Camping Playa El Regatón

Laredo’s well known in Spain for its gorgeous beach, a five-kilometre sheltered sandy swathe with a backdrop of wooded hills. Take your pick from relaxing times sunbathing and swimming or getting active by galloping along the beach on horseback, taking surfing or paddleboarding lessons or suiting up for a scuba dive. Away from the main beach, it’s 20 minutes' drive to the Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes Natural Park to go in search of migrating birds. Or you could potter in the Puebla Vieja, Laredo’s medieval quarter, to see houses dating back to the 16th century. Day trips to Bilbao and Santander are highly recommended from here too, of course – don’t miss the Palacio de La Magdalena in Santander, or the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.