Northern Spain Photography Tour

This document is best read on a desktop computer, as it includes tables that are easier to follow on a larger screen.

A quick note before you start: everything below is provided in good faith and is accurate at the time of writing, but details such as entry rules, health advice and prices can change between now and the trip. Please treat this as a helpful guide rather than the final word, and always check the official sources linked throughout closer to your departure date. The health and vaccination information in particular does not constitute medical advice: please speak to your GP, a travel clinic, or the relevant travel health authority for guidance specific to you. Most of this guide is written from a UK perspective, so if you are travelling from outside the UK, please check the equivalent requirements with your own country's authorities.

Introduction to Photography on the Coast of Northern Spain

We will be based on Spain's "Costa Verde" (Green Coast), the stretch of Asturias and Cantabria that runs along the Bay of Biscay. It is a dramatically different side of Spain to the sun-baked south: expect deep green hills, dramatic cliffs, working fishing harbours, tidal beaches with sea stacks, and small stone villages that still run to their own rhythm. For photographers, this means a wonderful mix of subjects, from seascapes and long-exposure coastal work through to street and documentary photography in towns such as Gijón, Llanes and Cudillero.

A few cultural notes worth knowing before you go. Asturias and Cantabria are proudly distinct from the "Spain" of the tourist brochures: cider (sidra), not wine, is the local drink of choice, and you will see it poured from a height in bars as a matter of tradition rather than showmanship. The region was never conquered by the Moors, and this history is a source of quiet regional pride. Locals tend to be friendly and unhurried, and a polite "buenos días" or "hola" goes a long way before you raise a camera. Meal times run later than in the UK, and small towns can feel very quiet in the early afternoon as shops and even some restaurants close for a few hours.

Visas

UK passport holders do not need a visa for this trip. As a visa-exempt nationality, you can visit Spain and the wider Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.You do need a valid passport, issued within the last 10 years, with at least three months' validity remaining after the date you leave the Schengen area, and at least one blank page for entry and exit stamps.

A new EU entry scheme called ETIAS is expected to come into force later in 2026, which will require UK travellers to complete a short online form and pay a small fee before travelling to Spain and other Schengen countries. Based on current timings this is not expected to apply before our August trip, but please check the official ETIAS information nearer the time in case this changes: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en.

Entry Requirements

The EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES), which launched in April 2026, means you may be asked to register your fingerprints and a facial image at the border when entering or leaving the Schengen area. This is a normal part of the process now and nothing to worry about, but it can add a little time to the queue, so do build this into your airport connection times.

You should also be able to show, if asked, evidence of your onward travel arrangements, sufficient funds for your stay, and your accommodation details. I will send accommodation details closer to the trip start date in case border staff ask for them. I would recommend keeping both a paper printout and a digital copy (photo or PDF on your phone) of your passport photo page, your accommodation confirmation, and your travel insurance certificate, just in case anything goes astray.

Official UK government guidance for Spain: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements

Passport Validity

Spain follows the standard Schengen passport rule rather than the "six months" rule some other countries use: your passport should be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive, and have at least 3 months remaining after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area. For our trip, that means your passport should be valid until at least mid-November 2026, and should have been issued after August 2016. Please check both dates now, as UK passport renewals can take several weeks. If you renewed early and your old passport's remaining months were added on to a new one, do check the actual issue date, since a passport issued more than 10 years before your travel date is not accepted even if the expiry date looks fine.

Check your own passport here: https://www.gov.uk/check-a-passport-travel-europe

Vaccinations

There are no mandatory vaccinations for entry into Spain, and the standard is straightforward for anyone who is up to date with routine UK vaccinations. That said, it's worth being properly prepared, and I'd recommend booking a travel health check 2 to 3 months before we depart, as some vaccines need more than one dose or take a few weeks to become fully effective.

