A Postcard from Asturias - The Coast

We recently went to a family wedding in Santander, and decided to make the most of the trip and see a part of Spain that we hadn't visited before: Asturias!

I fell in love with this northern region, and its combination of tiny cove beaches and vast mountain landscapes. The whole area (or, at least, what we saw of it) was riddled with beautiful abandoned buildings just begging to be done up and enjoyed. It's on the top of my list of things to do now, should we ever win the lottery.

We spent our first three days in Asturias wandering through beachside towns full of charming colourful houses and the most gorgeous walls imaginable. And when we were done wandering, we ate. And ate. And ate some more. If you ever go to Asturias, go on an empty stomach and with a suitcase full of elastic waistlines. Between the marisco (seafood) and the fabada (bean stew), not to mention chorizo a la sidra (cider chorizo), you definitely won't be going hungry.

Our Air B&B host was an absolute gem and gave us a ton of recommendations of places to visit, the majority of which we never got to see because, you know, travelling with two kids is no joke. What we did manage to learn from her tips, though, is to never dismiss the tiny beaches. Every little cove was an absolute joy, and I loved the experience of walking through fields to reach the beach. I've never seen beaches so hidden! Perfect for relaxing, and avoiding the hundreds of glares you receive when your baby screams on a crowded beach.

We really only scratched the surface of one tiny little corner of the Asturian coastline, but here's my top five unmissable things:

ONE // Playa de Gulpeyuri - you have to visit this cove at high tide or there won't be any water, and you have to be prepared to walk a little (tiny) bit, but it's definitely worth the hunt. I ran squealing back to the car to get my husband to come see, that's how perfect it is.

TWO // La Cuevona and Cuevas - Cuevas is a little village accessible only through a road that runs through a huge mountain cave. The village itself is beautiful, but the cave is absolutely spectacular. And the drive inland has some of the most stunning views we saw in Asturias.

THREE // Restaurante Vista Alegre, Colunga - order the cebollas rellenas de bonito (onions stuffed with bonito, a fish similar to tuna). Just trust me. It's so, so good. As a bonus, especially for families, the restaurant is just off the beach, and only a few minutes from the Museo Jurasico de Asturias (Jurassic Museum).

FOUR// Ribadesella - there was nothing I didn't love about this charming seaside town. Visit on a Wednesday to enjoy the weekly market full of regional cheeses, and the traditional sidra (cider), which you have to try, if only to see how it's poured.

FIVE// Hang out on the beach - any beach will do, but we loved Playa de Póo (not least because, ha, poo) - collecting shells, prawns, and all sorts of other treasures from the sea.