holiday-plans/OPTION-1-northern-spain.md

Option 1: Northern Spain - Cantabria & Asturias

Overview

Destination: "Green Spain" - Cantabria and Asturias regions
Duration: 15 nights (18 July - 2 August 2026)
Travel Method: Self-drive via ferry
Best For: Coastal scenery, mountains, beaches, prehistoric caves, authentic Spanish culture

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Why This Works

✅ Few mosquitoes - Northern Spain's Atlantic climate means significantly fewer mosquitoes than Mediterranean areas
✅ Self-catering friendly - Plenty of apartments and rural cottages
✅ Vegetarian-friendly - Good produce, markets, and Spanish vegetarian options
✅ Child-friendly - Beaches, caves, nature parks, gentle activities
✅ Car essential - Public transport limited; having your car is ideal
✅ Not done before - Different from Belgium/Netherlands/Denmark

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Travel: Ferry from Plymouth to Santander

Route

• Outbound: Plymouth → Santander (Brittany Ferries)
  • Departure: Afternoon
  • Duration: ~20-21 hours
  • Overnight crossing with cabin
• Return: Santander → Plymouth

Estimated Ferry Cost

Item	Cost
Car + 2 adults + 1 child (return)	£450 - £650
Cabin (2-berth, each way)	Included in fare
Meals on board (optional)	£60-80 each way
Total Ferry	£450 - £730

💡 Tip: Book early (by March 2026) for best prices. Brittany Ferries often has early booking discounts.

Driving from Wigan

• Wigan → Plymouth: ~4.5 hours (270 miles)
• Recommend overnight stay near Plymouth night before ferry
• Budget hotel near Plymouth: £60-80

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Accommodation Options

Option A: Single Base - Coastal Cantabria (Recommended)

Location: Near Santillana del Mar / Suances area
Type: Self-catering apartment or cottage
Duration: 14 nights

Type	Price/Night	14 Nights	Notes
Budget apartment	£50-70	£700-980	Basic but adequate
Family gite/cottage	£70-100	£980-1,400	More space, often with garden
Apartment with pool	£80-120	£1,120-1,680	Popular with families

Recommended search sites:

• Rustical Travel (rusticaltravel.com) - specialised in Northern Spain
• Booking.com / Airbnb for apartments
• Gites de France also lists Spanish border properties

Option B: Two-Base Holiday (Split Stay)

Base 1: Cantabria coast (7 nights) - beaches, Santander
Base 2: Asturias inland/mountains (7 nights) - Picos de Europa

Accommodation	Cost (14 nights total)
2x budget apartments	£700-1,000
2x family cottages	£1,000-1,500

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Child-Friendly Activities

Cantabria Area

Activity	Description	Cost (family of 3)
Altamira Cave Museum	Replica of famous prehistoric cave paintings + interactive exhibits	€15-20
Parque de la Magdalena (Santander)	Peninsular park with mini zoo, playgrounds, beach	Free
Cabárceno Nature Park	Safari-style park with animals in large enclosures	€60-70
Beaches	Playa de la Magdalena, Playa de Somo, Loredo	Free
Santillana del Mar	Medieval village, lovely for wandering, ice cream	Free
El Soplao Cave	Spectacular cave with tram ride	€40-50

Asturias Area (if doing 2-base)

Activity	Description	Cost (family of 3)
Picos de Europa	Mountain scenery, easy walks, cable car at Fuente Dé	€30-40 (cable car)
Lakes of Covadonga	Beautiful lakes, short walks, visitor centre	Free
Ribadesella Beach	Sandy beach, dinosaur footprints nearby	Free
Cider museums	Fun for kids to see cider pouring	€15-20
Canoeing on River Sella	Family-friendly canoe trips (ages 7+)	€50-60

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Food & Self-Catering

Shopping

• Supermarkets: Mercadona, Lidl, Aldi, Dia (all have vegetarian options)
• Markets: Weekly markets in most towns (great for fresh produce)
• Speciality: Local cheeses, fresh bread, seasonal fruit

Vegetarian-Friendly Spanish Dishes

• Tortilla española (Spanish omelette - no meat)
• Gazpacho (cold tomato soup)
• Pimientos de Padrón (fried peppers)
• Queso cabrales (local blue cheese)
• Empanadas (vegetarian versions available)

Estimated Food Costs

Item	Cost/Day	15 Days
Self-catering (breakfast + lunch + dinner)	£30-40	£450-600
Occasional meal out	£40-50 x 3	£120-150
Total Food		£570-750

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Full Budget Breakdown

Category	Low Estimate	High Estimate
Ferry (car + 3 pax return)	£450	£650
Accommodation (14 nights)	£700	£1,100
Food (self-catering)	£450	£600
Fuel (UK + Spain driving)	£200	£280
Activities	£150	£250
Tolls & Parking	£50	£80
Contingency	£100	£150
TOTAL	£2,100	£3,110

How to Hit £2,000 Budget

⚠️ This option is challenging at £2,000 - here's how to make it work:

1. Book ferry early - aim for £450 return
2. Budget accommodation - £50/night apartment = £700
3. Strict self-catering - only 1-2 meals out
4. Free activities - beaches, walking, villages
5. Fuel-efficient driving - combine trips

Tight Budget Estimate:

• Ferry: £450
• Accommodation: £700
• Food: £450
• Fuel: £200
• Activities: £100
• Contingency: £100
• Total: £2,000 ✅

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Pros & Cons

Pros

• Beautiful, unspoiled region
• Very few mosquitoes
• Authentic Spanish experience
• Great for car exploration
• Good vegetarian options
• Child-friendly culture

Cons

• Long ferry crossing (20+ hours)
• Weather less predictable than Mediterranean
• Requires budget discipline to hit £2,000
• English less widely spoken than in Netherlands/Belgium

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Sample Itinerary

Week 1: Cantabria Coast

• Days 1-2: Ferry crossing, arrive Santander, settle in
• Days 3-4: Beach days at Somo/Loredo
• Day 5: Altamira Cave Museum + Santillana del Mar
• Day 6: Cabárceno Nature Park
• Day 7: Santander city - Parque de la Magdalena

Week 2: Explore Further

• Days 8-9: Day trips to Asturias - Covadonga, Cangas de Onís
• Days 10-11: Beach + relaxation
• Day 12: El Soplao Cave
• Days 13-14: Local exploration, markets, final beach days
• Day 15: Ferry home

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Booking Checklist

• Ferry: Brittany Ferries - book by March 2026
• Accommodation: Search Rustical Travel, Booking.com, Airbnb
• Travel insurance
• EHIC/GHIC cards
• Car insurance for Europe (check with insurer)
• Breakdown cover (European extension)

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Created: 15 March 2026
Last updated: 15 March 2026