Discover Cantabria
with Brittany Ferries
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Enchanting and
spectacular from
coast to country
Brittany Ferries sails to a beautiful city in a
wonderful region of Spain. Read on to find out
more and to make the most of both Santander
and Cantabria.
Stay longer in Cantabria
Spend a little time in Cantabria
and you’ll probably like it so much
you’ll want to stay longer. Not
only does this little region boast
130 miles of gorgeous Atlantic
coastline, it has deep verdant
valleys with villages untouched
by time and one of Europe’s most
spectacular mountain ranges.
There are handsome seaside
resorts, fine restaurants and a
whole host of rewarding outdoor
activities suitable for all ages.
And because of its compact size
and excellent roads, the region is
day-trip heaven; nothing is very
far away and there is so much to
see and do. So make sure you take
time to tour slowly, admire the
views, wander round the villages,
relax on the beaches or explore
on foot.
Santander
San Vincente
de la Barquera
Santo
Toribio
PICOS DE EUROPA
NATIONAL PARK
LEÍB
VA ANA
LLE
Y
Santillana
de Mar
Oyambre
Cabezón
de la Sal
Cueva
El Soplao
Cabárceno
Puente
Viesgo
Los Corrales
de Buelna
Saja-Besaya
Natural Park
Santo
Liébana
Toribio Valley
de Liébana
Puerto de
San Glorio
Torrelavega
Selaya
4
The glamorous city of Santander 6
Activities galore - Cantabrian style 8
Our top ten Cantabrian attractions 10
Cantabria by car or motorcycle Laredo
Limpias
Castro
Urdiales
Arredondo
Ramales de
la Victoria
Ason
Waterfall
Argueso
Alto
Campoo
Ebro Reservoir
Reinosa
0
10
miles
Picos de Europa
National Park
This is the highlight for many, a
majestic cluster of mountains that
dominates the western half of
The coast is a panorama of
beautiful beaches and picturesque the region. Most visitors get there
on a road that winds through a
coves - there are at least 60 in
Cantabria and many are blissfully spectacular canyon, then along to
free of development. Add rugged gigantic rock wall at Fuente Dé,
where a cable car will glide you up
green headlands for invigorating
walks, sweeping estuaries, pretty to the top of the cliff in just a few
breath-taking minutes. On a clear
fishing ports to wander around
day the views from the top are
and cafes to refuel in. This is a
seaside experience that’s difficult simply awesome.
to better.
Outdoor Pursuits
With such a superb natural
setting, it’s no surprise that there
are lots of ways to get active; top
In the hinterland, forested hills rise
pursuits are hiking, mountainto green pastures and then higher
biking, horse-riding, kayaking,
to mighty limestone mountains;
white water rafting, surfing and
the landscape is laced with rivers
sailing. Indeed Santander will
that flow to the coast with the
host the 2014 Sailing World
lowlands shaped by centuries of
Championships. And as for golf…
small scale agriculture.
well, this is the home of the late
great Seve Ballesteros and a string
of emerald courses.
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Picos de Europa
National Park
Potes
Fuente Dé
Comillas
Noja
Santoña
Campoo
Valley
Breathtaking coast line
Spectacular mountains
and valleys
Unquera
Santillana
del Mar
Contents
Historical and cultural
diversions
To compliment natural splendour,
there are cultural gems a- plenty.
Santillana del Mar, near the coast
and Santander, is a perfectlypreserved pedestrian-friendly
medieval village. A few minutes’
drive away is something very
much older: the Altamira Cave.
It’s here that some of the world’s
best examples of ancient rock
paintings were discovered – the
depictions of animals are 14,000
years old. A little further west at
Comillas, you’ll find some striking
architecture including Gaudi’s
Caprichio nestling in the hills overlooking the resort.
