You will be collected from Santander airport on arrival and transferred to your first night’s accommodation on the Asturian coast, close to the stunningly-placed village of Pechón. Pechón lies between two estuaries on a beautiful stretch of coast that has one of the best maintained oak groves in Cantabria and has several bars and small shops, as well as a few little hotels. A short walk away, the coast offers beautiful sandy coves for a relaxing afternoon or early evening dip.

Your welcome meeting will give your local representative a chance to fit your bikes and chat through the week ahead, and it’s a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the week ahead. After this, you’ll be free to venture out for your first taste of Asturian cuisine!

• Meals: Breakfast

Your first morning begins by taking in the steady backroad that traverses the side of the deep blue Tina Menor Estuary with expansive, white-sand beaches. The route crosses the river at Unquera and enters Asturias, where you’ll be riding for the rest of the trip. The area is stunning and you’ll be riding through rolling pastures and forests, as well as around the picturesque coastline. You’ll join a lovely, purpose-built cycle route, called the Senda Costera, that takes in the most awesome scenery along the coast; it’s also well signposted and easy to follow.

Once on the trail you’ll take the route towards the Faro de San Emitrio (lighthouse) and soon arrive at the viewpoint of El Picu de Pimiango. From here the views look west, along the magnificent coast that you are to follow over the week. Your route then glides down narrow lanes and tracks to the beautiful, cliff-sided beach of La Franca, an ideal place for a picnic lunch. A short climb after lunch brings you to the village of Buelna, your home for the night.

• Meals: Breakfast

The day begins steadily, picking up the breathtaking, coastal trail again, passing pristine beaches and secluded coves that will entice you down for a morning dip. You’ll wind through the streets of Pendueles and past traditional farming hamlets, until your arrival at Vidiago. Dropping down to the beach you’ll cross over the River Novales and slip into thick woodland where there’s a picnic area that’s perfectly placed for a refreshment and maybe a dip. On leaving the beach you begin riding across a flat section between the coast and the mountains known as the Rasa Asturiana.

The trail snakes inland a little until you reach the most dramatic natural phenomena along this stretch of coast, the Bufones de Arenillas. These are deep cracks in the limestone from the sea edge to the cliff top which erupt when the sea is high, creating a spectacular display with jets of water spraying over 10 metres into the air. They are great fun to watch, but mind you don’t get too wet!

The route will take you down to the village of Cue and along the coast to the dramatic rock formations at the beach of Toro. Tonight you’ll either stay in Llanes or in Cue – there are fantastic coves and beaches close by.

• Meals: Breakfast

Your base for today proves the perfect spot to stay another day as there’s such a huge range of things to do. You could kick back and explore the local beaches and coves, or take a stroll around the fishing port in Llanes and watch the catch of the day being hauled in. You could contemplate the Cubos de la Memoria work by famous artist Augustin Ibarrola or walk the mystical Camín Encantau through deep, ‘magical’ forest and valleys, telling stories of mythological legends of Asturias, through statues and pictures along the way!

If you’d prefer to get some more miles in your legs, the cycling route takes you on a lovely circular route to the medieval market town of Porrua where the Ethnographical museum will give you great insight into the traditional lives, customs and hardships in an Asturian mountain village. If you want to give your legs a rest but still want to be active, Llanes offers a multitude of exciting activities.

• Meals: Breakfast

Today you head west along the Paseo de San Pedro walkway. Picking up a back lane you’ll arrive at the deep, tidal inlet of Playa de Poo, a fantastic safe place for a swim. From here you’ll hug the coastline, taking in many a cove and the Island of Almenada as it undulates along. The route heads south and you’ll climb into the Llera hills and with just a little work you’ll be rewarded by one of the most spectacular views along the coast.

After lunch you may want to take a surf or stand up paddleboarding lesson with the accredited Asturian Surf School, who base themselves at a nearby beach. Go on, see if you can catch your first wave! Back on the bikes you follow the FEVE railway line until you reach Naves, your home for the evening.

• Meals: Breakfast

The first kilometres of the day will take you past the unique inland beach, Playa Gulpiyuri, and as you head west you will catch glimpses of the incredibly narrow bay of Villahormes, which points like a finger inland. This part of the route is very picturesque as it meanders through tiny villages, where cows rule the lanes. You drop back down to sea level to the unforgettable Playa de Cuevas del Mar (Beach of the Sea Caves); this is a jewel among the many fantastic Asturian beaches!

Before you know it you’ll be at the Garana picnic area, a perfect place to stop for lunch, and after lunch you’ll cycle onto the clifftop viewpoint overlooking the small fishing town of Ribadesella, your home for the final night of this tour. If you have time in the afternoon there are optional activities to keep you exploring. A favourite option is to take a short ride or walk out towards Terenes and hunt down the dinosaur footprints in the cliffs. Ribadesella is a lively and attractive town where you can celebrate completing your Asturian Coast adventure!

• Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, flight time permitting, there may be time to head to the beach for a swim before we pick you up to transfer you to the airport.

If you would like to extend your trip, then an afternoon spent canoeing down the River Sella, one of Europe’s most southern salmon rivers, to Ribadesella is always a hit! If you are interested in this extension, then please contact us for more details.