Where can you go on holiday if your partner wants to hike and you want to surf? As Hannah Wood discovered, mountains and sea (plus a lot of cider and art) are just a ferry ride away in northern Spain.

In the heart of northern coastal Spain, Oviedo feels as solid and stable as a regional capital city should be. It's just the place to start discovering the cultural roots of ancient Asturias.

While Oviedo may lack a beachfront, it's a mere stone's throw from the sea, with the coastal city of Gijon just a 30-minute drive away, less than 19 miles from the city centre.