396 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
396 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
sponsored
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travel
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brittany_ferries
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8502913
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-----
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# Top 10 inland attractions in Cantabria, Spain
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## Green and gorgeous, Cantabria's hinterland is a place for lovers of the
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great outdoors. John Wilmott chooses his favourites.
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![Cantabria: gentle pastures in the Miera valley][1]
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Image 1 of 3
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Cantabria: gentle pastures in the Miera valley
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![Cantabria: the Cabrceno nature park has a host of animals][2]
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Image 1 of 3
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Cantabria: the Cabrceno nature park has a host of animals
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![Cantabria: canoeing][3]
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Image 1 of 3
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Cantabria: canoeing is one of many water activities
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3:39PM BST 13 May 2011
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**1 FUENTE DE, PICOS DE EUROPA**
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Let's start with Cantabria's best known inland hero, which is one of the prime
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gateways to the Picos de Europa National Park. A sublime branch of the lush
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Liebana valley cuts a swathe through impressive mountains to end at an
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almighty rock wall.
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The setting is marvellous but most visitors take the cable car that ascends as
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if to the gods, finally docking at a visitor centre perched right at the edge
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of this great cliff. The fact that the cable is almost a mile long and fixed at
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top and bottom only gives you the sense of scale.
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The ride up is sensational, if a little hair-raising. From the top, there are
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incredible vistas back down the valley; turn the other way to view a far more
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desolate landscape of rocky peaks that is often snowbound until early summer.
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There are hiking paths from here into the high ground, but the classic route
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is round the rocks to a lonely upper valley (complete with rustic refuge-hotel
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serving refreshments) and then down into the main valley via a forest-shaded
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track. The views change constantly and it's one of Spain's finest day walks.
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## Related Articles
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* [10 Birds in Cantabria, Spain][4]
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12 May 2011
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* [Holiday in Spain: Cantabria introduction][5]
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13 May 2011
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** **
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**2 MONASTERY OF SANTO TORIBIO**
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On the way back to Potes from Fuente De, there's a turn-off on the right to
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this Roman Catholic monastery that contains a relic that many believe is the
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largest remaining part of the True Cross, brought here by Santo (Saint)
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Toribio from Jerusalem. Religiously important, the site dates back at least
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1,200 years; the existing building is 13th century and has a notable baroque
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chapel.
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Just as enlightening for many people is the viewpoint a short walk further
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along the road, next to a chapel; there are superb panoramas down the valley
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towards Fuente De and in the other direction to the town of Potes, nestling in
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its verdant bowl.
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It's easy to imagine that divine inspiration was responsible for the nearby
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gorge, through which Potes is reached from the coast. The Desfiladero de la
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Hermida has vertical sides crowned with spires and towers of rock and the road
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through it is a feat of engineering.
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**3 PUERTO DE SAN GLORIO**
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The final recommendation around the Picos de Europa area is the mountain pass
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on the border of Cantabria and the neighbouring region of Castilla y Leon.
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The views from here are spellbinding.From Potes, the road heads south and then
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climbs to the west, twisting in and out of heavily forested slopes. Almost at
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the top there's a pullout with a chamois statue and the first of the vistas. To
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the south east, strange-shaped peaks poke out of the clouds; it's especially
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beautiful in the morning.
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A little further on, at the pass itself and 5,300ft above sea level, a lane
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heads off to a small car park next to a hill capped by a bear statue (there
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are indeed bears in the area, though they are rarely seen). There's a
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wonderful panorama of the Liebana branch valley mentioned earlier and beyond
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to the Picos themselves. It's a great place for a picnic, watched over by
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bemused cows.
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** **
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**4 CAVES OF EL SOPLAO**
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Cantabria is one of the world's "hunting grounds" for speliologists; the
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region is riddled with more than 6,000 of them. In many of these caves have
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been found ancient paintings of a quality rarely found elsewhere. The finest
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are at Altamira near Santillana del Mar, though the drawings of bison and
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other beasts are so precious that entrance to the caves is restricted to avoid
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damage from human breath and heat generation. An excellent life-size
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reproduction and museum have been constructed nearby.
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Original cave paintings can be seen more easily at other sites, especially
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around Puente Viesgo and Ramales de la Victoria, but the El Soplao caves,
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south of San Vicente de la Barquera, are famous for the works of art created
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by nature, not man.
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The calcite-infused water that drips through this subterranean network has
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created elaborate formations that go beyond the usual stalagmites. They grow
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sideways!