Chic city where
beaches abound
Where to stay
Full of fresh-air fun it may be, but
Cantabria is not short of comfort
and style, with an outstanding
range of accommodation - from
chalet camping to self-catering
country cottages; from family
hotels to prestigious Paradors
or Santander’s superb Hotel
Real. All reasonably priced and
easily bookable through Brittany
Ferries’ website. For independent
travellers, check out the Club de
Calidad - a selection of the best
accommodation and restaurants
offering consistently high
standards.
If you’re a first-time visitor to
Cantabria, you’re sure to want to
return. Even if it’s your tenth trip,
you’ll find more to explore. It’s the
little region with big surprises.
Santander is a fine and friendly
city that will quickly convince you
why it was a favourite for royal
visitors. Boasting a choice of great
beaches, a lively art nouveau
market, as well as elegant
waterfront promenades and exroyal palaces, it’s a great place to
stroll around before enjoying one
or more of its many restaurants
and tapas bars.
Far left: Santa Maria de Lebeña, near Potes.
Top left: The local market in Noja. Top
right: Spectacular scenery near Arenas
de Cabrales. Far right: Los Locos beach at
Suances. Right: Great golf courses await
you in Cantabria. Left: The heady heights
of the Picos de Europa.
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Where every road
is a scenic route
Exploring by car or
motorcycle is a joy
in Cantabria
Whether you choose to tour the
magnificent coast of Cantabria
or head for the hills, there is a
network of well-made roads
that will take you on a rewarding
journey.
The shore has golden beaches
and dunes, picturesque towns
and lofty headlands that drop
straight into the sea. Inland, there
are lanes through lush valleys,
spectacular mountains, bubbling
rivers and peaceful villages.
Here are some suggestions for
driving routes, but all you really
need is a map and a sense of
curiosity.
The East Coast
A good starting point is Castro
Urdiales, swiftly reached by
the A8 dual carriageway from
Santander. This route takes you
back west to the city along the
small roads along the glorious
shore.
Castro Urdiales is well worth an
hour to wander around the pretty
harbour with its fishing boats and
fine old buildings.
Take the N634 and you’ll come to
Playa de Oriñón, a wide rectangle
of bright sand blocked in by steep
hills, where you could take your
first swim of the day. Nearby
there’s a narrow road to Sonabia
(smaller vehicles only), a fabulous
sheltered cove in a huge bowl, one
of the finest bays in Spain.
The next main beach is a
complete contrast – the grand
curve of Playa de Salvé at Laredo,
ideal for family paddles or simple
walking along the three-mile
waterline with the locals.
If you go to the end of this
peninsula, you’ll see the fishing
town of Santoña across the
estuary of the Asón river. On
the way round to the town,
birdwatchers should stop at one
of the viewing platforms to look
for the dozens of species.
Santoña is an attractive anchovy
and tuna port with a shipshaped visitor centre and grassy
promenade – it’s a good place for
a fish lunch.
Heading west along the CA141, there’s a series of long and
resplendent beaches stretching
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Comillas comes next, where you
should check out the modernist
architecture, miniature port and
fish restaurants, then move on
to Oyambre, one of the longest
beaches on this stretch and part
of a nature reserve – a good
place for a short hike.
Just past the headland there’s
Playa de Meron, with acres of
fine-grain sand, the last beach
before crossing the old bridge
across the estuary to San Vicente
de la Barquera, behind which
loom the Picos de Europa. The
town is exceptionally attractive,
especially viewed from the bridge
over a creek, above which are the
ancient church and castle.
all the way to the resort of Noja.
Berria and Tregandin come first,
both with great swathes of sand,
the latter sprinkled with dark,
contorted rocks. It’s easy to find
your own quiet spot even in
summer.
Over the other side of Noja are
the twin beaches of Ris and Joyel,
where a small island creates rock
pools at certain states of tide.
Playa de Ajó, an alluring deep
bay with shallow water, is worth
the detour before you come to
Langre, a real classic of a beach
backed by an arc of cliffs. Finally,
across from Santander, is Somo,
where the extensive sands
culminate in a spit that stretches
right across the bay.
