, the reserve's Visitor Centre, housed in a former school building, helps you understand the area: its nature, its history and its villages, spread across La Pola de Gordón and Villamanín.

To visit the Visitor Centre, you need to register beforehand on the Museos Vivos website ↗.

Mapa sobre vista de satélite con una ruta circular marcada en naranja que sale de Geras, pasa por el Alto las Fontanillas y recorre el valle por el sur antes de volver al pueblo. Lleva marcadores de inicio, final y puntos intermedios.

Cocido gordonés and mountain cooking

Geras is not famous for its scenery alone: its cured sausages, its calderetas (stews) and the cocido gordonés have made it a gastronomic reference. Throughout the reserve, the larder revolves around cured sausages, hams, cheeses and cecina (cured beef), with the area's own quality label.

The cocido gordonés even has its own food festival, held every November in La Pola de Gordón. It's a hearty stew: soup, chickpeas and cabbage, plus a generous selection of meats and sausages (chorizo, black pudding, salt pork), always including pig's snout, trotter and relleno (stuffing). At the table, wood-fired bread and a wine from Tierras de León.

The reserve has published the recipe book Recetas de MontaÑAM!, with traditional dishes from its villages and suggested routes. You can download it from the Alto Bernesga Biosphere Reserve website ↗.

Where to park and sleep with your motorhome in Geras

Geras has its own camper spot: La Cortina, an enclosed site in a natural setting with all the facilities you need for the night.

🔌 12 pitches with electricity

🚰 Drinking water and waste water disposal

🚿 Toilets and hot showers

🧺 Laundry

🏊 Heated swimming pool from 1 May to 30 September

Check availability at La Cortina camper spot on the TripStop app and book your pitch before you arrive.

Piscina cubierta con techo translúcido de estructura marrón y grandes cristaleras abiertas al paisaje. Al fondo hay una zona con bicicleta estática, elíptica y otros aparatos de gimnasio, y en el borde se lee la marca de profundidad de 1,40 m.

Conclusion: the Alto Bernesga by motorhome

Geras is a peaceful base for exploring the Alto Bernesga by motorhome: a stroll around the village, the beech forest close by and a good cocido gordonés to round off the day. With La Cortina camper spot, your night and facilities are sorted.

In the TripStop app you can see the camper spot on the map, check tourist information for the area and book your pitch.

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