Listen! Do you want to know a secret?
A group of Regent Travel guests could be forgiven recently for thinking they were perhaps stuck in a time tunnel – as per the photo – not really knowing exactly where in the world they were walking; the landscape was so varied and confusing.
These comments were regularly overheard: “this is rather like North Wales”, and “are we in Yorkshire?”, “this is greener than England” and “these beaches are almost tropical.” Add to that wooden chalet styled buildings with geranium clad balconies and cowbells echoing across the meadows, you could have thought perhaps we were in Switzerland or Austria. Throw in to the mix a unique cider pouring and tasting event preceded by witnessing sheep dog trials in a rural farm setting No wonder there was confusion.
During the week, we enjoyed coastal walks, descents through rich, mossy, verdant beech and fern forests, and a stroll around mountain lakes and alpine meadows full of colourful wildflowers. One walk was absolutely unique – through a steep sided gorge with inquisitive goats clinging to the mountainside which soared 2000 feet above us, vultures circling above and a raging river below, a man-made canal alongside us at times (reminiscent of the Levada’s of Madeira), sunshine, blue skies, soaring temperatures and the promise of a local cider at the end of the walk – where on earth were we?
In the Picos de Europa in northern Spain of course – snuggled between Galicia to the west, Leon to the south, Cantabria to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. This is the part of Spain we all normally fly over to get to the sunshine and beaches in the south.
Asturias really is Spain’s best kept secret.
Martin, Tour Manager
Should you wish to travel to this exciting part of the world please contact us on 01785 818202 or email info@regent-travel.co.uk
