Adventure · Spain
Cantabrian Walking Week
Arrive on your own; Jen & Jim and a group of about 8 are with you the whole way.
9 May 2027 – 16 May 2027 7 nights from £999pp own travel
A social walking break in Northern Spain
Jen and Jim Holgan have been taking Spice members in Scotland walking for almost 20 years and in that time have led 100's of walks. They are regulars on many of the Scottish weekends as well as WalkWise trips in the UK and overseas. Jen and Jim plan and check out the walking routes for this break.
The walks on this trip are a blend of social walking at a leisurely pace but if anyone wants to go a little quicker then Jim is your man and is very happy to push a little harder! This blend of walking alongside the chilled atmosphere that is Agara compliment each other perfectly.
This is a walking holiday but with the aim of being a little more 'easy going' than our usual international walking trips with WalkWise, however be under no illusion you'll be 'getting you boots on' so you will need full walking kit and miles will be done. This will be our third year of walking this area with Jen and Jim who have personally scouted all the routes involved; they are both volunteer hosts so rather than leading the walks you will be joining them for a walk; they have the routes and you are invited along for the ride (or rather walk).
Jen and Jim have used this format of informal walking with huge success for Spice Social Scotland and have grown quite a following, while Jen has a more leisurely pace to her walking, if you want something a little further or faster Jim is more than willing to pick up the pace a little. They are both experienced walkers here in the UK and internationally (they went with Spice Escapes on one of our Kilimanjaro trips!).
While this trip will have walking available on at least 4 days of the week, the focus is on balance - walking, sightseeing and socialising, if you want something more walk focused however then maybe one of our WalkWise breaks will be your choice.
You will need to be able to carry at least 1.5 litres of water with you and good walking boots are essential.
Availability and pricing
| Option | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Cantabrian Walking Week | ||
| Own flight without transfers | £999.00 | 2 places left |
| Birmingham | £1199.00 | 7 places left |
| London Stansted | £1199.00 | 7 places left |
| Edinburgh | £1299.00 | 5 places left |
| Manchester | £1299.00 | 7 places left |
| Cantabrian Walking Week - Accommodation | ||
| Twin Room Share with Shared Facilities | No supplement | 2 places left |
| Double Room Ensuite Facilities (must be for 2) | £89.00 | Sold out |
| Twin Room Share Ensuite Facilities | £89.00 | 2 places left |
| Single Room Shared Facilities | £99.00 | 5 places left |
| Single Room En-Suite | £189.00 | Sold out |
Booking conditions for this holiday
Our booking conditions apply to this holiday, including the deposit and the cancellation scale. Read the booking conditions
Quote this reference if you call the team about it: SH0000773
Who else is going
The question everyone asks and nobody wants to.
- On this departure
- 8 people booked The operator's own count for this trip — you'd make 9. It can still grow before you travel.
- Travelling alone
- Most people book on their own
Why you'll love this holiday
- Jen and Jim have walked the area themselves to choose the routes.
- Routes run from under three miles to nearly nine, coastal, river and forest.
- Every meal is included, with local wine and beer to help yourself to at the house.
Where you'll go
Jen and Jim have extensively walked the area to find some lovely walks for our trip. Some examples of distances and height gains are shown below to give an idea of what to expect. Some of these may be linked to make longer walks if the group requests it while in situ.
St Vincent to Playa de Oyambre
Area of walk: Coastal, Route Type: Linear
Distance Miles: 4.74, Distance Km: 7.6, Altitude gain m/ft: 100/325
From to: Playa de Valderenas car park to Costa Quebrada view point
Area of walk: Coastal, Route Type: Out & Back
Distance Miles: 3.74, Distance Km: 6.2, Altitude gain m/ft: 60/200
Santander sea front
Route Type: circular
Distance Miles: 6, Distance Km: 10, Altitude gain m/ft: 55/175
Sequoias del monte Cabezon and Monte Corona
Area of walk: Forrest, Route Type: Circular
Distance Miles: 8.61, Distance Km: 14, Altitude gain m/ft: 245/800
From to: Senda Flavial del Nansa (Camino river walk)
Comments: Part of the Camino Lebaniego waymarked route
Area of walk: RiverWalk, Route Type: Linear
Distance Miles: 8.1, Distance Km: 13.7, Altitude gain m/ft: 430/1410
Playa de Valdearenas west beach
Area of walk: Coastal, Route Type: circular
Distance Miles: 2.7, Distance Km: 4.3, Altitude gain m/ft: 25/75
Bárcena Mayor Valley
Area of walk: RiverWalk, Route Type: OutAndBack
Distance Miles: 5, Distance Km: 8, Altitude gain m/ft: 107/350
Bárcena Mayor Valley
Area of walk: RiverWalk, Route Type: circular
Distance Miles: 5.7. Distance Km: 9.3, Altitude gain m/ft: 183/600
Bárcena Mayor - Alto de la Guarda
Area of walk: Hill, Route Type: #circular
Distance Miles: 5.19, Distance Km: 8.5, Altitude gain m/ft: 650/2130
There will be other options that can be discussed on the holiday.
