The Rías Baixas & a Vineyard Tour
We didn’t mean to end up in wine country. Not in the way people plan for it, at least. No careful itinerary, no list of must-visit wineries, no pretentious dreams of swirling glasses and nodding knowingly. It happened because of a wrong turn. One minute we were following the coast, the next we were rolling […]
The Finisterre Experience: The End of the World
We weren’t even sure we wanted to go. Finisterre, the so-called “end of the world,” felt like one of those places you visit because you’re supposed to, not because you actually care. A tick-the-box kind of stop. But when you’re already drifting along the coast, when the Atlantic keeps pulling you west, you eventually run […]
A Beachside Stay in Carnota
I don’t know why we nearly skipped Carnota. It was just a name on the map, a maybe-stop if we had time, if the weather was good, if the van didn’t make any weird noises that day. But somehow, we ended up here. And then, we didn’t leave. Carnota Beach is huge. Not just “oh, […]
The Rainy Day in Ortigueira
The drive to Ortigueira started off well enough. The road hugged the coastline, offering up stunning views of the sea, dramatic cliffs, and the occasional lighthouse standing defiantly against the elements. But as we got closer, the sky darkened, and before we knew it, the rain had arrived. And not just a light drizzle—the full […]
Playa de la Catedrales & a Night in Viveiro
No lorries on the road this morning. A couple of farm vans, one guy on a battered scooter with a bag of bread hanging from the handlebars. Smell of something burnt drifting in from a field. Mary wasn’t bracing herself against the dashboard, which made me glance over twice just to check. Playa de las […]
Madrid and the Unexpected Wine Encounter
Madrid was loud, fast, and exhausting. We’d spent weeks in the quiet of northern Spain, where the biggest decision of the day was where to park the van or whether we fancied another coffee. And then suddenly—bam—city life. We weren’t ready. But we couldn’t not stop. It’s Madrid. We gave ourselves one day. Doing Madrid […]
Inland Adventures and Unexpected Discoveries through the Heart of Spain
Swapping the salty sea air for dry, rolling plains, we turned our backs on the coast and aimed straight for the heart of Spain. The landscape changed almost instantly. The wild cliffs and crashing waves faded into long stretches of golden fields, sleepy villages, and empty roads that stretched on forever. There was something deeply […]
On the Road to Foz: A Curious Campsite and Coastal Charm
Leaving Cudillero behind, we set off towards Foz, a small coastal town that looked like the perfect place to do a whole lot of nothing for a day or two. The drive was one of those effortless ones where the scenery takes over, and you barely notice the miles slipping by. The northern coast of […]
A Short Drive to Cudillero: A Tale of Fishing Fumbles
We rolled into Cudillero, Asturias mid-afternoon, the van parked at an angle steep enough to make me check the handbrake twice. Houses in blues, yellows, and reds stacked up the hillside like they were clinging on. Down below, the Puerto Viejo was full of fishing boats shifting with the tide. Somewhere near the waterfront, the […]
A Relaxing Day in Gijón: Sights, Fishing, and Coastal Bliss
We rolled into Gijón late and knackered. No idea where we’d parked, no idea what the plan was. Just bed. Woke up to seagulls and waves—a good sign. Less good when you realise seagulls and bacon butties don’t mix. We’ve both seen what those beady-eyed scavengers can do back home in Hull. Not today, lads. […]
On the Road to Gijón: Mountains, Miracles, and Burgers
San Sebastián behind us, Gijón ahead. Another stretch of Spanish motorway, and I was back to my newfound obsession with road engineering. “Look at this one, Mary,” I said, pointing to a massive bridge soaring over a valley. “How do they even build things like this?” She barely looked up from her book. “You’ve said […]
On the Road to San Sebastián: A Journey with Pit Stops and Ponderings
We left Pamplona behind, winding our way toward San Sebastián, looking forward to beaches, pintxos, and hopefully fewer life-threatening sausages. “So,” I said, gripping the wheel, “bull running. Tradition or cruel?” Mary, staring out at the hills, didn’t answer straight away. “It’s both,” she finally said. “It’s brutal. But you can feel how much it […]