Senda Costa Naviega, a beautiful route along the coastline of Asturias

We head for western Asturias to follow the Senda Costa Naviega, one of the most beautiful coastal routes in Asturias. A spectacular route along the Cantabrian Coast, where the steep cliffs prevent the green meadows from merging with the sea.

The Costa Naviega Path will guide us through places of extraordinary beauty such as Barayo, named by The Times "The best beach in Spain"; Puerto de Vega, one of the most picturesque fishing villages of the land; and Frexulfe, a wild beach that you won't forget...

- Starting/finishing point: El Bao/Navia. You can also do the route the other way round.

- Type of route: Linear and easy. It is not difficult, but it is tiring both because of the distance covered and the constant ascents and descents.

- Distance: +/- 19 kilometres along the cliffs. Divide the route into 2 or 3 sections if you are not used to walking long distances.

- Signposting: Yes, in good condition and abundant.

- Points of interest: The partial nature reserve of Barayo, Puerto de Vega, the Frexulfe Beach Natural Monument, Castro del Castiel and the beaches of Fabal, Coedo, Las Rubias and El Moro.

- Suitable for bicycles: Yes, for mountain bikes.

- Recommended for children: Yes, but keep an eye on them. The Costa Naviega Path lacks safety features and some cliffs are over 40 metres high.

- Walking time: 5 to 7 hours. It depends on how much time you spend taking photos, having a snack, or even taking a refreshing swim at one of the beaches.

- Return: If you are going to do the whole route, you will need to have two vehicles and leave one at the start and one at the end. Another option is to return by taxi from Navia.

Officially, the Senda Costa Naviega starts in the village of El Bao but, as there is no car park, many walkers head directly to one of the two car parks on Barayo Beach, specifically the one on the left side of the beach.

From there you can enjoy wonderful views of the Barayo Partial Nature Reserve. A natural area of great scenic and ecological interest, due to the diversity of botanical species that grow in the dunes and marshes formed at the mouth of the river Barayo.

Barayo Beach was recently voted "Best Beach in Spain" by The Times. Although the route does not go down to the shore, as the access is right there, we take a detour to enjoy the surroundings first hand.

Just under 7 kilometres separate the Barayo Partial Nature Reserve and Puerto de Vega (Exemplary Port of Asturias in 1995). We leave behind the beauty of the tidal flats to enter one of the most picturesque fishing villages in western Asturias.

We access the village via the Paseo del Baluarte, where we find some 18th century cannons and a viewpoint. If you are going to divide the route into 3 sections, take the opportunity to have lunch in Puerto de Vega. The fresh fish and rice with lobster are a guaranteed success.

After crossing the colourful fishing port, we climb up to the Atalaya Chapel, where we return to the coastal path.

We follow the route along the edge of the cliffs, drawing the capricious profile of the Cantabrian coastline.

On the way we pass Castiel, a place where a castro was established in ancient times. After the second third of the route, we reach the wild beach of Frexulfe, declared a Natural Monument in 2002.

This beach is famous both for its unspoilt beauty and for the van and surfer movement that gathers, especially in the area where the summer beach bar La Mar de Fondo is located. Take note, it's a good place to enjoy a snack -or some tapas- before continuing the route.

The last stretch of the route continues by the sea. Between the rocky cliffs there are several coves of fine sand that are difficult to access. Finally, after several steep climbs and descents, we reachNavia beach. Here we find a beautiful promenade that leads us to the centre of the capital of the council.

Whether you have done the route in one go or you have divided it into sections, head for the port area of Navia. There you will find several restaurants and cider bars where you can sample the delicacies of the Cantabrian Sea. The town of Navia has all the services you may need (supermarkets, petrol station, chemist, etc.).

To return, if you have not left a vehicle in Navia before starting the route, you can use the taxi service.

If you stay more days in the area, explore the Navia Historical Park. Discover places such as the Coaña castro and Chao Samartín, two of the most important settlements in western Asturias; the open-cast mines of the Cuevas de Andina, the second most important Roman gold mines in Spain after Las Médulas; the Ethnographic Museum of Grandas de Salime "Pepe el Ferreiro", a timeless treasure; the medieval village of Argul, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest for its unique architecture; the waterfalls of Mexica, Penadecabras and Oneta?and much, much more.