Cycling Northern Spain – (re)discovering home

It’s a common thought to consider your home country or area a boring place to explore. That was exactly my view until Tristan and I decided to finally give Spain a real chance. This trip completely changed my perspective on home: all I needed was a new mindset. We cycled in Asturias, Cantabria and País Vasco over the course of a month, and in this Collection we share some of our favourite stretches.

Northern Spain is a paradise for all kinds of riding and the possibilities are endless regardless of your stamina or preferred terrain. In general, locals are used to cyclists because of ‘La Vuelta Ciclista’ and the French route of the famous pilgrimage 'El Camino de Santiago' which also goes through there. Even though the temperatures are pretty agreeable all year round by the coastline, do time your visit between April and October to avoid heavy rain or snow if visiting the mountains.

Expect a lot of climbing (Spain is not a flat country, so don’t pack too much!), quick weather changes and plenty of tourists in the hot spots—we’d recommend avoiding these popular places in the summer. When cycling on the more remote paths and areas on the other hand, you’ll discover many lush forests, cross quaint little towns and meet friendly locals (including cows and goats). This is where you’ll be able to enjoy the true Spanish culture and taste the best local cuisine.

We loved discovering this part of Spain, and we hope you do too!