High on the three seas

NORTHERN Spain is a well-kept secret just waiting to be discovered.

It's where the Spanish go to get away from the blistering heat of Madrid and all points south.

And it's easy to see why. The area around Santander has hundreds of beautiful, clean beaches set against the dramatic skyline of the Cantabrian mountains.

There are a wealth of historic sites to visit and further inland you'll find lush national parks with mountains so high that from the top of the Picos de Tres Mares' (peak of the three seas) you can see the Atlantic, the Mediterran-ean and the Bay of Biscay

To make the most of the area, a car is essential. An excellent way to arrive relaxed and refreshed is to take a Brittany Ferries 24- hour mini cruise to Santander from Plymouth.

An ordinary car ferry this is not. The ship has three restaurants, two cinemas, a pool and a beauty salon as well as the usual facilities.

We stayed at Isla Playa, a small, quiet village on the coast 45 minutes east of Santander in a very pleasant apartment/hotel in a natural cove.

Eating out is a must if you love seafood - especially when an excellent meal with wine can be had for around pounds 6.50 a head. The medieval village of Santillana del Mar is well worth a visit. Cows are still driven up and down its cobbled streets.

And at Puento Viesgo you'll find prehistoric cave paintings dating from the Ice Age.

The North does not conform to most people's preconceptions of Spain but it's bound to appeal if you want more from your holiday than just sun, sand, sea and sangria.

FACTFILE: Brittany Ferries (tel: 0990 360 360) 2wks in 2-bedroom apartment at Isla Playa Apart-Hotel, pounds 262 pp (June), pounds 399 (Aug) based on a family of four travelling with a car (Plymouth/ Santander ferry crossings included). Further details: Spanish Tourist Office, 57/58 St James's St, London SW1 (0891 669920).

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