The West Coast
Going in the opposite direction
from Santander, you can take
the CA-131 minor road to find
more great beaches and some
especially enchanting towns.
The village of Liencres is the
gateway to several delightful,
sheltered coves as well as sea
stacks, but make sure you visit
the main Playa del Liencres along
here, with its dunes and lovely
curling estuary.
A stop at the historic glory of
Santillana del Mar is required
before heading for Cóbreces
and the nearby Playa de Luaña,
another of those alluring, sandfilled deep bays.
The countryside
Whichever road you take south
from the coast, you’ll end up
in outstanding scenery, with
forests of beech and oak, stone
hamlets and glittering streams.
The following should be on your
shortlist.
Find the village of Arredondo
on the map – south-east of
Santander then take the small
road south along the gorge of the
Asón river. At its source is a tall
waterfall, especially impressive
in spring. The top of the canyon
opens out into the secret upper
valley of Soba, from where there’s
an alternative route back down, to
Ramales de la Victoria.
For a real nature tour, head down
from Cabezón de la Sal into the
Saja-Besaya Natural Park, where
you’ll find rolling forests and
green pastures with soft-eyed
cows. A left turn dead-ends at
the village of Bárcena Mayor, a
superb, medieval artistic-historic
community.
A tour to the Picos de Europa
is almost obligatory. Take the
N621 from Unquera and follow
the Deva river through the
incredible narrow gorge, the
Desfiladero de la Hermida, from
which a couple of spindly roads
head into the mountains, or turn
right in Potes to get to the cable
car at Fuente Dé.
Far left: Taking your car gives you the
ability to see so much more. Top left:
Castro Urdiales. Top: Noja’s pretty
coastline. Middle left: Gaudí’s Capricho in
Comillas. Left: The cable car at the Picos
de Europa National Park.
5
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Glamorous
city that
was a
royal
favourite
6
Santander
Before you even drive or step
off the Brittany Ferries ship in
Santander, you’ll have realised
that this is a city well worth
exploring. As you sail into port,
you’ll have passed the striking
Magdalena Palace on its headland,
spied the huge golden sweep of
Somo’s sands across the bay and
noticed that the city itself has
several fine beaches.
Santander is a friendly, easygoing
city that is easy to get around on
foot, by the efficient local buses
or, if you wish to cross the bay, by
regular ferries.
It’s a real multi-purpose place,
with pleasant promenades for
beachside strolls, fascinating
museums, some notable
architecture and a healthy cluster
of excellent restaurants, tapas
bars and stylish shops. There’s also
a vibrant arts and culture scene
that expresses itself in a series of
top-class festivals.
Few other places allow the chance
to swim in clear waters, go to a
restaurant for a fish lunch while
watching the boats in the bay,
then investigate an exhibition, all
within a short stroll.
No wonder the Spanish royal
family were regular visitors over
many years, the Magdalena
Palace – completed 100 years ago
this year – being built to provide
a summer residence away from
the heat of Madrid. King Alfonso
XIII and his family first arrived in
1913 and used the palace through
until the Thirties. It has since
been used as a conference centre
and international university; the
gardens and small zoo are well
worth a look.
The royals’ presence was preceded
by well-heeled visitors from the
middle of the 19th century and
the legacy is a glamorous city
where life still revolves around
the sea. On any day when the sun
is out, locals will descend upon
the beaches at some stage; each
July, the tradition of “taking to the
waters” is celebrated by people
donning old woollen bathing suits.
Sardinero – made up of two
strands separated by formal
gardens – is the most prominent
beach, close to the palace
overlooked by the handsome,
restored Gran Casino, though you
may want to wander along Los
Bikinis beach, where the skimpy
beachwear became popular with
daring students in the Fifties.
The city’s cathedral was severely
damaged by fire in 1941, though
it dates back 700 years and
Roman ruins can still be seen as
part of the crypt. You can reach
the cathedral from the ship dock
through the charming Pereda
Gardens.
