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Spain
Modern Spain is a revelation. While such great cities as Barcelona and Seville are justly famed for their flamboyance and vitality, our chosen regions represent the quiet face of Spain. Boasting magnificent scenery, delicious regional cuisine and a wealth of birds and flowers, these are corners where time seems to have stood still, from the medieval settlements of Catalonia with their castles and Romanesque churches to the sleepy fishing villages of the Asturian Coast in the north. Whichever region you choose, inviting trails beckon you to explore on foot or by bicycle, be it the rolling plain at the heart of Mallorca, the chestnut-clad hills of Andalucia’s Aracena Sierra or the patchwork of lagoons, rice fields and wetlands that make up the Ebro Delta in southernmost Catalonia. Catalonia Catalonia
In north-east Spain, Catalonia is a region of many faces: the rugged peaks of the Pyrenees; the wooded, volcanic hills of the Garrotxa area; the coastal hills coated with cork oaks and wild herbs; the plain dotted with sleepy medieval villages and crumbling castles; the coastline of sandy bays and whitewashed villages; and the wetlands of the Ebro Delta. All offer the chance to make unique discoveries, and are great walking or cycling country. > Pyrenean Mountain Apartments, near Figueres (sleep
4-5) Andalucia
Andalucia, Spain’s dazzling deep south, is one of Europe’s most entrancing regions. Here, the Moorish influence from centuries past is felt, particularly in the architecture of the famed white towns and villages (pueblos blancos). For breathtaking views of the high mountains, choose Las Alpujarras, where the landscapes are so varied you never know what lies around the next bend. For rugged limestone scenery and fantastic walking, choose the Grazalema Natural Park near famous Ronda, or for gentle scenery of rolling chestnut woods and timeless villages, choose the Aracena Sierra. > Andalucian Cottages, Montejaque, Grazalema Natural Park (sleep 2-8) Asturias
The principality of Asturias offers some of Spain’s most dramatically beautiful landscapes. Dominated by the magnificent Picos de Europa mountain range, this is a land of secret hills and valleys, with a rugged coast of quiet beaches, sweeping sandy bays and bustling fishing villages. The only Spanish province never conquered by the Moors, Asturias has a rich Celtic heritage, and is renowned for its golden cider, made from the fruits of fragrant apple orchards found throughout the region. > Casas Rurales, near Arriondas
(sleep 2-8) Mallorca
Mallorca's lesser-known corners often surprise the first-time visitor. In the north-west is the Tramuntana Sierra, a landscape of immaculate citrus and olive groves stretching as far as the eye can see, of rugged limestone mountains that plunge into the sea, and of villages whose cobbled streets are lined by houses of honey-coloured stone. South of this lies the gently rolling central plain (Es Pla), a patchwork of almond groves, citrus orchards and market gardens that offers easy access to all four corners of the island. > Apartamentos de Tramuntana, near
Bunyola (sleep 2-5) La Palma
A walker's paradise, La Palma is a land of dramatic volcanoes, tropical forests and beaches of fine black sand. The differences between the lush, tree-clad north and the starker, volcanic south of the island are striking, and the barrancos (ravines) which have been carved into the landscape make for such dramatic scenery that you never know what to expect as you round the next bend. This is an island to be discovered at leisure. >La Palma Cottages, La Palma (sleep 2-6; available in autumn, winter & spring)
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