As a general guide for Spain:

• Routine vaccines: make sure you are up to date with your standard UK schedule, including tetanus, diphtheria and polio, and MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), since measles cases have been rising in a number of countries and travellers are advised to be fully protected.
• Sometimes recommended: hepatitis A is occasionally suggested for travellers depending on individual risk factors, particularly around food and water hygiene.
• Rabies: rabies has not been reported in wild or domestic animals across mainland Spain, though bats can occasionally carry a related virus, so it's sensible to avoid handling any bats and to seek prompt medical advice if you are ever bitten or scratched by any animal.

Many of these routine and travel vaccines are available free on the NHS, so it's well worth a chat with your GP surgery or a pharmacy travel clinic. Do also take proof of your vaccination record with you (a photo of your Red Book, or your NHS App record, is fine) as it can be useful if you ever need medical treatment abroad.

For the latest guidance: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/203/spain and https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/travel-health/

General Health

Pharmacies (farmacias) are easy to find in every town along this coast and are marked with a green cross sign, often lit and animated. Spanish pharmacists are highly trained and can advise on and sell many medicines over the counter that would require a prescription in the UK, including some antihistamines, painkillers and travel sickness remedies. If you take regular prescription medication, please bring enough for the whole trip plus a few spare days, ideally in its original packaging, along with a copy of your prescription.

Tap water is safe to drink throughout Spain. Healthcare standards in Asturias and Cantabria are good, with hospitals in Gijón, Oviedo and Santander. For non-urgent medical help, 061 connects you to the Spanish medical emergency line, and pharmacists are usually your first and quickest port of call for minor ailments.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is essential for this trip and should be arranged as soon as you book. Please make sure your policy covers your camera equipment (including its full replacement value), any activities we'll be doing such as coastal walking, and medical treatment and repatriation.

To compare policies and find a good deal, MoneySavingExpert's independent comparison tool is a great place to start: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/travel-insurance/

GHIC Card

As Spain is in the EU, it's worth applying for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) before we travel, if you don't already have one. This entitles you to state-provided healthcare in Spain on the same basis as a Spanish resident, which can mean free or reduced-cost treatment. It is not a substitute for travel insurance, but a useful extra layer of cover.

If you already hold a GHIC or an old EHIC card, please check the expiry date now, as these cards are typically valid for five years and it's easy to let them lapse without noticing.

Apply for your free GHIC directly through the official NHS site (beware of copycat websites that charge a fee): https://www.ghic.org.uk/

Insects and Repellents

Mosquitoes can be present in the evenings, particularly near rivers, marshland and after rain, and horseflies are sometimes an issue on the coastal paths in summer. Ticks can be found in longer grass and woodland if we head inland or into the hills, so it's worth checking yourself over after any walking in vegetation.

A DEET-based repellent (around 30–50%) is the most effective option and is worth buying before you leave the UK, as it's easy to find in supermarkets and pharmacies at home. If you run out, Spanish farmacias and supermarkets stock good local equivalents, just ask for "repelente de insectos". A long-sleeved layer for evenings and after-bite cream are both worth packing too.

Weather

August is the warmest month on this stretch of coast, but "warm" here is a gentler affair than southern Spain. Average temperatures in Asturias in early August sit around 24°C, easing slightly to around 21°C by the end of the month, with cooler evenings. The sea itself stays fairly cool even in high summer, reaching around 19 to 20°C, so don't expect a Mediterranean-style dip if we get the chance for a swim.

This coast is also known for changeable weather. Asturias sees an average of around 10 rainy days in August, though typically as short showers rather than prolonged downpours, with a modest total of around 50mm of rain for the month. Fog is also fairly common along the coast, including on summer mornings, and can be atmospheric for photography before it lifts. In short: pack for a mild, bright, breezy week with a good chance of at least one rain shower, rather than guaranteed sunshine.

Time Zone

Spain is one hour ahead of the UK for the whole of our trip. When it's midday in the UK, it will be 1pm in Asturias and Cantabria. The UK will be on British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) and Spain on Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) throughout our trip.

