Porrúa proved to be perfect for us. There is plenty to see in Bar la Bolera alone, but in the village maze of lanes you can also find a well-regarded Ethnographic Museum, a good playground and football pitch, and a minimarket that serves delicious fresh bread every day. Further details on the lovely cider restaurant Sidrería La Peña ‘l Cura to come in a later blog post.
Our perfect playas were within easy reach – the nearest about 2km away.
Lorena welcomed us warmly to our Airbnb holiday house, spoke excellent English, and was always on hand with tips and recommendations. She’d left cakes for us, and fresh yoghurt and milk were delivered on our first morning as a gift. The cottage is in the heart of the village, right next to Lorena’s in-laws (who were very friendly and never intrusive), and a 2 minute walk takes you to the shop, church or Bar la Bolero. It was spotlessly clean, and tardis-like, with spacious rooms and windows opening out to the village.
For more information on Llanes and its harbour, beaches, pathways, geyser-like blow holes (bufones), history, and archaelogical sites, click here.
More on how Asturias resisted the Moors, its principality status, its breathtaking natural beauty, and rich gastronomy (including the wonderfully creamy cabrales cheese) can be found here and here.
How to get there?
Fly – Low-cost carriers fly into Asturias airport near Oviedo, or into Bilbao (3 hours’ drive) or Santander (about 2 hours by car).
Sail – We took a Brittany Ferries ship from Portsmouth to Bilbao, but you can also travel to Santander from both Portsmouth and Plymouth. We spent nearly 30 hours on the “economy” crossing – it sounds like an age on a no-frills boat, but once the sea-sickness had subsided (for some), we were able to spot dolphins in the sunny Bay of Biscay, and get a sense of the distance we were travelling.
Have Paprika, Will Travel 
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