What's included
- International flights if selected
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 continental breakfasts, 7 light lunches*, 7 evening meals
- Local wine, beer and spirits in the hotel just help yourself
- Tea/coffee available in the house throughout the day
- Transport by minibus
- *Note-Lunch provided if at the property or a picnic lunch if walking or cycling, unless the group wish to try local cuisine which will be at their own cost. If you flights are evening arrivals the meal on arrival will be a light snack.
- Your Spice host, Jen & Jim
Not included
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Room supplement if selected
- Optional excursions
- Lunches if you wish to sample the local restaurants
- Personal extras
Travel and where you'll stay
‘Agara’ translated as Home in Sanskrit – your accommodation is a large house that was formerly used as a restaurant but has recently been renovated. It has completely new electrical and bathroom installations and a new kitchen. Despite the physical improvements to bring the house up to modern standards the owners have tried to retain the character of the house. This is a chance for a relaxing break in a home away from home where you can immerse yourself in the local area and culture – you won’t find a choice of bars and nightclubs on your doorstep so if you want a party you’ll have to do it in the house!
There are twelve bedrooms and eight bathrooms; three rooms have bathrooms ensuite and the rest share the remaining four. There is a supplement for an ensuite room.
Please note - there is an extremely friendly dog in residence at the property.
Getting there — flights to Santander
Departing from Edinburgh, London Stansted, Manchester or Birmingham.
Edinburgh
London Stansted
Manchester
Birmingham
These are the times currently scheduled. Airlines change them, sometimes months before departure, so please treat them as provisional rather than final.
Luggage, transfers and flight notes
20kg baggage included
Before you travel
Weather when you go
May is one of the best months for walking in Cantabria, with mild temperatures, lush green landscapes and colourful spring wildflowers. Daytime temperatures typically range between 16°C and 21°C, providing comfortable conditions for exploring the region's coastal paths, valleys and mountain trails. While sunshine is increasingly common, occasional showers help keep the scenery beautifully green, so lightweight waterproofs are recommended. With long daylight hours and fewer visitors than the summer months, May offers ideal conditions to discover Cantabria's spectacular natural beauty on foot.
Passport validity
For UK passport holders your passport must be:
- issued less than 10 years before the day you enter (check the "date of issue")
- valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the "expiry date")
You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date.
Entry rules for EU travel — EES, ETIAS and your GHIC
EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is being introduced gradually across the external borders of the European countries that use it, including the collection of biometric data such as a facial image and fingerprints. Passports continue to be stamped as usual in the meantime.
Further information: travel-europe.europa.eu/ees
ETIAS
UK citizens will eventually need a travel authorisation (ETIAS) to enter the European countries that require it for short stays. It is linked to your passport and valid for up to three years. There is no confirmed start date yet — we will let everyone know when it is required and how to apply.
Global Health Insurance Card
A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), or a still-valid EHIC, gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU. It is not a replacement for travel insurance.
Travel insurance
Please ensure that you have adequate personal travel insurance to suit your requirements in place before you travel.
What to bring
Recommended kit list but at this time of year we expect good weather.
- Walking boots - essential
- A Water bottle (minimum 1.5 litre) - important
- Hydration Tablets
- A Rucksack with a plastic liner
- Waterproofs: jacket and trousers
- A Warm hat
- Warm gloves (not leather)
- Thick walking socks
- Base layer: (thin thermal or warm T-shirt. Best not to be cotton as it gets cold when wet)
- Over layer: (warm sweater or fleece)
- Comfortable walking trousers (not jeans as they are too cold & heavy when wet)
- Personal Medication
- Smart casual clothes for the evening.
You may wish to bring:
- Trekking Poles
- Vacuum flask (if you like hot drinks on the hill)
- Medium size Tupperware container or plastic bag, to put picnic lunch in.
- Sit mat
- Sun glasses
- Lip salve
- Camera
- Personal first aid kit
- Short trousers
- T - Shirts
- Sun hat
- Sun tan lotion
- Antihistamines and eye spray if hay-fever is a potential issue.
- Insect repellent
- Swimming kit and for beach swim /paddle including a towel for changing/drying
- Cash for some lunches and getting into places of interest?
Gallery
Everything else
About your host
Jen & Jim - walking hosts (you may have already met them so check out the image!)
Food and meals
Included in your trip is a continental breakfast, light lunches (available if we are at the property or a picnic lunch if on a a walk or cycle ride) and evening meal everyday. Also, there will be complimentary tea/coffee available for you to help yourself to.