Don’t miss the art nouveau
Mercado de la Esperanza. The
displays of fish – especially
shellfish – fruit, vegetables and
local delicacies are most inviting
and it makes a good last stop
before boarding the cruise-ferry
home to buy cheeses, olive oil and
cured meats.
Santander has a number of
museums and galleries. Being
a coastal region, Cantabria
would not be complete without
an exhibition dedicated to the
sea and the Maritime Museum
contains sections for marine
biology (there’s an aquarium) and
fishing, including traditional boats.
The city also has the Regional
Museum of Prehistory and
Archaeology, tracing the region’s
past back to the Paleolithic age,
and a Fine Arts gallery featuring
works from Goya and Miro.
Your best bet for an evening out
is the city centre, with streets
being filled with boutiques and
pavements cafes, especially in the
Paseo de Pereda. Nearby, the lively
but genial Plaza de Cañadío is the
place to head for drinks and tapas.
If you are lingering a little longer,
Indulge your taste buds
Cantabria has 6 Michelin-starred restaurants:
1
2
Annua at San Vicente
www.annuagastro.com
Los Avellanos
in Torrelavega
www.losavellanos.com
3
Cenador de Amós at
Villaverde de Pontones
www.cenadordeamos.com
you may wish to hop on a boat
across to the beachside resort
of Somo, where you could walk
along the long sand spit for great
views over the city, take a dip – or
even a surfing lesson – and then
enjoy a late, lazy lunch. A perfect
day out, making Santander an
ideal break for two or three days.
Gastronomy
4
5
6
Solana at Ampuero
www.restaurantesolana.com
El Nuevo Molino at Pielagos
www.elnuevomolino.es
El Serbal in Santander
www.elserbal.com
As you might expect, seafood
plays a big role in Cantabrian
cuisine, although there are
also excellent bean-and-pork
mountain stews, rich lamb and
succulent beef. Local clams, squid,
crabs and hake feature on many
menus, sometimes simply fried
in light batter but also as part of
imaginative creations.
As the panel above shows,
Cantabria boasts six restaurants
with Michelin stars and even the
high-class establishments put
the emphasis on food rather than
ceremony. For cheaper eats there
are lots of family-run restaurants.
One of the most fun ways of
eating, especially in Santander, is
to sample a selection of the tapas
bars.
festival is ArteSantander, which
concentrates on the visual arts.
Santander also holds a prestigious
piano competition in the
summer, along with world-class
lectures and music and dance
performances organised by the
Menéndez Pelayo International
University.
Festivals
The Spanish love a festival and
Cantabria is no exception. Possibly
of most interest to holidaymakers
is Semana Grande (Big Week) in
July, which features street parties,
bands and parades. The biggest
cultural event, more than 60 years
in existence, is held in August, the
International Festival, with a host
of classical music, dance, opera
and theatre. Shortly before this
Far left: Magdalena Palace is well worth a
visit. Top: Spectacular seafood is always
on most menus. Above: Fiesta time in the
city. Left: Gaze and wonder at the beautiful
beaches of Santander.
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Fresh-air fun
for action
addicts
Cantabria is so beautiful, you’ll
want to engage with its seascapes
and landscapes. Fortunately, the
region has lots of ways in which
visitors of all ages can burn off
the calories from all that delicious
food – or you can just sit back and
watch the action.
Golf
Just across the bay from
Santander is Pedreña, home
of the late superstar Severiano
Ballesteros. The fabulous course
here was where the master
crafted his skills – it’s a must-play
for the serious golfer, so why not
put your clubs in the boot before
you set off for the ferry? Cantabria
has another eight courses,
including the highly regarded,
Ballesteros-designed Santa
Marina. Others have spectacular
coastal locations or are set against
a mountainous backdrop. The
Cantabrian government operates
two courses that are especially
welcoming to visitors – Abra
del Pas, encircled by a serene
river, and Nestares, down in the
Campoo valley.
