Astillero is a good starting point for exploring Trasmiera. Its name in Spanish is taken from the traditional shipbuilding activity of this town set deep in the Bay of Santander. Back in the sixteenth century galleons were being made for the Invincible Armada. From here we can get a good idea of the size of the bay with the city of Santander at one side.

Pedreña is a busy seaside town known for its Real Club de Golf, one of the oldest golf clubs in Spain where Severiano Ballesteros cut his teeth. The town also has a busy marina and is an ideal place for enjoying the local cuisine and also for trying the local tapas. After the Cubas estuary we come to Somo, with its long sandy beach known as El Puntal opposite the famous Playa de la Magdalena. Somo is an ideal spot for enjoying such seaside activities as surfing. It is in Langre where the coastline starts to become more rugged and the scenery more impressive, making it one of the loveliest parts of the whole Cantabrian coast. Here there is more one kilometre of beach, sheltered from the wind by high cliffs. Even more rugged, if anything, is the Playa La Canal, where horses graze on the cliff edge among the whimsical forms sculpted out by the sea over centuries, very close to the tiny village of Galizano. Ajo is famous as Cantabria?s most northerly cape. Its lighthouse looms up from the Ajo estuary close to the nature reserve called Reserva Natural de las Marismas de Noja y Santoña. The town is only 3 kilometres from the coast and contains some examples of fortified mansions. Close by we will see the notable Romanesque church of Santa María de Bareyo.

Five kilometres away is Arnuero with its outstanding Flamboyant Gothic church and the Palacio de los Marqueses de Buelnes. Isla is a good place for trying out the seafood-based cuisine. As well as its parish church there are notable mansions bearing eye-catching shields, allegedly to flaunt the owners´ noble lineage in an attempt to avoid paying taxes to the crown: Palacio de los Condes de Isla and the Torre de Cabrahigo and Torre de Jado are good examples. Along the coastline the imposing cape Cabo de Ajo looms over several beaches: Arnadal, El Sable and La Cava, for instance. Finally, Noja is notable for its mansions with great escutcheons and the sweeping beach of Trengandín.

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