05: Somiedo; land of the Cantabrian Brown Bear
A bear in Somiedo natural park. Photograph: Alamy
It is a heartening conservation success story that, in the mountains of Northwest Spain, brown bears still roam in the wild. Until recently, the Cantabrian Brown Bear was in serious danger of extinction and it was almost impossible to spot one in Somiedo Nature Reserve. Today, thanks to the work of conservationists working alongside local authorities, the bear populations are recovering.
In September 2026, intreagued by the prospect of seeing wild bears so close to home in mainland Europe, I headed out to Somiedo to try to find them.
Wild World map - the Cantabrian Brown Bear is found in Northern Spain
Learn more about Brown Bear Conservation at the European Nature Trust and Fundación Oso Pardo (FOP).