Silencio Beach

A 500-metre bay of pale rounded pebbles under the cliffs of Punta Nocedal, in Castañeras, about 20 minutes west of Cudillero. You park above and walk down about 500 metres by steps. There are no facilities: bring water and footwear for stones. From 1 June to 30 September dogs are not allowed on the beach.

What it is like

Turismo Asturias presents it as probably one of the most beautiful beaches in all of western Asturias. It is a bay protected by cliffs and islets of various sizes, which calm the sea within the inlet. There is almost no sand: it is a bolos beach, of pale rounded pebbles, and its charm survives precisely because it has no facilities. Cudillero's tourist office highlights the dizzying cliffs of Punta Nocedal that enclose it. It is also known as Gavieiro beach.

Although it is little developed, it receives many visitors, especially in summer. If you are looking for real silence, go first thing or outside July and August.

How to get down and what to bring

You leave the car in the car park above, in Castañeras, and walk down a path of about 500 metres with numerous steps. The return is all uphill: save your energy. It is not wheelchair-accessible nor comfortable with a pushchair: with a baby, a baby carrier is better.

There are no lifeguards, bars, showers or toilets. Bring water, food, sun protection and some shade, and take your rubbish back up. The pebbles make water shoes almost essential for getting into the water. With a swell, it is best not to swim: nobody watches over the beach.

Dogs and season

From 1 June to 30 September animals are not allowed on the beach; on the promenades and urban areas by the accesses they may be on a fixed lead of one metre at most. If you are going with a dog in summer, Salencia cove, in nearby Novellana, admits them all year.

Swimming is from July to September; the rest of the year it is a walk with views. Allow about two and a half hours to go down, spend a while and climb back up.

Seeing it from the sea

From the water its bay shape and the islets are easier to understand. Cudillero Aventura has a boat route of almost two hours that reaches Silencio beach and Gueirúa, within the boat trip to Cape Vidío. On the way, along the coast, you can stop at Cape Vidío and its lighthouse, in Oviñana.