Locally sourced spring water will be available in the house so you won’t need to worry about getting bottled water unless you really want to. Finally local wine, beer and spirits will be available between 6-12pm every day (if you have favourite tipple just let us know before you travel so we can make sure we are well stocked!); these drinks will also be available at other times for a small charge and premium brands will also be available at any time for a charge.
Sample Menu (based on a 7 night stay - shorter trips will feature part of the menu)
Breakfast
Alternates between boiled eggs one day and fried eggs and bacon the next supported by yoghurt, muesli, cornflakes, toast, marmalade/marmite/peanut butter, fresh orange juice and endless tea and coffee.
Dinner
Day 1 – tapas and Cava/Prosecco round the fire followed by roasted salmon with buttery new potatoes.
Day 2 – Homemade courgette soup spiced with Ethiopian Berbere followed by Duck confit with duck fat roasted potatoes and wilted greens.
Day 3 – Fresh asparagus followed by curry choices. Chicken masala, curried chestnuts and spinach curry. All with rice and homemade lime pickle, mango chutney, green tomato chutney and yoghurt accompaniment.
Day 4 – Tomato and mozzarella salad followed by seared tuna and new potatoes with a choice of salads.
Day 5 – Avocado and smoked salmon followed by Cantabrian Mountain stew (Pork and butter beans in a rich gravy)
Day 6 – Melon and Serrano ham followed by Tudanca beef joint (Tudanca being a local breed of cow).
Day 7 – Grilled Sardines followed by slow cooked Pork belly with roasted potatoes and baby leaf spinach.
We work hard to cater for all types of allergies and preferences. Oat milk is always available and gluten free is also possible if we know in advance. If most of the group prefer less fish then we will adjust the menu (and we can do the reverse too!). Roast Salmon or Tuna might be substituted for slow roasted leg of mutton with herbs and garlic, as an example. We also work hard to cater for vegetarians and vegans and to date all the guests have offered really positive feedback on the food we provide. Its hearty and nutritious with an informal presentation – that’s Agara!
NB - If you flights are evening arrivals the meal on arrival will be a light snack.
FCO travel guidance for Spain
Before you book
Will I be the only one on my own?
No. Almost everyone books on their own — that is the whole point of the trip. Nobody has to pair up and nobody sits on their own at dinner unless they want to.
Do I have to share a room?
Only if you want to. Sharing a twin with another solo traveller of the same sex costs nothing extra, and it is how most people keep the price down. If you would rather have a room to yourself, you can — see the single-room price on the trip you are looking at.
Is there a single supplement?
There is a charge for a room of your own and it varies a great deal by trip, so the honest answer is the figure on the holiday you are looking at rather than an average. What there is not is any obligation to pay it: sharing a twin with another solo traveller of the same sex costs nothing extra, and it is a genuine option rather than a token one.
Every holiday with a single room available, and what each one costs, is listed on single rooms and single supplements.
How big is the group?
Small enough to learn everyone’s name in the first day or two. Group sizes vary by trip and are listed on each holiday.
What does the host actually do?
Your host is there to make your holiday feel easy, welcoming and fun. They travel with the group throughout the trip, help everyone get to know each other, keep things running smoothly and are there if you need anything along the way.
They’re not a traditional holiday rep — they’re part of the group, sharing the experience with you and helping make sure nobody feels left out.
Is my money protected?
Yes. Payments are held in a bonded trust account, and every holiday booked with flights is ATOL protected under licence 9046. If you arrange your own flights, your money for the holiday is still protected by the bonded trust account, but the flights you buy elsewhere are not covered by our ATOL.
What age are the other travellers?
It varies by trip. Most groups span a wide range of ages with a shared interest in the destination rather than a shared birth year.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes — 18. Spice Escapes holidays are adults only.
Most people who travel with us are in their forties and beyond, but that is who books rather than a rule. There is no upper age limit, and two people travelling together do not need to be a similar age: a daughter in her thirties travelling with her mother in her sixties is an ordinary booking.
Is Spice Escapes a singles or dating holiday company?
No. Spice Escapes is a hosted holiday company for people who travel on their own. Almost everyone books alone, groups are small and adults only (mostly forties to sixties), and a named host travels with every departure so nobody is the odd one out. It is about the destination and the company, not matchmaking.
What travellers say
4.9/5 from 63 reviews on Google
Google review · Nov 2023 Wow - what a fabulous trip to Cantabria, Northern Spain! The combination of Spice and Walkwise was superb. The home-cooked food was absolutely fantastic, accommodation lovely and homely and organisation with transport to the walks excellent. Very relaxing week with a small group of people all doing the same walk every day which I enjoyed - and the combination of coastal and foothills walks made this a superb holiday in a wonderful location.
Questions about this holiday?
Ring the office, send us a question, or chat any hour. A real person, not a call centre.
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