First trip down through France, Spain then Portugal - what route?

[carolinemoon]

Hi everyone

In July we are taking our van across on the euro tunnell from Dover to Calais, then heading down to The Algarve...this is the route we are thinking, what's your advice/comments - thank you

Calais - Abbeyville - Rouen - Lemans - Tours - Bordeaux - Cestas - Biarritz - Burgos - Valladolid - Salamanca - Ceceres - Sevilla - Alvor.

 

[backstay]

south through spain

hi caroline moon.i cycled north in spain ,my northern route was Isla Christina,Zafra(attractive plaza),Merida(many many Roman buildings,theater,horse racing track(circus).murals (extensive)i camped threemiles out of town ,the delightful campsite was next to the Roman resavior called camping Prosipino .theres a roman bridge and aqua ducts.Caceres is well worth a visit,fine artitecture.Placencia was nice ,again aon a river ,like the others mentioned ,has fortifications.Beja in the mountains is south of salamanca ,a fotified town ina strategic location on a spur of rock with a river around threequarters of the rock and the whole set in a valley.All of the places mentioned are on the silver route(the roman road from the silver mines in Astorga to the sea at isla christina area.have fun backstay.

 

[vwalan]

hi . ideal route ,thats the way to do it. i might have took the ferry to spain but all depends on costs and where you live . lots places to stop on route . have a good trip. will be very hot . i mean hot hot hot .
cheers alan.

 

[John H]

Hi everyone

In July we are taking our van across on the euro tunnell from Dover to Calais, then heading down to The Algarve...this is the route we are thinking, what's your advice/comments - thank you

Calais - Abbeyville - Rouen - Lemans - Tours - Bordeaux - Cestas - Biarritz - Burgos - Valladolid - Salamanca - Ceceres - Sevilla - Alvor.

Good route - if you have time (and are interested) there are some great places to explore just off route - eg the Landes coast south of Bordeaux (Dune de Pyla etc), the Basque country, the Picos de Europa and the Sierra de Gredos. Also, the National Parks at Monfrague (thousands of vultures) and Donana (lots of stuff, including Lynx - but you wont see one of those!). Plenty of good wilding spots and aires too (look up CAMPINGCAR-INFOS ) - I would particualrly recommend the aire at Caceres (free, including electricity and 5 minutes walk from the central square where the food is superb and the architecture amazing). Have a great trip.

 

[Deleted member 9237]

Just take care were you stay on the Algarve friends of mine that are there now have been moved on, they are waiting there for me to show them the way up to the lakes were we go each year. Last winter there was no problems parking in the Algarve but in the summer months they like you to go on camp sites. Have a safe travel over Ken

 

[carolinemoon]

Thank you everyone for your comments......much appreciated. We're gonna take it all in our stride, and most importantly, we'll take the whole trip as an experience, no doubt also, a learning curb too! Sure we'll have fun though, that's the main thing. We're pretty laid back and will take things as they come! Happy Camping!