Playa de Torimbia

Playa de Torimbia is a small, secluded beach in the municipality of Llanes, on the eastern coast of Asturias, in Spain, and it is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches on the Cantabrian coast. It lies a short distance from the village of Niembro, in a stretch of coastline where steep green hills meet the sea and cliffs and rocky headlands alternate with small coves. The beach is a crescent of pale golden sand, about four hundred metres long, backed by grassy dunes and meadows where cattle sometimes graze, and enclosed by headlands covered in vegetation. It is protected as a natural monument, part of the effort to preserve the coast of this area.

The approach is part of the charm. There is no road to the sand, and visitors leave their cars in a car park or beside the road on the plateau above and walk down a path through fields, which takes a few minutes. The track is steep in places and can be slippery after rain, so sturdy shoes are advisable, and the climb back up is the harder half. The effort keeps the numbers lower than on beaches with easy access, and the setting feels remote even in summer. Some people come for the sunset, which turns the cliffs and the sea orange and pink.

The sea here is the Cantabrian Sea, the south-eastern part of the Atlantic, and it is cooler than the Mediterranean. The water is clear and a cool green-blue, and on calm days it is pleasant for swimming, though waves can be strong when the swell is high, and currents can be dangerous, so caution is advised and there is usually no lifeguard cover outside the high season. The beach is known for its relaxed atmosphere, and part of it is used by naturists, who are accepted by the other visitors, so visitors should expect to see unclothed sunbathers.

There are no services on the beach, no restaurants, no shops and no sun beds, so bring water, food, shade and sun protection, and take your rubbish away. A small bar or restaurant is sometimes found near the car park in season, but it should not be relied on. The grassy slopes above the beach make a good place for a picnic.

The beach is part of a coastal walk that follows the clifftops towards neighbouring coves, and the nearby beaches of Ballota and Gulpiyuri, a tiny beach hidden inland and flooded by the sea through a tunnel, can be reached by short drives. The town of Llanes, with its old centre and harbour, is a short distance away. Visit in summer for swimming, or in spring and autumn for walks.