Tide Times, Sunrise and Sunset

Given how much of our photography will be along tidal coastline, coves and beaches, tides matter as much as the light. Northern Spain has a noticeable tidal range, and a good low tide can reveal sea stacks, rock pools and reflective wet sand that make for wonderful foreground interest, while a high tide can close off access to some coves entirely. The table below combines sunrise and sunset times with the tide times for each day of the trip, so you can plan a shoot around both at a glance.

Sunrise and sunset times are calculated for Gijón and shown in Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is one hour ahead of UK time in August. These are useful for planning golden hour and blue hour shoots, but please treat them as a close approximation and check an app such as PhotoPills or a site like timeanddate.com nearer the time for precise figures for your exact location along the coast.

Please note the tide times and heights are forecasts for the Gijón area only, and will vary somewhat at other points along the coast. They should be treated as a guide, not relied upon for safety, and must be checked again closer to the trip and locally once we arrive.

Handily, this week also brings a run of low pre-dawn and early morning low tides, which should give us some excellent options for sunrise shoots on exposed sand and rock. As ever on this coast, please never turn your back on the sea, and always keep an eye on the incoming tide when shooting near rocks or in coves, as it can cut off routes back to the shore more quickly than it appears.

Currency and Money

Spain uses the euro (€), and there are no restrictions or "closed currency" issues to worry about, unlike some destinations. Euros are freely available to buy in the UK before you travel and widely available from ATMs once you arrive.

Cards are accepted almost everywhere on this trip, including small cafés and shops, but it's sensible to carry some cash for rural villages, market stalls, small bars, and tips. A contactless debit or credit card with no foreign transaction fees will save you money over a standard UK card.

If you'd like to bring some cash from home, or want to compare card options, it's worth doing your research at least 14 days before we travel to catch the best rates, rather than leaving it to the last minute. MoneySavingExpert's travel money comparison tool is a good starting point: https://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/

Tipping

Tipping in Spain is genuinely optional and far more low-key than in the UK or US. Locals don't tip as a matter of routine, and service staff neither expect it nor rely on it as part of their income.

As a rough guide:

• Restaurants and cafés: rounding up the bill or leaving small change is normal for everyday meals; for good service at a nicer restaurant, 10 to 15 percent is appropriate, but do check the bill first, as some places already include a service charge.
• Bars: tipping isn't expected, though leaving a little loose change is a nice gesture if you've had good service.
• Taxis: rounding up to the nearest euro is plenty; a specific tip isn't expected.
• Hotels: a euro or two per bag for a porter, and a similar amount for housekeeping if you wish.

If you do tip in a restaurant, it's best to leave cash rather than adding it to a card payment, as tips added to cards don't reliably reach the staff who earned them.

Safety, Crime and Scams

The great majority of visits to this part of Spain pass without any problems at all, and Asturias and Cantabria are generally considered some of the safer, more relaxed corners of the country. We do want to flag a few sensible precautions, but please don't let this put a dampener on things, we fully expect this to be a smooth and enjoyable week.

As with any destination popular with visitors, petty theft such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching can occur in busier tourist spots and on public transport, though this is far less of an issue here than in Madrid or Barcelona. Keep an eye on camera bags and equipment in cafés and busy squares, and avoid leaving gear unattended, even briefly. Be cautious of the classic street distraction scams (someone spilling something on you, asking for directions while an accomplice reaches for your bag, and so on), and if approached, keep a hand on your bag and simply walk on.

On the photography side, the coastal paths here involve genuine cliffs, wet rocks and incoming tides, so please take care with footing, especially with a bag of equipment on your back, and never get closer to a cliff edge than you would in the UK for the same shot.

What Not to Shoot

Spain's Citizen Security Law, commonly known as the "Ley Mordaza" or Gag Law, restricts the recording and distribution of images of police and security forces in ways that could endanger their safety or compromise an operation. In practice, photographing police who are simply on duty in a public space is not usually a problem, and it's a good idea to let them know what you're doing if you're setting up a considered shot nearby. Where it becomes an issue is publishing images that clearly identify individual officers in a way that could put them at risk or reveal personal information, which can carry legal consequences.

