What you can see on the Valgrande-Pajares webcam
The camera looks across a gentle grassy slope with a long covered conveyor belt that carries beginners up the hill. In front stands a snow cannon on its post, aimed at the run; to the right are a low building and a fence, and behind them rounded green hills with a lift pylon on the skyline. In winter it shows at once whether the nursery area is white and whether the cannons have been working. Windy shows it as a time-lapse of the day, so you can follow how the light and the weather changed since morning.
Valgrande-Pajares webcam over the nursery slope
Published on Windy, this camera looks over the nursery area at the foot of Valgrande-Pajares. A long covered conveyor belt runs up the gentle slope; in front of the lens stands a snow cannon on its post, and to the right a low building and a stretch of fence. Behind, rounded green hills rise to the skyline, with a lift pylon on the crest.
For families it is the camera that counts: it shows whether the beginners' slope is covered and whether the cannons have been at work. A fisheye lens bends the edges of the picture. Windy shows it as a time-lapse of the day.
Skiing since 1954
The resort opened on 17 January 1954, and has been a winter playground for Asturias and León ever since. It lies in the municipality of Lena, between the slopes of Celleros, the Cuetu Riondu and Cuitunigru, and runs from about 1,450 m (4,760 ft) at Brañillín to about 1,890 m (6,200 ft) at Cuitunigru, with around 22 km (14 miles) of alpine runs and a cross-country circuit. In 2022 it added a gondola to its upper slopes, the only one in the Cantabrian Mountains.
When to watch Valgrande-Pajares
Spain is one hour ahead of the UK and Ireland. The season usually runs from December to March, and northerly storms can bring heavy snow in a single night. The pass is often wrapped in fog when the valleys below are clear, so the picture is the best check before the drive. The light is best from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.
Around Valgrande-Pajares
The Pajares pass, at 1,378 m (4,521 ft), has wide views down the deep valley on the Asturian side. Nearby rises the Ubiña massif, one of the highest in the range, and the Camino de San Salvador, the pilgrim way from León to Oviedo, crosses the pass. Oviedo, with its pre-Romanesque churches, is about 37 miles (60 km) away.
Getting to Valgrande-Pajares
The resort is reached by the N-630 over the Pajares pass; the motorway between León and Asturias bypasses it through the Negrón tunnel. The nearest airport is Asturias, about 67 miles (108 km) by road; Santander and Bilbao have more flights from the UK. Carry chains in winter.
