Northern Spain, a dream trip

We arrived in Bordeaux with Ryanair from Bologna, then continued along the northern Spanish Atlantic coast towards Santiago de Compostela, and back following the interior, via Leon and Burgos, to return to the Atlantic along the French coast and take the flight again at Bordeaux. We covered 2600 km in 15 days with the Meriva hired through Rentalcars, Firefly company, everything perfect. The first impact with Spain is the Basque Country, Hondarribia and Usurbil, then continuing along the coast and crossing all the little villages of the promontory overlooking the Basque Coast: Deba, Zumaia, Lekeitio, Bermeo. A beautiful stop at the Playa de Laga. Deliberately avoiding Bilbao, we stop instead at Laredo; unfortunately the weather isn't the best.

We add a stop at the last moment in Santander, before reaching Santillana del Mar, a real architectural gem, perhaps a little too full of souvenir shops. Along the coast, worth seeing is Comillas (but don't stop on the seafront; the village slightly inland is worth seeing). Continuing along the coast, worth seeing are the Playa de la Ballota, Playa Torrimbia and the magnificent views from above, walking through the heather. Then the Playa de Vega and, turning inland, Oviedo, with a majestic cathedral and finally some warm sun. Back on the coast, Gijon and its seafront, the centre full of cider houses. Worthy of note is Cudillero, a village perched in a small bay, where you can enjoy excellent fish.

Having arrived in Galicia, don't miss the Playa de las Catedrales, where you can walk among the great rocks, low tide permitting, or walk on the high path to admire the sea from another perspective. Continuing further north we arrive at Foz, with its typical ocean beach, beaten by the wind. On the day of Ferragosto (Assumption) we head to Santiago de Compostela, but we detour to A Coruña; the lovely (cool) sunny day invites us to a walk along the majestic seafront and to have lunch with a nice "parillada de marisco", along with the percebes, seafood typical of the area. Having arrived in Santiago, we find a city full of tourists, a bit chaotic, despite the large pedestrian area; the pilgrims who have walked the Camino de Santiago arrive; the cathedral is packed with people, whereas much more beautiful, particular and quieter is the Monastery of San Martin Pinario.

For dinner there's nothing but an embarrassment of choice, you just need the patience to wait until 20.30. We visit the Cathedral the following morning, before leaving Santiago, and there's a completely different atmosphere. Once on the coast of the Rías Baixas we go to the dunes of Corrubedo (inaccessible as a nature park) and then to the Playa Ledeira, then two evenings in Pontevedra. Nearby, don't miss the Playa Lanzada, with a beautiful, very long wooden walkway on the dune, perfect since it isn't too hot. On the way back, on a day when we cover more than 400 km, we stop at the Templar castle of Ponferrada, and then at Leon, the blue city, for the spectacular stained-glass windows of its cathedral. Having arrived in Burgos, don't miss the Cartuja, just outside the city, and, also in the outskirts, the monastery of Huelgas.

The Cathedral is another of the architectural gems we were able to enjoy on this journey of ours. Here too, of course, a perfect historic centre, well kept, clean... a constant on this journey of ours in Spain: free and spotlessly clean beaches, well-kept cities, free motorways, restaurants with low prices. The last Spanish stop, before returning to France, is Vitoria.

For hotels in Spain I relied as always on Booking.com, seeking as far as possible accommodation outside the built-up areas (except Leon and Burgos, wanting to visit the centre without moving the car) at an average price of € 70 a night with breakfast: at Usurbil the Aginaga Hotel, at Guemes the Posada el Angel de la Guardia (absolutely the best of this trip for the surroundings, the location, the room, the breakfast), at Tonanes the Posada Puente Romano, at Camango the Hotel Rural l'Alceu, at Cudillero the Hotel Alvaro, at Devesa/Ribadeo O Lar de Carmina (you reach the Playa de las Catedrales on foot), at Santiago de Compostela the Hotel Miradoiro de Belvis, at Poio/Pontevedra the Hotel Restaurant Rural Casa Susa, at Leon F Infantas de Leon and at Burgos the Hotel Monjes Magnos.