By Rob Elliott
Four days of surf, swell, blue skies and sunshine.
Day 1: Time for España
After an eye-wateringly early departure from Edinburgh, 15 keen paddleboarders arrived in Santander to be collected by our amazing hosts and guides for the weekend. Minibuses loaded up it was time to head to Barro, via the supermarket for all the essentials of course (Bacon crisps anyone??). And whilst some were loading trolleys with all the essential sustenance for a weekend on the water, others had already made a b-line for the beautiful beach across the road from our superb shared apartments. That’s how a Friday morning should be.
After a bit of unpack-and-unwind time, the first paddle of the weekend was calling. Not far from our accommodation was a beautiful tidal bay. Here we paddled around the typical Asturian architecture that is Iglesia De Niembru, located where the river meets the sea. This was a peaceful paddle, and a chance to get chatting to both our group mates and guides Sònia and Francina. Poor Hugo would not be joining us after breaking his ankle on a river just hours before our arrival! Hugo runs Escuela de Surf Asturiana and is the head honcho in these parts of all things SUP.
For those that wanted to really test their sea-legs there were some pretty brutal waves to contend with at the mouth of bay. Made all the more awesome by the fact we were there at the highest tide of the year.
Pizzas and pints were the order of the evening, and for some a late night dander along the seafront - Friday evening done right.
Day 2: Swell, Surf, and Cerveza
“Count the waves in sets of 10, then paddle paddle paddle” was the instruction to get us out the bay at the start of day 2’s coastal paddle. Great instruction was followed by, well, interesting results. But eventually after a bit of being smashed by the surf, we all made it out on to the big blue for this short paddle along the cliffs and small islands of the Asturian coast. The swell was high, but the feelings of freedom were even higher. Eventually, after cruising into Playa de las Cámaras, it was time for some Sup surf action, with everyone giving this version of the sport a try. And whether it was managing to stand up, or just catching a first wave, there was no finer, and funner, way to end the morning!
The afternoon was spent visiting the nearby town of Llanes. This historic harbour town was full of charm, amazing viewpoints, and for those that followed the advice of Sonia, some amazing cake!! Many of the group stayed in town for some cervezas in the square, whilst others opted to take advantage of the sunshine and headed back to the beach for “classic” games and chat (cardboard box, anyone?). Whilst paddling is the main purpose of trips like these, it’s great to find time to hang out with folk you’ve not met before, and have a laugh. Dinner was served up back in Llanes where traditional tapas were on offer, alongside other Asturian delights including the sizeable beef dish cachopo - which was nearly big enough to SUP on!
Day 3: Rio Cares
The crystal clear water of the Rio Cares was the location for Sunday’s mornings white-water adventure. For many this was a chance to conquer rapids they’d paddled before, for others it was their first time in such an environment. Judging by the smiles and laughter it was a highlight of the trip. With huge mountains surrounding us, and adrenaline pumping, under the guidance of Diego, Sonia and Marta, we navigated the twists and turns of this lush river - idyllic. A spot of cliff jumping at the last added an extra thrill for some, whilst for others just being moved through the awe inspiring landscape by the river’s flow offered it’s own sense of accomplishment, serenity and wonder. A late Spanish lunch and mountainside sunset followed for some, for others it was time for sun-worshipping, sangria and coastal cuisine to round off the day.
Day 4: No drags here
The last day of a holiday can be a drag, you pack early, wait around, get a bus, wait at the airport, bore bore bore. Well not on this trip. After watching the sun rise over the cliffs from what felt like our own private beach, the morning began in earnest. For some this meant beach yoga led by one of our own, then some time in the tidal pools. For others, it was wet suits on, mega-board out, and carnage unleashed. Did I say mega-board….I meant MEGABOARD XL, the biggest we’ve ever seen. But despite its size it was still no match for the surf conditions, thankfully some smaller surf-boards were though!! Fun and games complete, it was eventually time to pack up, have a bit of lunch, and make our way back to Santander for our late afternoon flight home - with the rain in Spain only falling on this plane.
The brightly coloured paddles are elite carbon 2 and 3 piece paddles by Riding Not Hiding. Click the link below to see the full spec and to purchase. ⬇️
The boards for the coastal trips were all Anomy 10’6 all round boards which work well in surfable conditions. All the Anomy SUP kit is available at the link below. ⬇️
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