Santander to Comillas – Thursday

We started our driving trip of Cantabria and Asturias in style with a picnic of bread and local cheese overlooking the golden, curving playa by the Grand Casino, Santander.

Then headed west along the regional road CA-231 towards Boo and a spot circled on our map by the lady from the Cantabrian Tourist Board aboard the ferry. Shortly after passing through Liencres we turned right, winding gently down through a pine forest to be greeted by wide sandy beaches with rolling surf, backed by sand dunes. Justifiably a popular spot for sunbathing, surfing and just playing in the waves.

We are spending the night at the Posada Rural Rioturbia a few kilometres from Comillas. The road leading here is delightful; only wide enough for one car most of the way it winds around green, curvy hills, across a barely dry causeway at the head of the Rabia estuary and up through the tiny village of Rioturbia to the Posada perched on the side of the hill.  From our room we can hear the sound of cattle bells, a oxen pulled cart is being driven along the road and the view is very green – perfect.