Green Spain

Bagpipes, Cider drinkers and brilliant green blue seas, empty sand beaches, fantastic sea food and green hills interspersed with fiords of clear mountain water. So it must be Brittany or Ireland?

Wrong – we are describing the coastline of Atlantic Spain!

This green and handsome land stretching from Bilbao to La Coruna about 300 miles, has such a varied landscape from the breathtaking Picos mountains and National Park of Cantabria to the fiord like rivers that flow from the mountains of Galicia to the sea. The region offers such a depth of styles in architecture, landscape and the very people who all retain a mystic celtic connection with Breton and Irish traditions.

Learn a little Spanish!

To get the best out of your visit you will need to learn some basic Spanish – it is unusual to step into a traditional restaurant or Tapas Bar and find anyone speaking anything except Spanish – of course in expensive establishments and three or four star hotels you will find English speakers available – but it would be a pity to miss out on some of the best meals and cheapest food and drink in Europe.

Food and Drink.

On our visit (September 2002) we ate an appetising three course fixed “menu del dia” meal with a good quality bottle of wine and coffee to follow for an average of 14 euros (around £9) for 2 persons. Trying the same meal in three star hotels and the costs tripled – so clearly it pays to read a Spanish menu.

Seafood tends to be the most popular but there are plenty of other meat dishes although vegetarians may find the going tough apart from tortilla omelettes.

When to go:

Try hard to avoid 1 – 15 August. This is when the hordes from the major Spanish cities descend on the beaches and resorts – the prices go up and the beaches heave with bathers. Apart from these “factory weeks” the region is empty of tourists and it is not hard to find an empty beach or a mountain to yourself.

Places to visit:

Elegant Santander for shopping and expensive eateries (30 minutes). Santilliana de Mar – a perhaps over touristic medieval town which has two Paradors but worthwhile to explore the ancient cobbled streets (1 hour) Nearby Altamira with prehistoric cave painting. The mountains of Hornij which are less than 30 minutes drive into these regions and also the Collados del Ason National Park. You can explore and enjoy the peace of these historic villages that abound here.

You can also visit the famous Guggenheim museum at Bilbao – about 1 hours driving time.

Asturias

This is the land of the cider drinker! Also known for folk dancing accompanied by bagpipe music and the awe inspiring Picos de Europa mountain range. The main town is Llanes pronounced “JANIS” which is a busy fishing port and the streets are interspersed with several canals which flow into the main harbour.

Typically Asturian – the town is full of restaurants and syderias which are cider drinkers bars – where to get alcohol into the drink is poured from the bottle held above the head into the glass below the knee– it can get very messy if you miss!

On both sides of the town are lonely beaches although access is far from easy – this may be the reason! Otherwise there is a choice of more accessible ones in the town.

We offer some countryside villas and houses which are all within 2 – 4 kms of fine sandy beaches and offer quality living – but remember they are in the country and some are near farms where work starts early, the cock crows loud and the cows moo!

Our agent speaks English badly - but enough to help you plan your days out and offer advice on the local area.

We have organised our self catering accommodation into properties near the coast and properties in the hills of the Picos


We also have another page with Hotels and Apartments in the Asturias

Casa La Tenada E-33500/1

Ribadesella / Asturias Sleeps 4

The resort of Ribadesella offers some find sand beaches and is popular with many Spanish tourists - it has a selection of good fish restaurants and shopping possibilities.

Just a few kms from the resort, nestling in the hills above the town, is this property covering almost three acres which contains eight apartments built in stone.

Facilities include table tennis, barbeque areas and a football field. Each apartment has its own private garden area complete with outdoor furniture.

Each unit has some 55 sq metres of living area and contains a living room with open fire place, dining area and colour TV.The kitchenette offers four hot plates, oven, washing machine and coffee maker. There are two bedrooms - one with double bed and second bedroom has twin beds. Bathroom with bath, washbasin and WC.

Nearest restaurant is 1km, shops and beaches are at 3km.

Casa La Encina
nr. Llanes (Sleeps 8)

We have stayed in this four bedroomed newly renovated detached property which is 4km from Llanes and 2km from beaches and on to an 18 hole golf course.

