Stage 17. Llanes – Ribadesella (31 km)

From Llanes to Ribadesella there are 31 kilometres, one of the long stages of the Camino del Norte in Asturias. The first half hugs the coast, through Poo, Celorio, Barro and Niembro, with beaches such as Palombina and Torimbia just a short detour away and the monastery of San Antolín de Bedón, next to its beach, as the picture of the day.

Past Posada the route heads inland through Naves, Villahormes, Nueva and Piñeres de Pría, where it's worth stopping by the bufones: natural chimneys opened in the cliff through which the sea rises and bursts into columns of water when there's swell. Then Cuerres and Camango, before dropping down to the Sella river and entering Ribadesella, with the Tito Bustillo cave waiting. Walk the whole stretch with the Camino del Norte from Santander to Ribadesella.

Ribadesella is one of the most iconic towns in eastern Asturias: the Sella river flowing out between the harbour and Santa Marina beach, the promenade of indiano houses, and the Tito Bustillo cave, with cave paintings that are a World Heritage site. Good cider houses by the pier to end the day the way the land demands.