The village of Samartin

San Martin ( Samartin in the Asturian dialect) is about 5 km from Infiesto. It is situated at the end of a steep and winding single-track lane, 1 mile from the local road. It has a horseshoe shape and it is believed to have been inhabited since at least the Bronze Age (some of the artefacts found in the local area are in the Museo Archeologico in Oviedo). The hamlet is about 400m above sea level and has beautiful views whichever way you look, and, because it faces south, it has a microclimate of its own. Lemon trees grow in the village and more strange, even an olive tree, which gives olives, unusual so far north.

There are walks from the door where you can see a great variety of wild flowers, birds and, in the autumn, observe the wild tracks of wild boar and deer.

We are in the district of Piloña, with the administration in Infiesto, a small market town with the river Piloña going through. This is the centre for the Maria Luisa Photographic Memorial Exhibition, celebrating Nature’s best international photos. It takes place every year in memory of a local woman who died in the mountains taking photos.

It also has a Hazelnut Festival the 1st week of October. This crop and timber derived small industries, were the main economic source in the town.