As a general rule, avoid photographing:

• Military bases, installations, or personnel and equipment, even from outside a perimeter fence
• Police operations in progress, protests or demonstrations where officers could be identified
• Airport security areas, border control points, and similar sensitive infrastructure
• Any location displaying a "no photography" sign, which are used at some official and industrial sites

If in doubt, use common sense and discretion: this coast is overwhelmingly about landscapes, harbours and street life rather than anything sensitive, so this should rarely come up.

Privacy

Spain has strong personal privacy protections, and if you take a recognisable photograph of someone in public, you would technically need their permission to publish it. This mainly comes into play when it's time to publish or share an image, for example on social media, rather than in the simple act of taking the photograph in the first place. Photographing landscapes, buildings and general street scenes where people happen to be present is generally fine, and freedom of panorama applies to architecture and public spaces, but a considered portrait of an individual is a different matter.

In practice, most street photographers on this coast find that a warm smile, a gesture with the camera to ask permission, or simply chatting a little first, goes a long way and often leads to a better photograph anyway. Do take particular care around children: always ask a parent or guardian first, and it's best to avoid photographing children you don't know at all if you're not able to ask.

Street Photography

This coast offers some lovely, unhurried street photography, quite different from the crowded scenes you might expect in Madrid or Barcelona. Fishing harbours such as Cudillero and Luarca are wonderful early in the morning as boats come in, market days bring colour and life to town squares, and the sidra bars of Gijón and Oviedo are full of character in the evenings.

A few tips for working here specifically: mornings tend to be quieter and softer in light, while towns come properly alive from around 8pm onwards as the evening paseo (stroll) and tapas culture gets going. Locals are generally relaxed about photography, but a friendly approach goes further than working covertly. Cafés and cider houses are good places to slow down, have a coffee or a sidra, and let a scene develop naturally rather than shooting on the move. As above, always be mindful of publishing recognisable portraits without consent.

Environmental Protection

This coastline is a genuinely special environment, including protected stretches known for their geology, wildlife and even dinosaur footprints preserved in the rock. Please take the same care here that you would at home: take all litter away with you, stay on marked paths where they exist, and never disturb nesting birds, seals or other wildlife for the sake of a photograph. Please don't remove pebbles, shells, fossils or anything else from beaches or the coastal path, both to protect the environment and because some areas have specific legal protections around this. If we visit any protected natural areas, we'll follow any local guidance on access and photography restrictions.

Creative Photo Adventures is a proud partner of Nature First, the alliance for responsible nature photography, and we follow their guidelines throughout this trip. In short, this means putting the welfare of nature ahead of the shot, educating ourselves about the places we visit, reflecting on the impact of our actions, and using discretion if we share locations that could be sensitive to disturbance if overvisited. You can read the full set of principles here: https://naturefirst.org/en/

We're also proud to partner with Just One Tree, and at least one tree will be planted for each guest as part of that partnership. Just One Tree funds reforestation projects around the world, helping restore habitats and capture carbon. You can find out more about their work here: https://www.justonetree.life/

Emergency Services and Numbers

The 112 number is toll-free, available 24 hours a day, and works even without a SIM card, and operators are able to help in multiple languages including English. Calling from a mobile also transmits your location automatically, which is especially useful on the coastal paths where addresses aren't straightforward. I'd suggest saving 112 and 900 202 202 into your phone before we travel.

Food and Drink

Asturian and Cantabrian food is hearty, seafood-rich, and quite different from the tapas-and-paella image many visitors have of Spain. Look out for fabada asturiana (a rich bean and pork stew), cachopo (a large breaded and stuffed veal or beef dish, usually easily shared between two), excellent seafood along the coast, and the region's distinctive Cabrales blue cheese. The local drink is sidra (cider), traditionally poured from a height into the glass to aerate it, a skill known as "escanciar" that's worth watching if you get the chance.

