Spain & Portugal

[horns]

Just remembered, this may be of interest to you http://www.furgovw.org/mapa_furgoperfecto.php

Skim-reading, Dave?

[orcecaveman]

No, I just dont read your posts!

[AngeloEvs]

Portugal - just be vigilant on the fast roads, some Porty drivers have a death wish - other than that it's fine!

[barsocial]

we did this trip last year and ended up taking months to do it all !!

We got the ferry to Santander (with cabin as it's 24hrs) for about 230 with the van - off peak. We landed and stayed in Llanes - great terraced campsite along the coast with a background that looked like mordor. Fantastic place to get started. We stayed at a few places along that coast which had fantastic surf and beaches. That north coast has a mountain range called the Picos De Europa which you have to see. Narrow roads, vertical cliffs with huge drops and no barriers! we went in 2nd gear all the way through! From there we headed to the coast of Portugal half way up. We headed south for the sun as it was April. We stopped off at Segovia, San Idel Fonso, Avilla, Marvao and Alberta Nova arriving at the coast at Melides. This is where the sand started!
There are so many beaches to mention south of this until you get to Sagres. Mostly they are amazing particularly Odeceixe and Sagres. Sagres and around there is very cool indeed. From here on you hit the Algarve and built up beaches.
We free camped all this and months more around Spain. I think in total we paid for 3 nights from April to September. The pork and cheese don't mind it at all. They have a law where caravans and tents are not allowed to stay on the beaches over night but motorhomes are ok. The police even turn up for a friendly chat most evenings as they like to sit in their cars by the beach too.

There is a whole bunch of people doing this route but mostly in their retirement. We called it surfing the grey wave. They are full of good tips like where to get fresh water and where toilets / showers are.
Other tips:
internet - libraries all have wi-fi so you can park up and use for free.
park in numbers
take a solar shower - very hot in no time down there
get a solar panel and charge controller - no hook up required. we had a 50w one and it charged the leisure battery to full by about 11am everyday.
Surf shops - these are the place to go for free camping sites. No book will tell you where better to go as by the time they are in them they are spoilt. (think cool camping and how you can never get into any of the sites mentioned as they are always full)
If you want any more info, on all the places pm i guess and I will dig out the diary!

[Ralf85]

Much cheaper than France for just about everything inc fuel, food, campsites etc. The people were much nicer than the French too

jed[/quote]

I have to totally disagree about the French. I have been camping there for over 20 years and nearly always found our French comrades helpful and friendly. At least as much as Brits over here. It might help that I always try and communicate with them in French rather than expect them to speak English. We also tend to interact with fellow campers of different nationalities as a family. What is also better over there is that people of all ages including those with tents and motor bikes are not discriminated against and all equally welcome unlike on many (caravan only) sites in the UK.
How about going one way to Spain and return via France and eat out along the way for the ultimate gastronomic experiece. Mmmmm. I can taste the food now. Have a jolly time whatever option you choose.
Patrick

[horns]

I'd say if you want the ultimate gastronomic experience, head for San Sebastian or Bilbao and get some pintxos down you. I'm drooling just thinking about it...

[Ian Hulley]

I have to totally disagree about the French. I have been camping there for over 20 years and nearly always found our French comrades helpful and friendly. At least as much as Brits over here. It might help that I always try and communicate with them in French rather than expect them to speak English. We also tend to interact with fellow campers of different nationalities as a family. What is also better over there is that people of all ages including those with tents and motor bikes are not discriminated against and all equally welcome unlike on many (caravan only) sites in the UK.

Totally agree Patrick

[jed the spread]

We drove some of the north coast of Spain last year (I guess you will be too if your heading to Portugal) and it was chap as. Much cheaper than France for just about everything inc fuel, food, campsites etc. The people were much nicer than the French too



jed

I have to totally disagree about the French. I have been camping there for over 20 years and nearly always found our French comrades helpful and friendly. At least as much as Brits over here. It might help that I always try and communicate with them in French rather than expect them to speak English. We also tend to interact with fellow campers of different nationalities as a family. What is also better over there is that people of all ages including those with tents and motor bikes are not discriminated against and all equally welcome unlike on many (caravan only) sites in the UK.
How about going one way to Spain and return via France and eat out along the way for the ultimate gastronomic experiece. Mmmmm. I can taste the food now. Have a jolly time whatever option you choose.
Patrick

With respect I very much doubt you drove to and experienced the same part of spain we did and based my comparisons on. To totally disagree with the Spanish people we met against the French we met surly you would have been with us to judge that for yourself. I like the French, I have been loads and hitch hiked round it a few times as a kid too, but really come on

jed

[croc]

Hi Matt

We did northern Spain and Portugal last year, July, we came down through France, started Spain from near San Sebastian, through Picos de Europa (stunning!), Northern Portugal to the coast near Viano do Castelo, up through Santiago de Compostela and across to Santander for the ferry to Plymouth. At the end of July it got very busy on the coast!
Some highlights were Leon (Spain), Braganza (Portugal).

We enjoyed the whole trip found reasonable camping, including municipal sites, and did some wild camping. The wild camping seems to depend on the definition of camping v 'parking' overnight, ie no awnings, caravans or tents.
Not many Portugese speak English and its quite different to Spanish! All were very friendly though.
As in all countries, always try to speak some of their language, makes a world of difference!! Hello, please and thank you go a long way.