A very comfortable villa with large bedrooms although the dining possibilities are challenging for eight persons!

Downstairs contains a newly fitted good sized kitchen which has a folding table, stools and chairs for eight – although we think two persons are going to have to eat in the adjacent lounge – which contains a three seater and a two seater sofa, colour TV, coffee tables and little else. The kitchen has four hot plates, oven, microwave and outside in an alcove is a new washing machine. A twin bedroom and a bathroom with bath with shower over, WC and a washbasin.

Polished pine stairs to the top floor which contains one double bedroom and two twin bedrooms. Second full bathroom having a bath with shower over, WC and washbasin.

Outside a pleasant fully lawned garden area surrounds the house but not totally fenced in at the rear where there is an electric cattle fence. There is a single train track about 500 yards away and the trains run between 07:30 and 21:00 hours and hoots each time it crosses the level crossing – you get used to it!

Casa Dorita
nr. Llanes (Sleeps 6)

Detached granite built house located across from a farm in a walled lane some 5km from Llanes and 3km from beaches and an 18 hole golf course (cheap at only 19 Euros per day [not week ends]) Trolley and club rental.

Downstairs a pleasant lounge with open fireplace and a five seater suite. Fully fitted kitchen – four hot plates, microwave, oven, washing machine, fridge freezer, coffee maker. Iron & ironing board.

Marble staircase to the top floor which contains one double bedroom leading onto the balcony, two further bedrooms each with twin beds. One full bathroom with bath/shower, WC and washbasin.

Outside an enclosed lawned garden with terrace and garden furniture.

Casa los Samaleos E-33584/8

Villar de Huergo Sleeps 4

Located in the Picos mountains about 40 kms from Oviedo and in a superb alpine setting yet only one km from the village of Sevares which has restaurant hops and tennis courts. The picturesque towns of Cangas and Arriondas are just 10 minutes drive away.

The house for just four persons is huge with 130 sq yards of living area which includes a large lounge with open fire place, colour TV, easy chairs. Separate spacious kitchen area with dining area with four hot plates, micro wave, oven, washing machine.

Two bedrooms - both with a double bed. Bathroom with bath / shower / washbasin and WC.

Outside large grassed garden area complete with barbeque,garden furniture etc.

Casa La Encina E-39570/1

Cabariezo Sleeps 4

This is one of six apartments located in a natural park like setting complete with good sized swimming pool and just 200 metres walk from the nearest restaurant

In the centre of the mountains of Picas de Europa being just 3km from the delightful town of Picos. Great area for walking sight-seeing and only 30 minutes drive from the coast and fine sand beaches. The gardens offer barbeque areas and each apartment has a private terrace or balcony with tables and chairs.

Very good quality apartments, well restored each having a kitchen with ceramic hot plates oven, washing machine, coffee-maker.Lovely living room with a feature fireplace and colour TV. Two bedrooms – one double and one twin bedded. Bathroom With shower WC and w/basin.

Outside: Swimming pool 16ftx 35ft which is available from mid May to beginning of October. Children’s play ground, lots of seating areas and enough space to play volleyball.

All prices are in £ Sterling per property per week

2006

01/08 - 31/08
Easter

01/07 - 31/07

Rest of Year

Per property per week

Casa Laura

SPECIAL OFFER: 7 NIGHTS for the price of 6 in "Rest of Year" period

Casa Cosgaya E-39539/3

Cosgaya Sleeps 6

Tons of character in this stone built house located in a small village but only 300 metres walk from a restaurant and is some 14km from the lovely mountain resort of Potes in the centre of the Picos mountain range and abou 50km from the Beach resort of Llanes.

Lots of space - some 120 sq yards which offers well euipped kitchen which includes a washing machine, micro-wave four hot plates and coffee-maker. There are a few steps up into the lounge area which has easy chairs, colour TV with direct access onto the terrace and garden area.Bathroom with bath washbasin WC. Downstairs bedroom with double bed.

Upstairs: two further bedrooms - both with twin beds.

Outside: a huge garden with lawns and barbeque