Cantabrian Walking Week
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.
Your holiday includes
- 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 holiday extras
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Room supplement if selected
- Optional excursions
- Lunches if you wish to sample the local restaurants
- Personal extras
Location & Itinerary
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.
Travel & 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.
Provisional Flight Information
08/05/27 Edinburgh to Santander Dep: 1410 Arr: 1735
15/05/27 Santander to Edinburgh Dep: 1810 Arr:1925
09/05/27 Stansted to Santander Dep: 1140 Arr:1440
16/05/27 Santander to Stansted Dep: 1505 Arr:1555
09/05/27 Manchester to Santander Dep:1615 Arr:1920
16/05/27 Santander to Manchester Dep: 1945 Arr: 2045
NB - Manchester & Stansted flights depart and return Sunday, Edinburgh flight departs & returns Saturday.
20kg baggage included
Availability & Pricing
Build Your Quote| Flights | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Own flight without transfers | £999.00 | Available |
| London Stansted (Sun-Sun) | £1179.00 | Available |
| Manchester (Sun-Sun) | £1179.00 | Available |
| Edinburgh (Sat-Sat) | £1199.00 | Available |
| Accommodation | Price | |
| Twin Room Share with Shared Facilities | £0.00 | Available |
| Double Room Ensuite Facilities (must be for 2) | £89.00 | Sold Out |
| Twin Room Share Ensuite Facilities | £89.00 | Available |
| Single Room Shared Facilities | £99.00 | Available |
| Single Room En-Suite | £189.00 | Available |
Not enough spaces left for you? Click here to join the waitlist
Passport validity
For UK passport holders your passport must be:
- Issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (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.
U Entry/Exit System (EES)
The new Entry/Exit System (EES) began operations on 12 October 2025 across the external borders of the 29 European countries. These European countries will collect biometric data, such as facial image and fingerprints and registered in the system. Passports will continue to be stamped as usual.
Further information on the EES can be found on the following link - https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/ltr
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)
Starting in end 2026 UK citizens are required to have a travel authorisation to enter the European countries for a short stay. ETIAS travel authorisation is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.
With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.
NB - There is no start date for the ETIAS currently confirmed but when it is introduced it will be your responsibility to ensure that you have arranged this. We will update everyone when the ETIAS is required with information on how to apply for this online.
Travel Insurance
Please ensure that you have adequate personal travel insurance to suit your requirements in place before you travel.
A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU).
UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs) are still valid and offer the same cover as GHICs in the EU.
Once your EHIC has expired, you’ll be able to replace it with a GHIC.
NB – A GHIC/EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance!
FCO travel guidance for Spain
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain
Host & Everything Else
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.
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?
Jen & Jim - walking hosts (you may have already met them so check out the image!)
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.
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