Casa Roxa and Ballota:
Casa Roxa has been loving ly restored and decorated. Begoña the owner is an artist and her work is found throughout the house. The large garden is enclosed by a low stone wall and has fruit and flowering trees and bushes. There is plenty of room to play. This year Pascual, Begoña's husband, will open a cheese factory and is happy to have you try his cheese which he will provide for you upon your arrival. Tours of the cheese making process are also an option.
Ballota is a small, neighbourly coastal town. The town enjoyed a building boom at the turn of the last century with splendid examples of local architecture both by local farmers and returning emigrants from the Americas. Today it is still small and quiet with dairy farms and corn fields. The beach in Ballota is a mix of sand, pebbles and stone with marvellous tidal pools. Rarely are there many people there. It is about a 2 Km walk from the house. Beautiful sandy beaches are found just a 10 minute drive away in either direction
Oviedo and Gijon:
Oviedo, the beautiful cathedral capital of Asturias, and Gijon, the lively beach city on the coast, are both worth a visit for their museums, cultural events, historical centres and shopping. Both are just under an hour by car. Avilés, a smaller city, is only a 40 minute drive for shopping and its pretty historic centre. The narrow gauge train, FEVE, which travels along the coast and stops in Ballota can take you there although at a much more leisurely pace. Leaving the car behind offers a stress free day for the driver of the family. The train travels through countryside not seen from the motorway and adds a local flavour to your visit. Train schedules are provided in the house.
Western Asturias:
Western Asturias is growing in popularity as it is now easily accessible along the new coastal motorway. With Easyjet flying into Asturias and RyanAir into Santander as well as ferry service from England to Santander and Bilbao this part of Spain is now being discovered as one of the still unspoilt areas of Northern Spain. The climate along the ocean is temperate offering pleasant summer temperatures and mild winters. The natural parks of Muniellos and Somiedo are closer at hand than the famous Picos de Europa. They offer unique experiences. Somiedo is home to the largest brown bear population in Asturias as well as vultures, eagles, wolves and other mountain fauna coexisting with the summer grazing of cattle in and around quaint thatched hamlets. Muniellos, an ancient oak forest, a Bioshere Reserve is for the serious nature lover and is only available through prior reservation. We are happy to help you with that. Discover the beauty of Asturias without the crowds!
Other Activities:
Canoeing
