The final leg of the cycling journey, bringing us back to where we started in Santander.
Day 18: Ribadeo to Luarca
With a rest day in Ribadeo to restore our aching bones, we set off along the coast. Stunning shorelines and cutesy port towns on the way to Luarca.
54km / 600m uphill
Day 19: Luarca to Soto de Luina
Another day cycling along the coast. Any hopes that it would be flat have been dashed. But the scenery is spectacular with mountains to our south and jurassic coastline to our north.
We will have a rest day in Soto de Luina, which has nothing much going on but we are feeling the miles now.
42km / 480m uphill
Day 20: Soto de Luina to Aviles
Our route weaves on and off the main coast road, trying to stay on the walking route proper where we can. But frequently the walking route is impassable by bike. Then we take back-roads wherever possible. But none of the roads are that busy.
Aviles is a beautiful town to spend the night: a few canas, a bite to eat, and then bed!
40km / 556m uphill
Day 21: Aviles to Gijon
Occasionally Google Maps gives you a bum steer, as it did on our way into Gijon. An armed guard would not let us pass through utilities complex so we had to take a horrible detour filled with industrial lorries. The cider in Gijon was worth the visit and, as always, another beautiful ancient city!
35km / 200m uphill
Day 22: Gijon to Villaviciosa
Another punishing day as we feel every upward slope. However, Villaviciosa had a very cute little bay and a medieval food fair, as well as extremely comfortable beds in the grandly named Hotel Palacio Carlos I.
52km / 630m uphill
Day 23: Villaviciosa to Ribadesella
Ribadesella is our destination and, thankfully, two night rest stop. The route sweeps out toward the coast and back inland, passing lots of pretty villages and some beautiful beaches (although it is too cold to do much swimming). Snacking options are hard to come by as there is not the footfall on this route that there is on the Camino Frances.
47km / 590m uphill
Day 24: Ribadesella to Llanes
After a rest day in Ribadesella, which is a popular tourist spot, we have a slightly easier day on our way to Llanes, a beautiful little port town.
33km / 200m uphill
Day 25: Llanes to San Vicente de la Barquera
San Vicente was a last-minute alteration to our plans to try and even out the distances on each day. It was a lucky decision: the town has the awesome Castle of the King sticking out into a bay with markets and plenty of bars nestled beneath it. We had a very nice posh hotel (Hotel Faro) which had a sunny drinks terrace overlooking the river and castle.
40km / 500m uphill
Day 26: San Vicente to Santander
The final day of the cycling part of the journey. My cycling shorts went straight in the bin.
60km / 650m uphill
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