Meal times run later than in the UK. Lunch is typically taken from around 2pm to 4pm and is often the main meal of the day, while dinner rarely starts before 8.30 or 9pm, and many restaurants simply aren't open earlier than that in the evening. Some smaller places close entirely between lunch and dinner service, so don't expect to find much open at 5pm outside the main towns.

Shopping

Small and independent shops in this region typically follow a split day: open from around 9.30 or 10am, closed for a couple of hours over lunch from roughly 1.30 or 2pm, then open again from around 4.30 or 5pm until 8 or 8.30pm, Monday to Saturday. Supermarkets and larger stores tend to stay open all day without the midday break, generally from around 9am to 9pm.

Sunday is the traditional closing day for most shops across Spain, including here in Asturias and Cantabria, though some supermarkets, bakeries and shops in the busiest tourist spots do open, particularly in peak summer season. Saturday afternoons can also be quieter for smaller independent shops, some of which close by early afternoon. It's worth picking up any essentials, snacks or supplies on a Saturday morning rather than assuming you'll find something open on a Sunday.

For supermarkets, the names to look out for on this coast are Alimerka (a regional Asturian chain and one of the most common you'll see), along with the national chains Mercadona, Eroski, Carrefour, Lidl, Alcampo and Dia. Larger branches of these, particularly Mercadona, Carrefour and Alcampo, are the ones most likely to stay open through the middle of the day and occasionally on a Sunday.

For fuel, the main brands you'll see at filling stations are Repsol, Cepsa, BP, Galp and Shell, alongside supermarket-linked and low-cost stations such as Carrefour, Eroski, Petroprix, Ballenoil and Plenoil, which are often a little cheaper. Most stations are self-service, though some smaller rural ones still have an attendant.

Pharmacies work slightly differently: even when a town's other shops are closed, there is always at least one farmacia de guardia (duty pharmacy) open on a rota, usually clearly signposted on the door of every pharmacy in town.

Public Holidays and Festivals

15 August (Saturday) – Asunción de la Virgen (Assumption of Mary): this is a national public holiday across Spain, and it falls during our trip. Expect most shops, banks and offices to be closed for the day, though restaurants, bars and tourist attractions generally carry on as normal, often busier than usual as it's a popular day for local celebrations and family gatherings.

Gijón's Semana Grande (Feria de Muestras): Gijón's biggest festival of the year runs from 1 to 16 August 2026, covering our entire trip. Expect a lively fairground and market atmosphere along the seafront, fireworks, concerts, and the local tradition of eating a "bocata de calamares" (squid sandwich) while wandering the stalls. This is a great opportunity for street and event photography if we're in or near Gijón during the trip, though do expect the town to be busier and livelier than usual, especially in the evenings.

Astronomical Events

This trip coincides with an exceptional run of astronomical events, arguably a once-in-a-generation week for anyone interested in night sky photography.

Total solar eclipse – Wednesday 12 August, evening: a total solar eclipse will cross northern Spain on the evening of 12 August, with the path of totality running directly through Asturias and Cantabria, including Gijón and Oviedo. The partial phase begins at around 19:30 CEST, with totality itself at around 20:27 to 20:29 CEST, lasting for roughly 1 minute 45 seconds in Gijón. The sun will be low in the western sky throughout, so a clear, unobstructed view to the west is essential, and this stretch of coast does have a real chance of cloud cover in August, so we'll keep a close eye on the forecast and be ready to move if needed. Proper CE-certified eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2) are essential for the entire partial phase, both before and after totality, and can only be removed during the brief period of full totality itself. Never look at the sun directly, or through a camera or binoculars, without a proper solar filter. I'll share more detailed guidance on solar photography and viewing safety closer to the trip.

Perseid meteor shower – peaking overnight 12 to 13 August: remarkably, the very same night brings the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, one of the best meteor showers of the year, and 2026 is a particularly good year for it, since the peak coincides with a new moon, meaning properly dark skies with no moonlight to wash out the fainter meteors. Under good conditions away from light pollution, upwards of 50 to 100 meteors an hour are possible in the hours after midnight into the early morning of 13 August. Given the eclipse the same evening, this genuinely is a rare astronomical double-header.

