We decided to move to Galicia by way of Candas in Asturias and paused at the tiny hamlet of Ceceno on our way to Candas. The already uncertain weather across Spain was becoming increasingly unpredictable and we thought to tarry for a day or two on the Cantabrian coast until the weather situation in Galicia was more obvious.
The drive from Haro took us northwest through the Cantabrian Mountains. It was an easy drive of about 2.5 hours and the weather, for the most part, was kind. Vanya chose Ceceno because she had found an apparently good campsite (Caravaning Oyambre Cantabria) a little to the northwest of Ceceno and within easy walking distance of the coast. Also, the pretty towns of Comillas and San Vincente de Barquera are nearby (we visited both places as part of our travels during Tour 4) and, more importantly because our supplies were running low, the larger town of Torrelavega with it’s Carrefour Hypermarket is just 21 miles away.
Caravaning Oyambre Cantabria proved an excellent campsite and we were happy to stay two nights. The facilities were excellent and included a heated swimming pool and fitness area (neither of which we used); a small shop and; best of all a decent restaurant-bar. The food in the restaurant-bar was good and reasonably priced.
While staying at the campsite I took a short walk down to the beach at Oyambre, crossing part of the Oyambre Golf Course on the way, but it was quiet and with very limited facilities. Perhaps it would be better in the summer?
We visited Torrelavega to buy supplies (Cava mostly, because the weather in Galicia and Asturias was getting worse and it seemed likely we would have to head east back into France) and, upon the recommendation of a member of the campsite staff, took time to visit the little town of Cartes just to the south of Torrelavega. I’ll write separately about Cartes.
The weather in Galicia was deteriorating. Very reluctantly we decided to leave Spain but Vanya was suffering because of the damp and cold. In Cantabria, the weather during our short stay remained dull but the rain at least held off and as we departed for France the clouds lifted, briefly, from the mountains. There’s a lot of snow up there on the peaks.