Asturias Coastal Walking

Arrive at your hotel in the centre of Llanes, a historic port town on Spain’s Green Coast with easy access by public transport from the airport in Oviedo, Santander or Bilbao. If driving to Asturias, option of parking at the last accommodation in La Isla / Colunga then taking the bus back to Llanes. 

Take an afternoon jaunt through medieval Llanes to 'Santa María del Conceyu', an excellent example of regional Gothic architecture second only to Oviedo Cathedral. Hit the shops, cafés, restaurants and cider bars for some local food and ‘sidra’. Try your hand at the unique pouring technique and taste the difference. Or have a chat with fishermen at the harbour. If sunny, soak up the 'sol' at two beaches right in the town!

Challenge: Travel to Asturias.

Choose your distance for today and have the taxi driver drop you off in either Vidiago, Pendueles or Buelna, three villages on the E-9 coastal hiking path. Winding among green pastures, limestone cliffs and quiet coves, you’ll share the route with pilgrims from all over the world on their way to Santiago. This is one of the oldest variants of St James’ Way, the Northern Way or Camino del Norte. If you like, pause to share a bit more with your fellow travellers, like a beer or meal at the village café in Pendueles or Andrín, plus an interesting story or two!

Challenge: min 11 km / 7 mi (from Vidiago) / max 17 km / 10,5 mi (from Buelna), 4 / 6 hrs, 360 / 490 m ascent, 400 / 530 m descent 

Start off from your hotel in Llanes to walk 19 km / 12 mi on the Camino del Norte, adding an extra 2 km to stop by the famous inland beach and Natural Monument 'Gulpiyuri'. But don’t let today’s distance scare you off! This is a very entertaining route with plenty of beaches and villages to pause for a drink, meal or paddle in the sea. 

Optionally, you can order a taxi or take a public bus to shorten your walk and begin for example at Poo de Llanes, 3.5 km into the route.

When you reach Nueva de Llanes, you'll find your luggage at the hotel, a 19th-century colonial ‘Casa de Indianos’ decorated in period style.

Challenge: 19 km / 12 mi, 400 m ascent, 370 m descent, 5 hours

If the weather calls for rough seas, you’ll be surprised by the powerful blowholes at Bufones de Llames de Pría… and risk getting soaked if you get too close! If the sea is calm, you’ll hear just a whisper (or growl) between the rocks, evoking some mythological creature ready to attack!

Traipse along fishermen's trails to the rivermouth at Guadamía then trek onward to Playa Cuevas del Mar, famous backdrop for many Spanish films. Stop for a break at the chill-out beach bar, but don’t linger too long. If you’re seduced to stay until sunset, you can order a taxi and skip the last 3 km back to Nueva.

In the morning you will take a public bus or taxi to the start of the walk in Belmonte, 3.5 km from Nueva. Your hotel can help arrange this.

Challenge: 13 km / 8 mi, 330 m ascent and descent, 4 hrs

Here’s your chance to verify that this is indeed the most spectacular section of the Asturian Coast as you hike from the rivermouth at Guadamía to the port in Ribadesella. A series of limestone sculptures and string of islands and peninsulas will have you whipping out your camera again and again. In wet or windy weather, stick to the inland route on the Northern Way, traversing a friendly rural area dotted with tiny hamlets.

This evening, select a cider bar or restaurant in Ribadesella’s historic town centre. Perhaps the Michelin star Restaurante Arbidel (be sure to book online in advance). The preferred summer residence of Spanish nobility way back in the 17th century, Ribadesella is the cradle of local tourism and home to impressive Palaolithic cave art. If you don’t manage to get tickets for Tito Bustillo cave, do peek in at the interesting replicas in the excellent Museum next door.

www.centrotitobustillo.com

Challenge: 12 - 16 km / 7,5 - 10 mi , 270 / 500 m ascent, 320 / 550 m descent, 4 / 5.5 hrs

The Northern Saint James Way hugs the coastline today, passing eight (!) sandy beaches. You will have to endure 1 km on the old N-632 national road, though with little traffic, and this you will soon forget with lovely long sections on the beach at Arenal de Moris, Espasa and the magical La Isla. At the end of the day you turn your back to the coast to follow the Camino for a few more km inland, to the cozy boutique hotel in the centre of Colunga.

If you find 21.5 km too much for one day or are seduced by the waves and want to spend more time at a beach, you can always take a taxi or bus to shorten the route from Berbes, La Espasa or La isla.

Challenge: 18 - 21.5 km / 11 / 13,5 mi, 450 / 570 m ascent and descent, 5.5 / 6.5 hours

Ever realised how truly enormous a dinosaur footprint can be? Witness it with your own eyes at La Griega Beach, where Jurassic tracks are immortalized in petrified mud. Follow in their footsteps on the last walk of the trip, which in itself is a compilation of the paths you’ve taken throughout the week: muddy dirt tracks, tarmac lanes, ancient cobbled cart trails and lots of fishermen's paths. At the end of the day, snap a mental picture of the perfect coastline near La Isla and fix it on your retina for time to come.

Challenge: 12 km / 7,5 mi, 230 m in ascent and descent, 4 hrs

After breakfast your walking tour comes to an end with either a short walk to the nearest bus stop or an optional taxi transfer back to Llanes or the airport of your choice.