New moon – Wednesday 12 August: as above, the new moon falls exactly on eclipse and Perseids night, which is what makes both events so favourable for photography, dark skies with no moonlight interference.

Photographing the Eclipse

Eclipse photography is genuinely unlike anything else on this trip, and it's worth preparing properly in the days beforehand rather than working it out on the evening itself. A few key points:

• A solar filter is non-negotiable. Any time any part of the sun's disc is visible, whether that's the full sun or the thinnest partial crescent, your lens needs a proper certified solar filter (ISO 12312-2 rated solar film or a dedicated glass solar filter) fitted over the front element, and your eyes need certified eclipse glasses, even when using a viewfinder. A few seconds of unfiltered sun through a lens can damage a sensor just as it can damage your eyes.
• The filter comes off only during totality itself. For the roughly 1 minute 45 seconds when the moon fully covers the sun, and only then, it's safe to remove the filter to capture the corona, the wispy outer atmosphere of the sun that's only visible during totality. The instant the first sliver of sun reappears, the filter needs to go straight back on. It's worth practising this swap a few times beforehand so it's automatic on the day, since totality passes very quickly.
• Camera settings for the partial phases (filter on): manual mode, low ISO (around 100 to 200), and a fast shutter speed, roughly 1/1000 to 1/2000 second at f/8 to f/11, adjusting based on your filter and the histogram. These settings stay fairly consistent throughout the partial phases since the filtered sun's brightness doesn't change much.
• Camera settings for totality (filter off): the corona has a huge range of brightness from the inner ring to the fainter outer streamers, so a single exposure won't capture it all. Bracket a range of shutter speeds from roughly 1/2000 second up to around 1 second, at a similar aperture and ISO to above, to give yourself options for blending or picking the best exposure afterwards.
• Lens choice: a telephoto lens (400mm or longer) gives a detailed, frame-filling view of the eclipsed sun and corona. It's also well worth having a second camera or your phone set up wide, unfiltered, and pointed at the landscape and the group, since the eerie dimming of the light, the drop in temperature, and everyone's reactions around you are just as memorable as the sun itself, and only last a couple of minutes. The horizon can also turn a bright orange during totality.
• Focus and stability: focus manually using live view zoomed in on the sun's edge (with the filter on), then lock focus and don't touch the ring again. A sturdy tripod is essential given the telephoto reach involved, and a remote release ( avoid using self-timer as during the short totality it may consume valuable shooting time..
• Given the low sun angle on this coast, around 10° above the horizon at totality, a clear, unobstructed view to the west or west-northwest is essential. We'll want a spot with no buildings, trees or hills blocking that direction, and coastal viewpoints facing the sea to the west should work well for this. I'll confirm our planned viewing location closer to the time based on the weather forecast.
• Practice beforehand. If you can, spend a few minutes in the days before the 12th practising finding and focusing on the sun with your filter fitted, and rehearsing the filter-off, filter-on sequence around totality. On the day itself, it's worth setting an intervalometer or alarm to remind you when totality is ending, so you're not relying on judgement in the moment. And do take at least a few seconds during totality to look up from the camera and watch it with your own eyes (through eclipse glasses for the partial phases either side), it really is worth experiencing directly, not just through a viewfinder.

For more detail and up to date information as the trip approaches: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2026-august-12 and https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/

What to Pack

Clothing

This is a layers destination even in August. Pack a mix of light tops for warm, bright spells, a warmer layer for cooler mornings and evenings, and a light waterproof jacket. Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes with some grip are essential for the coastal paths, which may be uneven and slippery near the water. A hat for sun and a buff or light scarf for wind are both worth the small amount of space they take up.

