Page 88 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

86  NOR THERN SP AIN REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Asturias and Cantabria

The biggest attraction in this area is the group of
mountains that straddles the two provinces – the Picos
de Europa. These jagged peaks offer excellent rock
climbing and rough hiking. The coast offers sandy coves,
spectacular cliffs and remote villages. Santander and
Oviedo are lively university cities with a rich cultural life.
There are innumerable unspoiled villages to explore,
especially the ancient town of Santillana del Mar. Some
of the earliest examples of art exist in Cantabria, most
notably at Altamira, where the cave drawings and
engravings are among the oldest to be found in Europe.
It is also worth going slightly further afield to visit some
interesting places that lie just outside the region, in A flower-covered balcony in Bárcena Mayor,
Castilla-León, such as El Bierzo, with its medieval Valle de Cabuerniga
monasteries, the Roman town of Astorga, and León.

Co s t a Verd e Cabo de Peñas Luanco
A Coruña Cabo Vidio CUDILLERO AVILÉS Candás
Navia LUARCA Tazones
Figueras GIJÓN Cabo
CASTROPOL CASTRO Canero Pravia Lastres Isla SANTANDER de Ajo Noja
Vegadeo DE COAÑA SALAS VILLAVICIOSA RIBADESELLA SANTILLANA Ajo LAREDO
Navia La Espina Narcea Nalón de Siero VALDEDIÓS Llanes COMILLAS DEL MAR URDIALES
Pola
CASTRO-
SAN VICENTE
TARAMUNDI Grado OVIEDO Nava Arriondas Cangas De Onís DE LA BARQUERA Solares
VALLE DEL NARCEA MUSEO Torrelavega
San Martín Pola de Allande Belmonte Langreo Infiesto Covadonga Panes DE ALTAMIRA Bilbao
de Oscos Pesoz Proaza PARQUE NACIONAL Carmona PUENTE VIESGO
Puerto del Palo ASTURIAS Mieres Pola de Laviana Los Corrales Villacarriedo RAMALES DE
de Buena
Grandas de Salime 1146m BERMIEGO DE LOS PICOS VALLE DE LA VICTORIA
Cangas del VALLE DE Campo DE EUROPA CABUÉRNIGA CANT ABRIA SOBA
Narcea TEVERGA Pola de Cabañaquinta de Caso Barcena Mayor VALLE DE Vega de Pas
La Plaza
PARQUE NATURAL BARZANA Lena Espinama POTES BESAYA
Marentes DE SOMIEDO Corconte
Venta Nueva Puerto de Puerto de la ALTO CAMPOO
Ventana
Somiedo 1587m Puerto de Pajares Embalse del Ebro
Puerto de Leitariegos 1486m 1379m Reinosa
1525m Juliobriga
Ibias
León Cervatos
Miravalles
1969m
Mataporquera
Beyond the Region
Avilés Gijón Palencia Burgos
Castropol Luarca Llanes
Oviedo
Cangas
del Narcea ASTURIAS
GALICIA Pola de Lena CANTABRIA Getting Around
The main roads through the
CUEVAS DE
Villablino VALPORQUERO region are the A8 and the N634.
Cebreiro Most other major roads run
EL BIERZO La Robla Cistierna Aguilar north to south. Minor roads are
de Campoo
LEÓN generally good but can be slow
VILLA- PONFERRADA and winding. The FEVE railway,
FRANCA ASTORGA Sahagun Osorno which follows the coast from
DEL BIERZO
La Bañeza CASTILLA Bilbao to Ferrol, in Galicia, is
Puebla Y LEÓN extremely scenic. Brittany
de Sanabria Ferries links Santander three
times a week with Portsmouth
Benavente Palencia and weekly with Plymouth.
PORTUGAL Asturias has a small interna­
tional airport near Avilés.
For hotels and restaurants see pp204–5 and pp217–19
086-087_Exploring_Map.indd 86 13/09/16 5:29 pm