Can give you more detail if you want, although memory a bit wonky on some things!!

jon

[thewibbit]

Don't be put off by Portugal.. it's a fantastic place to travel. We did 3 months round W europe in 2001 & Portugal was our favourite place. I would highly recommend a little campsite in Luso (nr Coimbra).. there's this amazing forest called Bucaso nearby which is so well worth a couple of days. Lisbon is a great city too.. theres a campsite on the costa de caprica just out of the city on the coast. Also Evora.. old Roman town with a campsite just on the outskirts.
With regards Spain.. I would recommend doing Northern Spain along the coast of Galicia & the Basque region. It's friendlier along there and alot of the Spanish go up there to holiday. Laredo was a nice town & campsite, Also Llanes & Santiago de Compostela (just above the border with Portugal) is well worth a visit. The city campsite is expensive but very good.
Once you get down to the south coast you're just another English person & we found the Spanish down there a bit suspicious & less friendly.
Have fun but watch your wallet... Spain especially is bad for petty crime, especially in the cities but don't let it put you off.. we didn't have any problems.

[mwheatley]

Hi Wibbit/Croc,

Thanks for your opinions, I have to say that I was really veering away from Portugal given the experiences on this thread so far. It's nice to know that it can be done.

Still very much undecided as to where to go yet I must admit, but maybe Portugal in back in the list now.

Croc.........I may take you up on the offer of further info in the near future if that's okay?

Thanks again,

Matt

[croc]

Matt
Just going through maps etc to refresh the trip as we didn't keep a diary!!
Will post here soon.
jon

[mwheatley]

Thanks Jon

[croc]

Matt
Sorry for delay, had a hard drive die and not been able to get online.
Now having to rewrite this as the Club page had logged me off while I was writing earlier !!

To set the scene, I am early 60’s, Pam is younger(!), we like wandering to no strict plan, castles, forts, ruins, walking, food and eating , drinking etc. So what we enjoyed may not suit others. Our trip was all July 2010, first 12 days through France.

We used Michelin sheet maps 571, 572, 591 covering Galacia, Asturias/Cantabria and Portugal-north respectively and GPS. POI on our GPS gave many of our camp-sites.
Footprint’s northern Spain, Lonely Planet, Portugal and Alan Rogers ‘The best campsites in Spain and Portugal’ – this has quite expensive and up market sites of good quality.
No books were really complete on their own but all were used, plus various other pamphlets etc.
No camp-sites were booked as we didn’t know what we’d find or exactly where we were going! Most were 6 - 15 Euros for 2 ppl and van, some included elecricity.

OK – the trip: (Note: We entered Spain from France right on the east through Bayonne.)
First camp was Camping Endai on the Ondarroa – Lekeitio road in Mendexa, nice terraced site amongst trees. Remote but with bar and café and good views. Its east of Bilbao, in Basque country I think.
On through Bilboa, we must have camped along here somewhere (gone now), past Santander and down to Potes and the Picos de Europa and some stunning mountain roads and scenery. We went up to Fuente Dé where a cable car goes to a peak. Unfortunately cloud bound that day.
We free camped near Los Llanos and next day walked a bush trail near Hotel Del Oso.
Back to Potes, pretty town and then south on the N-621 to a camp-site on the hill at Riaňo overlooking the lake. This was a drive over the mountains, in cloud for us but we were told it is stunning.
Down to Leon, market day and sightseeing. Attractive large town and cathedral.
On to municipal camp by the river at Puebla de Sanabria. Castle and walk around the town. Camp was a bit full but OK with some shade.

South on N-103 into Portugal and a camp on the Sabor river. Parque de Campisimo Municipal de Sabor, about 7 km north of Bragança on the N-103. Swimming in river, café and bar otherwise remote but nice and shady (some) good ablutions.
Down to the Douro river and a free camp near Eido on the river.
Over to the coast at Viana do Castelo and sightseeing. Camp-site there amongst pine trees. Interestingly this was one the Alan Rogers book said not recommended!
On to another site, Os Castros, Praia Castro de Barońa off the PO-551. (? Not sure of this location) Bit basic but OK.
From here we went through Santiago de Compostela, across to the Picos again near Cangas de Onis. There’s a funicular railway in the mountains near here.

Our last night was at an Alan Rogers site ‘Camping el Molino de Cabuerniga’ near Sopeña. Most expensive but superb at about €34, 5 star ablutions and stunning mountain views! We returned to UK, Plymouth, by ferry from Santander - great finish to the trip!!

Afraid this has become rather a ramble. Bottom line is we hugely enjoyed the trip, found all peoples friendly and helpful. Little English spoken in Portugal but we always got by, often with a few laughs from the locals! Fuel, food and drink and camping all reasonably priced, diesel cheaper than ULP by about 20%, unfortunately we are petrol!!

[mwheatley]

Hi Jon,

I believe I win the prize for longest delay in replying!! Sorry for that. Thanks very much for the piece you have sent, it was a very interesteing read & has certainly rekindled my interest in the Spain/Portugal plan. You mention a few free camps, is this similar to the aires in France? When we dipped into Spain last year we didn't feel it was the norm to just stop anywhere & sleep, as it is in France. Is Portugal different?

Thanks again for taking the time to rack your brains of memories.

Matt