Our base for this trip is  Aguilar de Campoo is a town dating from 1255 and located in the North of province of Palencia, autonomous community of Castile and León. The River Pisuerga flows through its historic centre. It is one of the locations of the Pilgrim’s Road to Santiago  (Ruta del Besaya). Since 2017, the municipality has been included in the Geopark of Las Loras,^]the first UNESCO Geopark in Castile and León.

On Wednesday – Meet at the Plymouth Ferryport where we catch the 1645 sailing to Spain. A 2-berth cabin is provided and upgrades are available as detailed in Essential Information. Our Guide,Paul Burley, will meet you in the Terminal Building at Plymouth Ferryport.

We will be setting off from Plymouth and crossing the English Channel towards the Ushant on the north western tip of France. We  will be hoping to see Great Skua, Manx Shearwater, Kittiwake, Gannets and more. We will also be looking for Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Harbour Porpoise and Minke Whale as these animals are frequently seen in these waters throughout the year.

The next morning we are in the Bay of Biscay where we resume looking for pelagic seabirds and cetaceans . We will be hoping to see the big Whales, Beaked whales and a variety of dolphin species along with the many surprises that Biscay has to offer. 

On arrival in Santander at 1300 we drive southwards to Aguilar del Campoo where we check into the Hotel  Hotel Monasterio de Santa María la Real for four nights on buffet breakfast and dinner with wine terms.   Our local Guide, Fernando Jubete visits to the hotel before dinner and explanation of the itineraries and species to be observed over the next three days.

Friday –  Aguilar de Campoo-Orbaneja del Castillo-San Felices de Rudrón-Sargentes de la Lora. The Rudrón canyons and the Sargentes de la Lora plateau in northern Burgos form a natural area of great scenic and ecological value. The Rudrón River has carved deep canyons into the limestone rock, creating a spectacular landscape of vertical walls, gorges and ravines. In contrast, the moors feature wide plateaus covered with grasslands, heaths and scattered holm oaks. Its beauty, silence and authenticity make this place a unique natural enclave. It is one of the best areas in Spain for observing birds of prey such as Golden eagle, Egyptian vulture, Griffon vulture, Short-toed eagle, Booted eagle, as well as numerous forest and rocky cliff species. These limestone moors are also a veritable paradise for more than 130 species of butterflies, with the Apollo butterfly standing out for its beauty.

Saturday –  Aguilar de Campoo-La Castillería. The Castillería region, located in the Palencia Mountains, is notable for its extraordinary landscape and botanical wealth. Here you will find some of the most extensive and ancient oak forests in the Cantabrian Mountains, alternating with beech and birch forests, natural meadows and linear formations of hedgerows, giving the area a remarkable diversity of vegetation. The presence of Atlantic and Mediterranean species reflects the climatic transition of the area, creating a unique mosaic of ecosystems. This forest are the habitat of large carnivorous species such as Brown bear, Wolf and Wildcat, and home to forest birds such as the Middle spotted woodpecker, Nuthatch, Bonelli’s warbler, Yellowhammer, Cirl bunting and numerous species of birds of prey.

Sunday –  Brañavieja sky resorts. The destination for the first stage will be the Brañavieja ski resort. The first stop will be at the Solvay refuge, where, in addition to the first species of alpine birds, other high mountain specialities such as the Alpine newt and the Viviparus lizard can be observed. The second stop will be at the El Chivo ski lifts, where birds such as the Snowfinch, Alpine Accentor and Water pipit can be observed. The ascent will continue to the El Chivo viewpoint, an excellent spot for observing birds such as the Rock thrush, Yellow-billed chough and Red-billed chough, as well as numerous species of butterflies and bumblebees from alpine ecosystems. During the day, some species of mammals such as Red deer and Chamois will also be observed.

In the afternoon, on the way back, there will be a stop at the Ermita de la Virgen de los Cagigales (Nestares), in an area where the Middle spotted woodpecker breeds,  as well as other forest species such as the Bonelli’s warbler and the Wryneck.

On Monday we leave the hotel and travel to Reinosa where we’ll stop for refreshment before travelling by the side of the Ebro Dam until we reach the Escudo Pass where we begin the descent along the Pas Valley to the charming spa town of Puente Viesgo. Located here are the prehistoric caves of El Castillo. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the area and take refreshment before we resume our journey to Santander where there will be a little time for sightseeing before we catch the 1815 sailing to England. Once again, during the crossing, Paul Burley will be on hand to assist and explain the situation at sea.

We reach Plymouth at 1500 on Tuesday.

Cost includes: ferry crossing with cabin;all coach travel in Spain; four nights hotel accommodation with breakfast and dinner(with wine);local Spanish Guide in Spain, British Guide on ocean crossing.

Pick up point;   Plymouth Ferryport

Departure Date : July 22nd 2026

Cost: £955

Single Supplement: £180

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