Cradled between the waves of the Atlantic and Bay of Biscay you will find a land filled with unbelievable natural beauty. Rosie Khdir explores the natural wonders of Green Spain.

The regions of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country boast some of the most diverse landscapes in Europe, and are the perfect places for those of you who love the great outdoors.

Their salt-water rivers, endless forests, almost tropical beaches and rugged mountains are just begging to be explored and one of the best ways to do this is on foot. The old railway lines, cattle trails and Roman roads provide perfect hiking routes and there are some great spots for bird watching. There are visitor centres on all the reserves where you can get an itinerary designed to suit you.

In the Asturias region you can venture through nature reserves such as Somiedo which has the largest population of brown bears in Europe, or visit the Fuentes del Narcea, with one of Europe’s largest oak forests.

Green Spain is also riddled with stunning parks and gardens, most of which are open for public viewing, and are often connected to marvelous old country houses and manors.

La Florida is a particularly nice park situated in the city of Vitoria in the Basque Country. In the summer time this garden, reminiscent of those created in 19th century England, becomes a hot bed for music concerts, while in the winter it transforms into a huge nativity scene.

If it is the sea air you crave then you are certainly spoilt for choice in this part of the world. From the still waters of Barro to the well protected cove of Moràs, you will see a land of diversity, where white sandy beaches are framed by dark rocky mountains.

One reservation that is definitely worth the six hour drive from Bilbao, is the National Park of Atlantic Islands. These are situated between the estuaries of Vigo, Pontevedra and Arousa in the Galicia region and even contain a pre-Roman settlement.

This group of four islands is home to 200 species of different animals including turtles, dolphins, seals, whales and numerous colonies of seagulls. There is restricted access to these islands from Vigo, Baiona and Cangas and only a maximum of 2,200 people can visit per day.

All you would need is to look at the images of places in Green Spain and you’ll be booking your ferry in no time. Visit www.spain.info for a sneaky peak.

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Image credit: rover0

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