Playa de Ballota
Playa de Ballota is the most beautiful beach within easy reach of Llanes and, because it requires a 25-minute walk down an unpaved track, it remains genuinely uncrowded even in July and August. A river mouth, a sea cave, a grassy headland and 400 metres of golden sand await anyone willing to make the short effort.
What makes it special
The beach is enclosed by dramatic limestone cliffs on both sides and backed by a small freshwater lagoon where the Río Purón meets the sea — children paddle in the warm, shallow river water while adults brave the colder Atlantic surf. At the eastern end, a sea arch and accessible cave can be explored at low tide.
The sand itself is fine and pale gold, the water an improbable shade of turquoise for northern Spain, and the complete absence of beach bars or rental loungers means the landscape looks almost exactly as it did a hundred years ago.
Getting there
Drive to the hamlet of Balmori on the LLN-3 road east of Llanes and park in the small free car park at the end of the village (arrive before 10 am in August to guarantee a space). From there a signed footpath descends through eucalyptus and oak woodland to the beach in about 25 minutes.
Alternatively, the Senda Costera, Asturias' long-distance coastal path, passes directly above the beach — you can combine a visit with a longer clifftop walk between Llanes and Buelna.
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