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The most spectacular beech forests in Spain

A hot summer in Spain has given way to an autumn full of colours with reddish and ochre tones. The place where nature's most spectacular change in colour is best appreciated these days is in the forest, most notably in Spain's beech forests. It's time to escape the city this autumn 2020 and breathe the fresh air on offer in one of the many beech forests in Spain.

Spain is home to some of the most beautiful forests of this type in Europe, and in these dreamy places the reddish colours multiply among the soft light and cover everything close by. With the intensity of the colours of the beech forests that we are going to transport you to in this article, you have two options: fill your Instagram with spectacular photos or suffer from Stendhal syndrome. It’s your choice!

Irati Forest

Irati Forest / flickr.com/photos/andara_rutas/

On its border with France, Navarre hides a unique jewel called the“Selva de Irati”, ideal for those who want to escape the stress of daily life and get lost in the purest nature with its beech forest, the second largest in Europe. And that's not all, as you can also delight in the sounds of its fauna: grouses, squirrels and foxes to name a few.

The Irati Forest is a magical forest that will charm you with its colours, the smell of its leaves, its glorious light... and even with its silence!

Montejo del la Sierra Beech Forest

Lozoya River basin / Wikimedia commons

Lozoya River basin / Wikimedia commons

The “Hayedo de Montejo”, in the Community of Madrid, is a natural environment of such characteristics that must be treated and also visited with extra special care. For this reason, visits are always guided by environmental educators and tickets (which are free of charge) can be obtained at the Resource Centre or booked online.

You can choose between 3 different routes to cross this beautiful beech forest. If you are a beginner, we recommend the river path as you can walk along the banks of the River Jarama, without much unevenness, all while being surrounded by stunning ferns, oaks and beeches.

The popularity of this specific beech forest always increases in autumn due to the chromatic splendour it shows off at ths time of year, so book as soon as possible so as not to miss out.

Saja-Besaya Natural Park

View of the Saja-Besaya Natural Park / flickr.com/photos/juanjominor/

The Natural Park of Saja-Besaya is located in the heart of Cantabria, and is a stunning sight in a truly beautiful area. This park is situated in a wide valley with a mild climate, and among oaks, birches and chestnut trees, the spectacular beech trees that make up its forests stand out.

Saja-Besaya really is a dream world, a magical place bursting with leafy and solitary forests. Throughout the year, this area is already a gift for our senses, but without a doubt, autumn is the best season to pay a visit.

And if you have some time left on your trip, then take a trip to the small village of Bárcena Mayor, a supreme example of mountain architecture not to be missed this autumn 2020.

Ordesa and Monte Perdido Natural Park

Beech forest in the Ordesa valley / flickr.com/photos/deviajes/

A visit to Ordesa is always special, but in autumn the national park steps things up a level. You will be able to see the beautiful beech trees boasting a special tone that it is worth contemplating and capturing with a camera. And not only is it worth paying a visit to the park: explore the whole area and find out about its special indigenous culture, noticeable in its architecture, tools and other aspects of daily life.

Ordesa is a park that has to be respected and cared for, which is why in high season and on long weekends it is not possible to reach the Ordesa base by car. You can leave your car in Torla and hop on the bus from the visitors' centre to the meadow.

Once you arrive, enjoy the incredible landscape on offer by doing some hiking and entering inside the spectacular beech forest.

Redes National Park

Foggy beech forest / Wikimedia commons

The Redes Natural Park in Asturias is immersed in an area that is active in the coal industry; however the predominant colour of the park is not the carbon black you may expect, but the green of its ancient trees, and with the arrival of autumn, a beautiful reddish colour.

In total, the area is made up of some 30 villages that have been frozen in time, which together have around 2,000 inhabitants and are an authentic diamond in the rough for those travellers who are looking for authentic and natural destinations.

Once you enter the park, we recommend that you go to the Interpretation Centre of the Parque de Redes where they will advise you on the best routes to find the crystal-clear rivers or the best beech forests in Asturias. You can also find out more about the fauna of the park, where you will be able to catch sight of grouses, bears and roe deer if you're lucky, as well as listen to the bellows of wolves and deer.

Credit - https://www.idealista.com/en/news/lifestyle-spain/2019/11/20/7121-most-spectacular-beech-forests-spain#Irati+Forest