Spain’s best kept secret

The dramatic, mountainous region of Asturias on the northern coast of Spain has always stood apart from the rest of the country, says Bill Tuckey in the Independent on Sunday.

Asturias alone never fell to the Moors - "elegant, pre-Romanesque churches" still dot the landscape - and it still repels outsiders, if only with its reputation for poor transport links and terrible weather. New EasyJet flights from London to Oviedo might be about to change that - but in the meantime, the "dramatic beaches" all along the coast are quite empty, making "perfect family seaside spots".

Sunny days can also be spent exploring the "dizzying Alpine scenery" of the Somiedo nature reserve.

Return ferry crossings from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander for a car plus two adults start at £93 with Brittany Ferries (0871 244 1400). ·