A reading retreat at this Spice Escapes exclusive destination

Our priority on this retreat is to give you space and time to read. You can choose solitude or shared time with other readers during the daytime. There is plenty of space at Agara, indoors and out. If the weather is good, we could take our books to a beach. We can arrange local walks and maybe have lunch in a local restaurant. We can also arrange a trip to a nearby city on one of the days. We can be guided by the weather, but the focus will be on enjoying some of our TBR list either with physical books or a fully loaded kindle!

The evenings are where we all come together to enjoy home-cooked family-style food and take part in activities over food and laughter. Activities are likely to include a Murder Mystery event and a literary quiz, and anything else we can think of.

We hope you leave this retreat fully rested and with plenty of new book recommendations!

This is a wonderful opportunity to visit a less well trod area of Spain and enjoy a partially All Inclusive break at what we think is a bargain price at a wonderful time of year. The rooms are all available as sole occupancy so with 12 rooms this isn't a big trip!

The plan, step by step

1
Wake up grab a coffee and your book and relax either on the patio in the Spring sunshine or indoors around a roaring fire. Agara, where you will be staying really does lend itself to the chilled back life! The northern coast isn’t typical Spain as the weather isn’t as predictable as the Mediterranean south but this area has so much more to offer. Cantabria is a place where nature excels in expressing herself. The seasons are no exception - cold winters and warm summers. When the sun shines in Cantabria its hot; when it rains it pours but we certainly hope the former will be in the ascendance giving us some fantastic opportunities to relax with our chosen books and explore further afield should the urge take us.

Includes

International flights (if selected)
5 nights accommodation
5 continental breakfasts, 5 light lunches*, 5 evening meals
Local wine, beer and spirits in the hotel just help yourself
Tea/coffee available in the house throughout the day
Minibus Excursions

Optional extras

Personal Travel Insurance
Ensuite supplement if required
Optional excursions
Lunches if you wish to sample the local restaurants
Personal extras

Your guide for this week

Jackie Whyte

Food & drink, day by day

Included in your trip is a continental breakfast, light lunches (available if we are at the property or a picnic lunch if on a a walk or cycle ride) and evening meal everyday. Also, there will be complimentary tea/coffee available for you to help yourself to. Locally sourced spring water will be available in the house so you won’t need to worry about getting bottled water unless you really want to. Finally local wine, beer and spirits will be available between 6-12pm every day (we will ask your favourite tipple before you travel to make sure we are well stocked!); these drinks will also be available at other times for a small charge and premium brands will also be available at any time for a charge. Sample Menu (based on a 7 night stay - shorter trips will feature part of the menu) Breakfast Alternates between boiled eggs one day and fried eggs and bacon the next supported by yoghurt, muesli, cornflakes, toast, marmalade/marmite/peanut butter, fresh orange juice and endless tea and coffee. Dinner

Day 1tapas and Cava/Prosecco round the fire followed by roasted salmon with buttery new potatoes.
Day 2Homemade courgette soup spiced with Ethiopian Berbere followed by Duck confit with duck fat roasted potatoes and wilted greens.
Day 3Fresh asparagus followed by curry choices. Chicken masala, curried chestnuts and spinach curry. All with rice and homemade lime pickle, mango chutney, green tomato chutney and yoghurt accompaniment.
Day 4Tomato and mozzarella salad followed by seared tuna and new potatoes with a choice of salads.
Day 5Avocado and smoked salmon followed by Cantabrian Mountain stew (Pork and butter beans in a rich gravy)
Day 6Melon and Serrano ham followed by Tudanca beef joint (Tudanca being a local breed of cow).
Day 7Grilled Sardines followed by slow cooked Pork belly with roasted potatoes and baby leaf spinach.

We work hard to cater for all types of allergies and preferences. Oat milk is always available and gluten free is also possible if we know in advance. If most of the group prefer less fish then we will adjust the menu (and we can do the reverse too!). Roast Salmon or Tuna might be substituted for slow roasted leg of mutton with herbs and garlic, as an example. We also work hard to cater for vegetarians and vegans and to date all the guests have offered really positive feedback on the food we provide. Its hearty and nutritious with an informal presentation – that’s Agara!

“Just to say what a lovely few days holiday I had staying at Agara and visiting the beautiful locations in Cantabria. Thank you and Maria so much for making us feel at home from home and showing us around the stunning area. 'Anne Marie'”

A previous group of 6