The Cave of Altamira

We visited the Cave of Altamira, near the medieval town of Santillana del Mar, with its narrow cobbled streets, interesting buildings and its Museum of Torture! Nearby is the Cave of Altimira with some amazing prehistoric art.

Inside the replica, looking out

The original cave is only occasionally open to the public and the art inside is carefully preserved but they have built a very good replica that we visited here.

The original cave had been preserved due to a rock fall blocking its entrance, only to be found in 1868 by Modesto Cubillas.

There is also a museum on the same site well worth a visit. Phil's going on a flint knapping course when we get back home, so some of this was interesting to him.

A Coruna, the quirky Ceramica de Sargadelos and Surfing

We visited the Torre de Hercules in A Coruna, a very difficult place to drive to! The tower is actually an old Roman lighthouse that is the only one in the world that is still standing and continues to function.

It fell into ruin and the stone was used as a quarry but it has now been clad in a new 'outer casing' with the original structure still in place inside.

Great view from the top

A very odd lighthouse - Faro de Punta Frouxeira. Built in 1992 with an Avent Guard design. In 2012 it was fitted with an LED lamp and became the first long range lighthouse in Spain.

Old tunnels nearby

Praia da Cristina for a cuppa

A very wild location for a church!

A great find was this ceramics factory at Cervo called Fabrica Ceramica de Sargade. We could tour through the factory ourselves for free - just follow the red line!

Beautiful curved building

Cafe and Te in their own ceramics

Most campsites have closed for the season by now so we were left with various Aires, carparks and other spots, some of which are a bit dubious as to whether we are allowed to stay or not.

Aire at Tapia Casariego

Tapia Casariego is where surfing was first born in Spain and also a lovely town with port and lighthouse.

It also has a refreshing outside lido in an old fish farm.

Playa de la Concha

Castro de Barona and Faro Larino

Castro de Barona is an old Iron Age settlement in a beautiful rocky outcrop located on north west coast of Galicia. Accessed via a sand causeway between two beaches (a tombolo). It had the nice feeling of remoteness, like some Scottish Broch's.

The remains of about 20 roundhouses are clearly visible.

Birds eye view of Muros

The harbour at Muros

Beautiful view across the Praia do Louro surfing beach towards Monte e Lagoa de Louro.

Our stay for the next couple of nights was an Aire near the Faro Larino - lighthouse.

The weather continues to be amazing, as can be seen below on the coastal path. Not a good swimming beach though!

Cafe near the Aire