Bilbao and the Basque Coast Frank Gehry's Guggenheim museum & nearby Bellas Artes World famous Basque cuisine - pintxos or something more substantial Basque coast, lovely beaches, spectacular rock formations Head for the hills - great walking not far from the city San Sebastian, Belle Epoque elegance by the sea Birdwatching & breathtaking scenery; Urdaibai biosphere reserve Catch the tube to the waves & get surfing!

Santander and eastern Cantabria Santander , the beautiful city on the bay. Valle de Pas - distinct culture, prehistoric cave paintings, rolling scenery Somo, Ajo and beyond , lofty cliff top walks and sandy beaches Wildlife in a spectacular lunar landscape - Cabarceno Wildlife Park Spectacular scenery in the Asón and Miera valleys, vitually unknown Historic castle and Basque style pintxos in Castro Urdiales

Western Coastal Cantabria Historic seaside towns of San Vicente de la Barquera , Comillas or Santillana del Mar. Sweeping sandy beaches and craggy protected coves Unspoilt Carmona , Cabezon , Barcena Mayor in the beautiful valleys. Prehistoric cave paintings at Altamira and magnificent formations in El Soplao - the Cathedral of the cave world. Wonderful walks along the coast or in the rolling hills just inland.

Picos de Europa Let the cable car at Fuente De whisk you up to 1800 metres Make a pilgrimage to Santo Toribio , the Cantabrian Santiago Potes , Cangas de Onis and Arriondas historic yet full of life Local mountain gastronomy - don't miss the local cider and Orujo. Get canoeing on the Rio Sella or Deva, a great day out! Walk the Ruta del Cares - breathtaking mountain scenery for all abilities. Covadonga , geographical, spiritual and sporting heart of the Picos.

Asturias, eastern and central coast Lovely seaside villages such as Llanes & Lastres . Dinosaur coast - Jurassic museum near Colunga & fossil footprints on the beaches. Visit Oviedo , the historic Asturian capital & Gijon by the sea. Eat, drink and be merry in a traditional Asturian cider house . The Spanish Cornwall ? Beautiful beaches & cliff-top walks. Beautifully preserved pre-romanic architecture, from the 8th Century.

Western Asturias Picturesque fishing villages such as Cudillero & Luarca Beaches - world class surf at Tapia, breathtaking Silencio or family fun at San Pedro. National Park of Somiedo - see the wild deer, and bears if you're lucky! Celtic settlements on the Asturian coast. Head inland to the genuine cowboy country

Costa Lucense, Galicia Great seafood - famed throughout Spain Playa de los Catedrales - just one of many fantastic beaches Viveiro , lively seaside city with an atmospheric old town and lovely beaches. Sargadelos pottery, hand made and traditional but with a modern look. Fiesta! Some of Spain's most traditional, like Rapa das Bestas or Ortiguera Folk , well established the world music circuit.

Costa de la Muerte & Rias Altas, Galicia Finisterre , literally 'the end of the world' so named by the Romans Carnota beach , a long standing favourite - and many more besides The famous potteries of Buño A Coruña with an aquarium, museums, charming old quarter, and the world's only functioning Roman lighthouse Coastal Camariñas with its lace making tradition

Rias Bajas, Galicia Feast on the shellfish farmed locally in the Rias The idylic islands of Cies and Ons both National Parks Vigo , Europe's largest fishing port and a lively city at any time of year Albariño wines wines - arguably Spain's finest whites - visit Cambados, the charming old town at the heart of the region The Galician Rias - broad estuaries, a haven for watersports from sailing to surfing.

Santiago and inland Galicia Santiago, journey's end, for centuries Europe's Nº 1 pilgrim destination. Take a Catamaran trip down the magnificent Rio Sil Ribeiro wines from vineyards on the steep river valleys of the Miño and Sil Ourense, full of surprises, and Monforte de Lemos, both steeped in history Take a trip around the monasteries of the Ribera Sacra Lugo , a thriving city with Roman walls Los Ancares nature park, little discovered acres of native woodlands

Navarra Gateway to the Camino de Santiago , steeped in history. Excellent varietal and boutique wines not available at home Fairytale castles at Olite and Artajona – bull runs & pintxos in Pamplona. Soaring rocky Pyrenees and the immense Irati forest in the east Rolling green valleys of Baztan & Bidasoa near the coast in the west Spectacular lunar lanscape of Las Bardenas in the south La Ribera - Spain's finest peppers, artichokes, asparagus....

La Rioja La Rioja Alavesa , where the mountains give shelter to the best wineries Riojan cuisine - excellent local ingredients with a touch of Basque flair A history of architecture from cave-dweller to Gehry Medieval towns such as Laguardia , thriving centers of the wine trade Dinastia Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture, one of the finest private collections in the world. Izki Golf , two courses in the midst of the beautiful Nature Park of Izki

Burgos & Leon Burgos, city steeped in history, with its magnificent cathedral and lively bars Lechazo, Spain's best lamb - best sampled with a Ribera del Duero wine Santa Maria , Leon's beautiful cathedral with its fantastic stained glass Tapas in Leon's Barrio Húmeda, literally "the wet Quarter", always lively. Las Medulas , a unique lanscape with undulating red rock formations. Untouched by time, wonderful El Bierzo . Excellent local Mencia wines and a gastronomic tradition second to none

Salamanca Magnificent Salamanca Spain's foremost university town Walking in the Sierra de Francia Gijuelo ham , one of the best in Spain Site of Wellington's famous victory at the Battle of Salamanca and nearby Ciudad Rodrigo Via de la Plata - ancient Roman route linking Sevilla with Gijón on the north coast

Alt Penedés, Catalunya Head for the coast at Sitges or Altafulla Mix with the locals in Vilafranca del Penedés Try the local Cava or visit a bodega Make a pilgrimage to Montserrat Marvel at the past in Roman Tarragona See the spectacular Castellers de Vilafranca

North-west Portugal Choose your beach - riverside or seaside? Eating & drinking, Portugese style Come and see the grape harvest in late September Ponte de Lima and a host of other charming villages Walking in the Peneda-Gerés National Park Take a trip to Oporto or Coimbra

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