Naranjo de Bulnes (called Picu Urriellu in Asturian) is a 2,519-metre limestone tower with a near-vertical 550-metre west face that has become Spain's most celebrated rock climbing objective. The peak is not visible from most approaches to the Picos — it lurks in the interior of the Central Massif — which makes the moment when you first see it from the Vega Urriellu plateau all the more startling. The face simply rises vertically from the ground with almost no foreshortening.
For non-climbers, the best viewpoint is the Vega Urriellu, a high alpine meadow at 1,900 metres directly below the peak, reached by hiking from Sotres (about 4 hours) or via the cable car to Bulnes (see below). In good weather, the meadow is a fine place to spend an afternoon watching parties attempting the routes on the west face while chamois pick their way across the scree. For experienced climbers, the south face routes are the most accessible; the west face routes are among the most technically demanding in the Iberian Peninsula.