Photography kit

• A versatile walk-around lens (something in the 24 to 70/105/120mm range, or your camera's equivalent) will cover the bulk of landscape and travel work.
• A longer lens such as 70-200/300mm for picking off elements within landscapes.
• An ultra wide lens  around 14-30mm can be handy for foreground beach shots.
• A weather-sealed body and lens combination if you have one, or a good rain cover if not. I often carry the small disposable plastic shower caps you find in hotels bathrooms. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4vI3E3D
• Plenty of memory cards and a robust backup routine (portable SSD or laptop), since you will likely shoot more than expected.
• Spare batteries and a compact charger.
• A light weight travel tripod will be essential. If you don't have a light weight travel tripod, some of the best currently available are reviewed here: https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-travel-tripod. Another tripod I have been looking at which is not reviewed here is the Benro Cyanbird travel tripod - Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/4yg0ZR0
  If you are on a low budget then the travel tripod form K&F is a good option: https://www.kfconcept.com/KF09.161_63-lightweight-travel-camera-tripod-phone-holder?tracking=6a522dd26537
• Filters: Bring 3/6/10 stops for landscape work. As the eclipse is happening close to sunset time and low on the horizon with weaker levels of light, it is expected that a 10 stop filter should suffice.
• Lens cloths for cleaning. Instead of using dedicated lens cloths, I found these glass polishing cloths to be far superior. They are highly absorbent (perfect for cleaning stray rain off the lens) and treble the size of most lens clothes, plus they are cheaper than proper lens clothes. Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3SUHgpV
• Solar glasses for looking at the sun. I have a pair of these cardboard glasses for each of us, so there is no need to bring them.

Power and Adaptors

Spain uses the standard European two-pin plug, Type C or Type F, running at 230V 50hz. UK plugs will need a simple adaptor, widely available at UK airports, supermarkets and online, but it's worth packing one in advance rather than relying on finding one locally. If you're bringing devices that need charging overnight (camera batteries, phone, laptop), a multi-port USB charger or small extension block can be handy, as hotel rooms sometimes have limited sockets near the bed.

Luggage

Please aim to travel with a maximum of two bags: one main piece of luggage (carry-on cabin bag is best) and one hand-luggage camera bag. Travelling light makes the whole week easier, particularly when we're moving between locations.

A few important packing notes, especially for photographers:

• Spare batteries and power banks (including camera batteries and power banks) must go in your hand luggage, not your hold luggage, under airline safety rules, and are usually limited in number and capacity, so do check your airline's specific policy.
• Small tools such as Allen keys, hex keys, multi-tools or anything with a blade (including some tripod tools and lens spanners) can be confiscated at airport security if packed in hand luggage. Pack these in your hold luggage instead.
• Vapes and e-cigarettes are treated as sensitively as spare batteries by many airport security teams; they generally need to travel in hand luggage (never in hold luggage, due to fire risk) and some countries limit how many you can carry, so check before you fly.
• Liquids in hand luggage remain subject to the usual 100ml container limit, all fitting within a single clear resealable bag. Some airports have relaxed this 100ml rule but not all, so you could find your out bound flight allows over 100ml, but the return does not. Check with both airports and if in doubt keep to the 100ml rule. 

For efficient packing, packing cubes make a real difference for keeping clothing organised and compressed, and it's worth wearing your bulkiest layer (coat, boots) on travel days rather than packing it. Roll rather than fold clothing where you can, and keep camera kit as your personal item so it's always with you and never checked into the hold.

Drones

If you're planning to bring a drone, please be aware that Spain's rules are stricter than many other European countries, and they do apply fully to visitors and tourists, not just residents. Any drone with a camera, which is effectively all consumer drones, needs the operator registered with AESA (the Spanish aviation safety agency), with the registration number displayed on the aircraft, and current rules also require the aircraft itself to be registered separately with the Ministry of the Interior.

Flying in urban areas can also require advance notification to the Interior Ministry, and enforcement has been active, with fines against tourists reported to run into tens or even hundreds of thousands of euros for unauthorised flights. Flying is also not permitted in national parks, wildlife reserves and other protected natural areas without specific authorisation, which is worth noting given how much of this coastline falls into protected categories.