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A large section of the caves is accessed on board a fun mining train - it was
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miners who stumbled upon them. It's also possible to undertake a more in-depth
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guided exploration with helmets, lamps and special boots.
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**5 CABÁRCENO NATURE PARK **
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A short way inland from Santander is an excellent wildlife park that is both
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enthralling and educational. More of a safari park than a zoo - the largest of
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its kind in Europe, in fact -- the many species are free to roam, with the
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accent on making habitats as natural as possible. The large amount of breeding
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pairs are witness to this.
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Everything you'd expect to find is here; lions, tigers, elephants, rhinos,
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giraffes, kangaroos and so on. A network of paths leads to many viewpoints.
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There's a reptile house, children's playground and souvenir shop, plus several
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trout fishing lakes. It's actually on the site of an old mine, but don't let
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that put you off as the landscape is fascinating.
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The wildlife section is part of a much large natural park, the Peña Cabarge,
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the karstic geology of which presents many weird rock formations, sinkholes
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and caves. The mineworks go back to at least Roman times.
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**6 SAJA-BESAYA NATURAL PARK**
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While the summer visitors flock to the Picos de Europa, the Saja-Besaya park to
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the east is a place where the fauna outnumbers people. This vast area, between
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the Saja and Besaya rivers that run to Cantabria's coast, contains mountains,
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pastures and some of the best-preserved deciduous forest in Europe.
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The picturesque medieval village of Barcena Mayor is the focal point and is a
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protected historic-artistic zone with claims to be the oldest town in
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Cantabria. Look out for the local dish, a stew made from beans, cabbage and
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black pudding.
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It's a starting point for excursions on foot into the untamed landscape,
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roamed by the Tudanca cows which are highly regarded for their beef, along
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with golden eagles, wild boar, falcons, capercaillie and even the odd bear.
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To get there, take the CA-280 road south of Cabezon de la Sal and just enjoy
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the ride.
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**7 ARGÜESO CASTLE**
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With its twin towers built between the 12th and 14th centuries, the Castle of
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San Vicente at Argueso is a local landmark. It's the occasional scene of
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recreations of medieval life.
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The castle stands guards over the Valle of Campoo, which has Cantabria's only
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ski resort, in the south west of the region. It's an area that is replete with
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several other attractions for a rewarding day excursion.
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In particular, it's the source of the Ebro, Spain's largest river. The only
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waterway in north Spain that discharges in the Mediterranean rather than the
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Atlantic, the Ebro stretches 570 miles from its birthplace in Fontibre.
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Down this way you're likely to pass through the agreeable town of Reinosa,
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which has the handsome San Sebastian church, with baroque paintings, while a
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short drive away is the lovely San Pedro collegiate church at Cervatos, which
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is at least 700 years old and boasts intricate sculpted stonework.
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**8 RAFT THE RIVER**
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The aforementioned Ebro accumulates in the vast eponymous reservoir soon after
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its source and then spills out southwards. This is one of the best spots in
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Spain for river rafting, a thrilling activity for children and adults.
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Qualified outfitters will take you for a two- or three-hour ride down the rapids
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and eddies of the river, with all equipment supplied. The first section is
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easiest, while a little further downstream the swirls and channels become more
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challenging as the river heads towards a series of gorges.
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Kayaking and inflatable canoe-rafts are also available for use on guided trips,
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while you may even want to try a hydrospeed, a personal propulsion device.
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Activities usually start in March and continue through the summer.
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Similar water sports are available on the Saja and Deva rivers, while the
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growing sport of canyoning takes pace at several venues. For land-lubbers,
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there are a number of stables that offer guided horse riding.
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Most activity locations are scenic enough for non-participants to wile away an
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hour or two.
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**9 MIERA VALLEY**
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You don't have to travel far to find gorgeous scenery in Cantabria. The Miera
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valley, due south of Santander, is a timeless world of oak and beech woods,
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pastures, old villages, a meandering river and, further down, impressive
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limestone massifs. An excellent overview can be gained from a viewpoint up
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some steps towards the end of the valley.
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Several caves are hidden among the scenery, along with paths to suit all
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levels of hiker, from an hour's stroll to more strenuous trails that can also
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be used for mountain biking. If you've packed your fishing gear, get a licence
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to try for salmon and trout in the Miera river.
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The imposing church of Santa Maria de Miera, open in high summer, has a
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notable 17th-century romanesque altarpiece; also look out for the pretty 18th-
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century bridge over the river.
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The roads in this serene valley have been recently improved and, being so
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close to Santander, the Miera valley is an ideal place for an afternoon's
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drive.