Rafting & Kayaking
Santander recently won the bid
to host the prestigious 2014 ISAF
Sailing World Championships.
Hardly surprising as the bay of
the city is perfect for this sport.
Dinghy and yacht races often
provide a pleasing distraction for
those on the local beaches and
the championships will prove a
great spectator event.
The Ebro River that exits the
reservoir creates an exciting
environment for fast-moving
adventures. Outdoor sports
companies can take you down
some of the rapids in a raft, plus
there are calmer stretches for
kayakers. On the Deva river, there
is good canoeing and kayaking,
especially towards the coast
where conditions are fine for
novices.
Surfing
Rowing
Although there are many
sheltered bays along Cantabria’s
coast, the more open sections
attract surfers from all over the
world, with big blue Atlantic
waves providing excellent
conditions. Serviced beaches
such as Somo and Oyambre
are good for beginners – there
are surf schools here offering
taster and longer courses – but
if you’re experienced, you can
bring your own board over on
your car roofrack. Liencres, Laredo
and Berria are other first-class
locations.
The historic trainera regattas are
brilliant for spectators. These large
rowing boats, once used to bring
in the day’s catch of anchovies
and sardines from sea to market,
are now used for a sport that
has plenty of passionate fans.
Santoña, Laredo and Castro
Urdiales all host races.
Sailing
Windsurfing &
Kitesurfing
8
rock-free beaches are suitable
and again there instructors who
will show you the ropes or rent
out gear. The waters of Santander
bay are often flat enough for
windsurfers, or why not head
south to the Ebro reservoir for
freshwater fun?
The latter is especially popular
in the region, with all types of
waves popping up for boarders to
“get some air”. Most of the larger,
Horseriding
Several stables dotted around
Cantabria offer guided horseriding
through the most gorgeous
countryside – valleys, riversides
and even along the beach – and if
you’re proficient, you should be
able to arrange hire of a horse and
tack. The Liébana and Campoo
valleys are good places to start,
with well-trod bridleways. If you
have keen kids, check out the
occasional summer schools.
Biking
Skiing
Along the coast and in some of
the wider valleys, there are scenic
lanes and farm tracks that are
excellent for two-wheeled travel
without being too taxing.
A decent map and picnic is all you
need for an exhilarating day out.
For more adrenalin, though, you’ll
want to check out the mountain
bike trails in the foothills of the
Picos de Europa, although there
are dozens of slightly easier trails
right across the central belt of
the region. Don’t forget you can
bring bikes over on car racks on
the ferry.
Alto Campoo is Cantabria’s only
ski resort and it’s a little gem
that will provide a real talking
point back home. In the southwest of the region, it has reliable
snow and all the services you
could need, such as varied runs,
five chairlifts, eight drags, ski
schools, a children’s snowpark
and restaurants. The maximum
altitude is 2,125m and there are
stupendous views from the slopes.
Good quality accommodation
in hotels, inns and apartments
is close by but wherever you are
staying in the region the resort
will be a comfortable drive away,
especially with improvements
to the main road to Reinosa, the
closest town.
Hiking
Specialist walking companies
have been operating in the Picos
de Europa and surrounding hills
for years and Cantabria does
indeed have some of the finest
hiking in Europe, especially with
the Fuente Dé cable car taking
the biggest sting out of mountain
trails. The great thing about
having your own car with you is
the choice of shorter or longer
well-marked routes that become
easy to access. To avoid the most
strenuous terrain, the Liébana
valley is outstanding for walking.
Pop into any of the tourist offices
in Cantabria for advice on guide
companies, walking routes and
on other activities such as rock
climbing and canyoning.
Far left: Jump on a bike to explore the
region more. Top left: Fun in the surf.
Top middle: Golf Santa Marina. Top right:
Hiking in Santander’s Reserva Nacional
del Saja. Middle right: Perfect waves for
surfing. Right: Canoeing near Potes.