If you do plan to bring a drone, please register and check the rules well in advance of the trip via the official AESA guidance: https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/en/civil-uas-drones, and check planned flight areas against the official ENAIRE Drones map: https://drones.enaire.es/

Internet and Mobile Data

Wifi is normally available at all the hotels we'll be staying in, so you'll be able to back up images and stay in touch each evening without using mobile data.

For mobile data while out and about, UK network roaming policies in the EU vary quite a bit and have generally become less generous since Brexit. Free roaming is no longer a legal requirement for UK networks, and most of the "big four" UK networks now charge somewhere in the region of £2 to £2.50 a day for roaming in the EU, though this depends heavily on your specific plan and when you took it out, so it's worth checking your own provider's current policy before you travel.

Given the variation between providers, many travellers now find it simpler and cheaper to use a travel eSIM. If you'd like to go this route, I have an arrangement with Airalo that gets you a discount on their eSIM data plans for Spain: https://airalo.go.link/2TJjq using the code STEVEN3101 at checkout.

WhatsApp Group

About a month before the trip, I'll set up a WhatsApp group for everyone joining us, so we can share any last-minute updates, get to know each other a little beforehand, and stay in touch during and after the trip too. Please do give your permission for this when you receive the pre-trip questionnaire, and I'll add you using the mobile number you provide there.

Local Language

Spanish (Castilian) is spoken everywhere in Asturias and Cantabria, though you'll also see and hear Asturian, known locally as "bable" or "asturianu", which has official recognition and appears on some road signs and local menus. You won't need to speak any Spanish to get by, especially in the more visited towns, but locals always appreciate visitors making a little effort, and it can open doors for street photography too.

Here's a small phrase guide to help you along, including a few photography-specific phrases. Pronunciation is given in simple phonetic form.

Everyday essentials

Getting around

Food and drink

Numbers

Photography phrases

Interesting Facts About the Region

• Asturias and Cantabria were the one part of Spain never conquered during the Moorish invasion, and the Battle of Covadonga here is traditionally seen as the starting point of the Reconquista.
• The nearby Picos de Europa was named Spain's very first national park, protected since 1918.
• The famous prehistoric cave paintings of Altamira, sometimes called the "Sistine Chapel of the Palaeolithic", are in Cantabria and date back around 36,000 years.
• Parts of this coastline are known as the "Costa de los Dinosaurios" (Dinosaur Coast) thanks to genuine dinosaur footprints preserved in the coastal rock.
• Asturias produces more cider than anywhere else in Spain, and the traditional high pour (escanciado) is said to release the drink's flavour and aroma.
• The wild brown bear still roams the Picos de Europa, one of the few places left in Western Europe where this is true.
• Asturian, the regional language, has official protected status and its own literature, radio and television output.
• Gijón was largely rebuilt after severe damage in the Spanish Civil War and today blends a historic old town with a lively waterfront promenade.
• The region's green, rain-fed landscape has earned it the nickname "Green Spain", a deliberate contrast with the drier south.
• Cantabria's Santander was largely rebuilt in an elegant early twentieth-century style after a huge fire in 1941 destroyed much of the old town.

Any Questions?

If anything in this guide is unclear, or you think of a question between now and the trip, please just drop me an email, or ask in the WhatsApp group once that's set up a month or so beforehand. No question is too small, I'd always rather you ask than worry.

A Few Final Things

A couple of extra bits worth knowing. Sunday closing is still a genuine feature of smaller Spanish towns, so don't expect much beyond cafés and bars to be open. English is spoken reasonably widely in tourist-facing businesses along this coast, but less so in smaller villages, so the phrase guide above will come in handy. Finally, this is a working coastline as much as a beautiful one, so please be mindful around fishing harbours and working boats, a friendly nod to a fisherman often leads to a better photograph and a warmer welcome than shooting from a distance.

I'm really looking forward to sharing this coastline with you all. See you in Asturias.