Holiday haven: Spain’s wild and wonderful beauty

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More dramatic cliffs and seabirds await inspection between the Rías Baixas and
Rías Altas on the perilous Costa da Morte, or Coast of Death, so-called
because of the number of ships that have foundered on it. Look out for
fishermen scouring the rocks for goose barnacles: percebes is a prized
delicacy in Galician seafood restaurants.

Don’t overlook the interior, a tranquil landscape of rolling hills covered in
pine and eucalyptus. Galicia’s longest river, the Miño, is a highlight,
especially the stretch that follows the Portuguese border from Tui, then
north to Ribadavia. The valley is dotted with handsome stone mansions and
carpeted with maize and vineyards – you can taste and buy crisp white
ribeiro wines in local bodegas.

Even more memorable is the valley of the Sil river east of Ourense, with its
deep gorge and steep slopes coated in oaks, chestnuts and vineyards.

You could stay in the impressive Benedictine Monasterio de Santo Estevo, now a
lovely parador and one of several monasteries in the area you can visit.

Wherever you go in Galicia, to best appreciate its varied scenery you should
do some walking. Hike along a camino pilgrimage route to Santiago de
Compostela, passing by striking hórreos (stone granaries), through fragrant
woodlands and along butterfly-rich hedgerows, and you’ll find accommodation
to suit all budgets for overnight stops. With limited time, consider
tackling the 56-mile camino extension from Santiago to Cape Finisterre.
Translating as “the end of the Earth”, the Cape is a most satisfying
conclusion to a Galician exploration.

Tour operators who offer holidays to Galicia include:

Ramblers
Holidays

Kirker Holidays

Vintage Travel

Saga

Individual
Holidays

Visit the Telegraph’s Galicia
homepage to discover more about this secret corner of Green Spain

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