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Ten tempting
attractions for
grand days out
Cantabria is crammed with outstanding
historical and natural wonders. Some deserve
a whole day or more, others can be combined
for a contrasting experience. Nothing is far
away in this compact yet beautiful region.
1Picos de Europa
Spain’s first national park is
one of the most spectacular
mountain wildernesses in
Europe and on clear days forms
a dramatic backdrop to the
western coastline. Centuries
ago, sailors returning from the
New World would know they
were almost home when they
spied the “Peaks of Europe”
from afar.
The Fuente Dé cable car
gives fast, direct access to an
alpine wonderland of soaring
limestone mountains and
hidden valleys.
Even if you don’t stray far from
the top station, El Cable, at
about 6,600ft, the views are
astonishing, especially back
down into the valley. If you wish
to explore further, there are
marvellous marked paths and
the route back down is fabulous.
Most visitors arrive through the
sensational Desfiladero de la
Hermida gorge and just before
you get to Potes, the town that
serves as a “gateway” to the
park, there’s an excellent visitor
centre that will tell you all about
the wildlife – griffon vultures,
chamois, even brown bears –
and the geology and give advice
on walking and cycling routes.
2 The Liébana Valley
Immediately to the east of the
Picos de Europa is the lovely
Liébana valley – actually four
valleys converging on Potes
– which often basks in warm
sunshine even if the mountains
are looking broody. It’s a verdant
environment with oak and beech
forests, green pastures and wild
rivers, especially the fast-running
Deva, and is perfect for walking
and cycling if the real alpine stuff
above is too strength-sapping.
The charming little town of Potes
makes a great base for a day or
two, with a square overlooking
the river and several good
restaurants and bars.
For motorists, there are small
spur roads in the valley that climb
to untouched hamlets with fine
views; try to visit the ancient
Santa Maria de Lebena church in a
breathtaking setting.
10
6Altamira Cave
3Santo Toribio
With the Liébana valley and not
far from Potes is a monastery
that holds great importance in
the Christian world. Santo Toribio,
on a hillside, holds what many
believe to be the largest part of
the True Cross, upon which Christ
was crucified. The story is that the
young Toribio brought back the
relic from the Holy Land in the
fifth century and since medieval
times it has attracted pilgrims
from far and wide.
4Puerto de San Glorio
A road up one arm of the Liébana
valley heads south then climbs
west through superlative scenery
to the San Glorio pass. From up
here at 5,300ft, especially from the
small car park up a side road, there
are remarkable views of the Picos
de Europa and the valley below.
Try to stop at the hairpin layby
shortly before reaching the pass,
where there’s a bronze statue
of an ibex and panoramas of
strange-shaped peaks to the
south-east.
5Santillana del Mar
A few hours in Santillana, one of
the most beautiful old villages
in Spain, is a must. Along the
cobbled, pedestrianised streets
and squares are immaculately
preserved medieval buildings –
houses, palaces and churches.
The whole place is like a living
museum and has been declared a
National Monument; even the gift
shops are a joy.
A highlight is the Romanesque
Collegiate Church, dating back
to the 12th century, and make
sure you go inside the admire the
exquisite interior.
Cantabria was a popular place
even tens of thousands of years
ago. The evidence? In 1879, an
archaeologist discovered some
caves south-west of Santander
that featured some remarkable
examples of rock art. Bison, horses
and other beasts adorn the wall
of Altamira, the paintings having
been dated to about 14,000 years.
So valuable are these paintings in
terms of world history that the
caves have had to be closed to the
public; however, an exceptionally
detailed replica has been created
close by.
