Better late than never - we stayed at La Arquera in May and had a fantastic short break through Brittany Ferries looked after extremely well by Virginia and Virginia! We were bowled over by the room (in the main building at the front) which turned out to be more of an apartment with a huge bed, living area, hallway, bathroom and ........fully equipped kitchen!! Fridge, microwave and electric hob plus everything we needed to look after ourselves. The Spanish eat very late so we like to do our own thing and there is an Alimerke Supermercado in Llanes, 5 minutes drive away where you can get everything you need and with plenty of street parking opposite. We took our usual picnic set but did not need it - Brits would LOVE this place for the self-catering facilities (apparently the Spanish don't). The breakfast is a lovely spread of just about everything you could want, overseen by Aunt Virginia and you can eat in the conservatory overlooking the wonderful orchard/garden with the assorted bird life and backdrop of the Picos mountains. She is a lovely lady and her husband does a fantastic job with the garden. The other Virginia, their niece (who also has a daughter Virginia!) is very helpful in the reception area and happy to give directions ans suggestions for excursions. We had free wi-fi and 2 TVs (although the channels are a little limited, so if you have a laptop take some DVDs) and it is an easy "out" from the hotel onto the main route in any direction, so perfectly placed for sightseeing. Llanes itself is a pretty little Medieval town with a beach, lots of little alleys to explore and some interesting shops and restaurants, plus banks with atms should you need cash. Don't miss the San Pedro Clifftop Walk or the pretty local beaches at nearby Barro and San Antolin, where there is a rock door. The best scenic driving is to be had along the coast to Ribadesella and then up into the Picos de Europa mountains where the best rewards are to be had by taking the little white roads on the road map that don't have a line in the middle! In the other direction, the drive back along the coast and past Santander on the Motorway to the Cabarceno National Park is well worth it and the animals have to be seen to be believed - especially the brown bears! The "drive and park" exhibits and enclosures are incredible - one of the best we have ever seen and you need to allow plenty of time, and on the way back you can pop just off the motorway and get a Carrefour fix at Torrelavega - much easier to use than the one in Santander. We would go back there again - love Asturias and Cantabria - REAL Spain!
