Castrillón Between Coast and Cultural Heritage

Castrillón’s extensive coastline comprises a succession of beaches and cliffs. There are also paths through varied landscapes, traces of rural life and a distinctive food culture. This lets you tailor your stay to a wide range of interests: from the sea and surfing to walking and cycling routes, architecture and regional dishes.

Beaches, Cliffs and Coastal Paths

Playa de Salinas is prized by surfers throughout Asturias for its high-quality waves. Surfing conditions depend on the weather. The beach has toilets, a nautical club, showers, a tourist information office, a children’s area and a surfing practice zone; some facilities may operate seasonally. At one end of Playa de Salinas, on the La Peñona peninsula, stands the Museo de Anclas Philippe Cousteau.

Playa del Espartal also combines nature with swimming and surfing: its dune system is designated a natural monument, and the beach is suitable for swimming and surfing. Conditions for these activities may vary. Isla La Deva is the region’s largest coastal island. Owing to its landscape and biological importance, it is a valuable habitat for numerous birds.

The two routes described differ, among other things, in their length and the landmarks along them. The Senda Verde del Agua is over 16 kilometres long and starts at the Pillarno recreation trail. It passes three aqueducts, including the aqueducts of Meruxeras and Meirones. The Senda Costa Norte runs for around 18 kilometres from San Juan de Nieva to the Playón de Bayas, also known as El Sablón. It is equipped for walking and cycling. This information can help you assess the routes based on their course and the focus of your planned days.

Relaxation with a View

The recreation areas offer more ways to spend time outdoors. Área Recreativa Pinar de Salinas has a barbecue area, picnic tables and drinking water, and is accessible to people with reduced mobility. You can reach Área Recreativa Pinos Altos on foot via the Senda Costa Norte from Arnao or Salinas, or by car. It has a viewpoint overlooking Salinas and its beach.

Área Recreativa Pulide lies at the highest point of the Sierra de Pulide. From there, panoramic views stretch from the mountains to the coast. Facilities include parking, barbecue areas, picnic tables, drinking-water fountains and a children’s play area. Pinar de Salinas, Pinos Altos and Pulide each combine specific facilities with different landscape views; which one suits your plans depends on what you would like to do during your stay.

Paths, History and Rural Heritage

The Camino de Santiago through Castrillón forms part of the Camino del Norte, which leads to Santiago de Compostela. Most of the route passes through the Quiloño Valley. The Iglesia de San Miguel de Quiloño, a former monastery, is located in this valley. A pre-Romanesque inscription and relics are preserved there, including one of the Apostle James.

The Mina de Arnao also reflects Castrillón’s industrial history: it is considered Europe’s only underwater mine and the oldest hard-coal mining site on the Iberian Peninsula. Rural heritage includes traditional Asturian houses, hórreos, paneras, mills, fountains and washhouses. Particularly representative hórreos and paneras decorated in the Carreño style can be found in Teboyas, Peñarrey and Llodares. These building styles and locations offer several specific ways to explore this heritage if you are interested in regional architecture.

Asturian Cuisine

Castrillón’s cuisine makes use of fresh fish and seafood from the port of Avilés, as well as meat, fruit, vegetables and pulses from the valleys and plains. Traditional dishes and drinks include fabada, pote asturiano, fish and seafood from the Cantabrian Sea, and sidra. Typical desserts include frisuelos, rice pudding, requesón and casadielles. Individual providers and menus may change; the selection nevertheless conveys the range of regional cuisine.

Tailor your hotel search to the experiences you would like to include in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Arnao, La Braña, Naveces, Piedras Blancas, Amieva, Morcín, Ribadedeva, San Martín De Oscos.

For the broader travel overview: Asturias.