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**10 ASÓN WATERFALL **
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You'll feel like a real explorer coming to Los Collados del Ason nature park
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in the east of the region, with its tall waterfall in a striking setting. So
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undiscovered by tourists is this area that there's little about it on the
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internet, yet in parts it has some of the best scenery in north Spain. And
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it's only a gentle hour's drive from the lively resort of Laredo on the coast.
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That's the beauty of Cantabria; you can have a completely new type of holiday
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within half an hour of leaving the old one behind!
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Ramales de la Victoria is the obvious place to head for, a friendly town with
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a large square, close to some impressive mountains.
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The 200ft waterfall, which spills over a cliff and is especially voluminous in
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late spring, can be viewed from a road through a valley south-west of the
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town. The hike to its base is trickier than it may appear.
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The beguiling scenery in this area is like a Swiss cheese - there are hundreds
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of caves - and is dotted with timeless old villages, along with a large number
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of old oak trees.
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**For more on things to see in Cantabria, visit [www.cantabriabycar.com][6]**
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[X][7] Share & bookmark
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[What are these?][8]
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* Share: [Share][7] [ ][9] [ ][10]
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[Tweet][11]
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/travel/brittany_ferries/8502913/Top-10
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-Cantabria-attractions.html
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Telegraph
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## [Brittany Ferries][12]
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* ### [Sponsored »][13]
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* ### [Travel »][14]
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[X][7] Share & bookmark
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Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
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Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
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[What are these?][8]
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Share:
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* [ ][7]
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* [ ][9]
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* [ ][10]
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* [Tweet][11]
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* [![Brittany Ferries][15]][16]
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Brittany Ferries competition
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### [Win a trip to Cantabria][6]
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[![Win a trip to Cantabria][17]][6]
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Here's your chance to win a return cruise-ferry crossing from the UK's south
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coast to Santander, courtesy of Brittany Ferries.
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[**Enter the Brittany Ferries competition here**][6].
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The closing date is June 30, 2011.
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Travel with Brittany Ferries
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### [Travel with Brittany Ferries][18]
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[![Brittany Ferries: Cap Finistere][19] ][18]
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Take the Brittany Ferries service from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander and
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you get a wonderful mini-cruise as part of your holiday.
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### [Where to stay in Cantabria][20]
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[![Cantabria accommodation: Hotel Torre de la Ruesga][21] ][20]
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From chalets and quaint casas to luxurious escapes, Debbie Toms picks her top
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places to stay in Cantabria, Spain.
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### [Cantabria holiday accommodation][22]
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[![Hotel El Rebeco, Fuente De][23] ][22]
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There are many fantastic places to stay when you travel to Cantabria with
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Brittany Ferries. Here's some of the very best.
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[1]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01894/Miera-
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valley_1894297c.jpg
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[2]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01894/giraffe-Cabarceno-
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_1894300a.jpg
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[3]:
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http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01894/canoeing_1894302c.jpg
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[4]: /sponsored/travel/brittany_ferries/8505134/10-Birds-in-Cantabria.html
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[5]: /sponsored/travel/brittany_ferries/8502837/Spain-Holidays-
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Cantabria.html
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[6]: http://www.cantabriabycar.com
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[7]: #
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[8]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/4590190/Share-this-article-
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What-are-these.html
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[9]: mailto:?subject=A Telegraph reader thought you would be interested in
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this article&body=Depending on your email program, you may be able to click on
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the link in the email. Alternatively, you may have to open a web browser, such
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as Firefox or Internet Explorer, and copy the link over into the address bar.
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%0A%0Ahttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/travel/brittany_ferries/8502913/Top
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[10]: javascript:print()
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[11]: http://twitter.com/share?via=Telegraph
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[12]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/travel/brittany_ferries/
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[13]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/
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[14]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/travel/
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[15]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01895/in_association_wit_
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1895213a.gif
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[16]: http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/
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[17]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01895/Brittany-Ferries-
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c_1895248e.jpg
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[18]: /sponsored/travel/brittany_ferries/8502918/Brittany-Ferries-
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Cantabria-Spain.html
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[19]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01894/Cap-
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Finistere_1894901e.jpg
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[20]: /sponsored/travel/brittany_ferries/8503323/Holiday-accommodation-
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Cantabria.html
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[21]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01895/hotel-torre-de-
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rue_1895159g.jpg
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[22]: /sponsored/travel/brittany_ferries/8510228/Cantabria-holiday-
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accommodation.html
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[23]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01892/Hotel-de-
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Rebeco_1892182g.jpg
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