This post is in collaboration with Inntravel.
Picture yourself leaning back into a comfortable train seat, enjoying the eye-catching scenery of Asturias. Out of the window, lush hills and pastureland tumble down to grassy cliffs, which in turn frame small, secluded beaches. Soon, your train will stop its chugging route along the narrow-gauge FEVE railway, and you will disembark at a pretty town. Here you’ll eat a delicious lunch, washed down with dry local cider, before continuing your journey on foot, through bottle-green pasture land and past the red-roofed homesteads and hórreos (granaries on stone pillars) dotted around the fields.
Hórreos in Asturias. Image from Pixabay.
If all this sounds enticing, you should check out the newest addition to Inntravel’s selection of touring holidays. Inntravel now offer a seven-night slow train holiday, through Asturias in Spain. The company’s ethos is one that is likely to appeal to anyone who is curious about the world. They encourage their customers to really get to know a destination – to savour its sights, and to linger over its tastes. I’ve loved reading posts by my friend Trish on her Inntravel slow holidays to Portugal, Austria and Finland. This new Spanish journey sounds no less exciting.
Another of my blogging friends, Charly, says that Asturias “is known for its breathtaking landscapes, spectacular beaches and mouth-watering cuisine” Charly has written several posts about Asturias, so do hop over and have a look if you’d like to read more from someone who has experienced the place. After reading about Charly’s family holidays, I can see scores of reasons to visit. Here are just a few.
Oviedo
Asturias’ charming capital boasts a medieval Old Town and a Museum of Fine Arts, showcasing Spanish, Flemish and Italian art from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. Travellers to the compact city can find accommodation in fine casas de Indianos – palatial homes built from fortunes made in the Americas. On its new holiday, Inntravel offers stays at two of these comfortable and highly individual hotels.
Costa Verde
Spain’s “Green Coast”, set along the edge of the Bay of Biscay, is less well-known than some other Spanish regions. Huge rocky cliffs, hidden coves and rolling green hills line the coast. Inntravel’s new self-guided rail journey includes visits to Asturias’ beaches.
Cheese
Cabrales cheese. Image from Pixabay.
Nothing sells a destination more to me than good cheese. Asturias is nicknamed ‘El Pais de Queso‘ or ‘The Land of Cheese’, so it’s off to a good start. More than 100 different types of artisanal cheeses are produced in Asturias, including Cabrales, Gamoneu Afuega’l pitu and Casín.
Cider
I was surprised to learn that Asturias is renowned among cider connoisseurs as one of the best places in Europe to sample the drink. Inntravel sent us some to try. Not only is it delicious – dry, non-sparkling, and slightly cloudy, which is the best type, in my view – it’s also served in a distinctive, and rather entertaining fashion. To help release the aromas of the drink, ‘escanciador‘ waiters pour it into the glass from a great height. They make it look easy, but it’s something that clearly takes years of practice. As I discovered, when Inntravel challenged me to try and pour some cider the Asturian way:
Oops. Cider on the kitchen floor.
To help celebrate the launch of Inntravel’s holiday, we’re giving away two 70cl bottles of delicious cider from Asturias. To enter, all you need to go is go to the rafflecopter below, and follow the simple instructions. Good luck!
If you win, you’re not obligated to pour it on your floor like I did……
For full terms and conditions see the Rafflecopter. The competition will run until midnight on Friday 9 February 2018, and the winner will be announced on Monday 12 February 2018. Entrants must be aged over 18, and must be resident in the UK
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That cider pouring is harder than it looks! I love the idea of the land of cheese especially with scenery and history thrown in, a region I should add to my list of ones to discover!
Yes, I’d love to visit, too.
quite a few of them
Traditions & History of Crete.
Nell, you had me at “Land of Cheese”! Inn Travel is a brilliant company, I used to book it for clients when I was a travel agent. I’ll defnitely be using them for some adventures with my kids. And I’ll enter that cider competition right now!
They do sound good.
The Walking holiday in Cyprus (The Three Faces of Cyprus) looks excellent!
My husband and I enjoy our walking hols and Cyprus is definitely on our holiday #bucketlist.
Austria has stunning scenery and i love the sound of the Lake Achensee & it’s Mountains walking holiday.
LOL! Love the cider pouring – good effort! It sounds delicious, as does the cheese!!
Why thank you! 😉
I think I would like Saalfelden Leogang in Austria even though I don’t ski. I do like the crispness of snow and the scenery.
Slow Train through Asturias sounds idyllic though
the Asturias slow train experience I am sure would be fantastic
Great effort Nell! This train journey sounds incredible;) Friebds have travelled with Inntravel and were very complimentary about their service.
I’ve heard good things, too.
Austria and Spain appeal to me. These sounds like slightly different holidays. I like the Slow approach too.
Yes, it’s very appealing right now.
Yes, it’s very appealing right now.
I love this approach Nell, the idea to take the slow approach and take time getting to know a destination!
Yes, it does really appeal to me, too.
I really like the sound of Inntravel as a company and will be checking them out for travel later this year. I also REALLY like Asturias. We went last February and it was just utterly beautiful, really relaxed and unspoilt! We will definitely return! 🙂 x
Ooh, you lucky thing, you!
Luacra looks lovely x
Luacra looks lovely x
Traditions & History of Crete sounds good
The privately guided to India looks amazing. The people, the culture, the food. Take me there!
On the Waterfront in Portugal with Inntravel
Asturias slow train experience i would love
I think the Slow Train through Asturias would be fab
Personally I would love to try the slow train ride through Asturias. It sounds like a beautiful area and I can’t resist cheese and cider
I think the history of Crete would be amazing. It’s a beautiful island.
would love a tour round the atlas mountains in Morocco! xx
The Asturias slow train experience look amazing
The cider pouring looks fun! I would choose the Asturias slow train experience 🙂
I’d love to go to Sweden 🙂
A rail trip sounds like and amazing way to do this! And it’s such a beautiful part of the country.
I think it would have to be the northern lights break to Reyjavik in Iceland
I like the sound of A Sardinian Discovery.
I’ve been to Asturias with work and can attest to the quality of the cider!
Bustling Cities & Serene Fjords from the Norway selection looks fab. Thanks for the giveaway and intro to Inn Travel. You’ve got me dreaming of lovely holidays…
Sweden’s West Coast holiday looks like the sort of holiday I would love.
The Best of Roman Provence in France sounds a wonderful holiday to me.
A Cotswold Treat – love the idea of walking between hotels in lovely countryside.
Would love discover Segovia, Salamanca and Madrid, with two nights in each
Saalfelden Leogang in Austria.
The slow train ride through Asturias sounds amazing
The family holiday to Mallorca would be perfect. I like that you can chooseto depart from Edinburgh airport.
Slow Train through Asturias sounds great!
Traditions & History of Crete. x
Asturias sounds like an amazing place. The train journey sounds like a great trip to take.
I adore train travel and I adore Italy – the perfect break for me!
Doesn’t it just sound amazing??