The region is riddled with caves
and although Altamira is the
“Sistine Chapel” of cave art,
there are several underground
chambers where you can admire
prehistoric depictions of animals
and handprints. El Castillo and Las
Monedas near Puente Viesgo are
a good bet, while the El Soplao
Comillas
complex south of San Vicente de
la Barquera has impressive white
What seems at first sight to be
rock formations.
an agreeable seaside town with
a little harbour is also the site
Cabárceno of several examples of splendid
Natural Park
modernist architecture. Most
notable is Gaudí’s El Capricho
A must for families, Cabárceno is
one of Europe’s best wildlife parks, (“the whim”), built in 1883 with a
profusion of colourful tiles and a
not only because of the wide
startling Mudejar-style tower.
range of animals in semi-wild
habitats but because it’s all set in Along the road is the neo-Gothic
unusual karstic scenery on the site Palacio de Sobrellano (open for
of an old mine.
public viewing), a highly ornate
palace from the same era with
About 20 minutes from
Gaudí-designed furniture.
Santander, the park has giraffes,
apes, tigers, bears, lions, rhinos
Dominating the town is the
and many more, several of which immense Pontifical University
are successfully breeding. A
on a hill, a Gothic-Mudéjar
number of routes can be followed construction again dating from
that also take you past a wealth of the late 19th century.
exotic flora.
Collados de Asón The animals come from all over
the world but there are also local waterfall
fauna including wolves, ibex and
In a landscape laced with rivers
wild boar, while the landscape is
and streams, it’s surprising that
sometimes quite other-worldy.
Cantabria does not have more tall
waterfalls. However, the source of
the Asón river makes up for this,
tumbling nearly 200ft over a cliff
into a gorge in the south-east of
the region near Arredondo.
Best times to visit are spring and
early summer for water flow,
though even if it’s down to a
trickle the valley is quite gorgeous,
leading up to outstanding
viewpoints and the secret Soba
valley with its diminutive farms,
an area that’s barely changed for
decades.
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Marismas de Santoña
Many miles after the Asón spouts
from the mountains, it enters the
sea between Santoña and Laredo,
forming a wild area of estuary,
marsh and sand dune. In a region
already replete with birdwatching
opportunities, the Marismas de
Santoña natural park is king, with
well over 100 species regularly
spotted and up to 20,000 birds at
any one time.
Depending on the time of year,
ornithologists can look for
spoonbills, avocets, curlews,
oystercatchers and many more
from the boardwalks and parking
pullouts; the visitor centre in
Santoña is a good place to get your
bearings and pick up information.
Clockwise from top left: Viewpoint
overlooking San Sebastian; Fuente Dé;
waterfall in the Picos; Medieval Santillana
del Mar; Comillas; Marismas de Santoña;
brown bears at Cabárceno Nature Park;
the caves at Soplao.
11
Spain without the plane
If you’re reading this en-route to
Northern Spain, well done! You’ve
realised that taking your own
familiar car will help you make the
most of your time away. You’ve
packed as much luggage as you like
and can look forward to exploring at
your own pace.
If you haven’t yet tried our Spanish
service, don’t be put off by the
length of the journey. As soon as
you board one of the two first-class
ships that cruise to Santander,
there’s plenty for you to explore.
With at least one night at sea, you
can enjoy comfortable cabins, great
food, excellent leisure facilities and
live entertainment, whatever your
age. You may even be thrilled by
the sight of whales and dolphins in
the ocean.
Either way we hope you’ll enjoy the
on board experience. Far from being
simply a method of transport, the
Brittany Ferries service aims to be
very much part of your holiday.
Brittany Ferries sails to Cantabria
three times each week - from
Portsmouth and Plymouth to
Santander. With journey times of
about 20-24 hours, there’s plenty
of time to relax, soak up the sea air
and enjoy the cruise.
Our flag ship Pont-Aven has now
been joined by the newest addition
to the fleet, the boutique-style Cap
Finistère. With pools, spa treatment
rooms and high levels of service,
both ships are far more like cruise
liners than what you may expect
of typical ferries.
All sailings are bookable online
or through our friendly call
centre. The sailing times are
friendly, too, with no exhausting
early-morning starts.
Visit brittanyferries.com or call 0871 244 0448
Calls costs 10p per minute plus network extras.