France and Spain roadtrip in our Knaus Sunliner

[rexy]

Last week my partner and I did a trip from south UK over the channel at Dover to Calais over to Spain via Paris (a big mistake), the Millau Bridge and the Pyrenees to Spain then back along the coast in Brittany and Normandy. We only paid for camping in Spain for 2 nights. The two most impressive wild camping spots were the rest area next to the north end of the Millau Bridge - spectacular scenery and fairly empty - only 3 motorhomes when we got there at midnight. The other was the car park at Le Mont du Saint Michel - you pay 12 euro to park anyway - but you can stay all night and visit the Abbey at night when it is all much quieter. There must have been about 600 motorhomes by the time we left at 8pm!
We are very impressed with wild camping - and have realised our mistakes - ie not having water containers to fill up at service stations (using 2l mineral water bottles is very time consuming!).
Just a couple of issues - an fuel ignition warning light going up hill in 4th/5th gear and the concertina windscreen blind doesnt fold down easily any more.
But all in all fabulous!!

 

[MOS]

Hi Rexy glad u enjoyed your trip over the water
we do most of our traveling over there .we love the mont too but we go outside of the main holls ,the parking on the causeway is free and the crowds dissapear ,we where late coming back this year and strayed into july by a few days ,the difference is increadible ,on the friday before the first weekend of july we had the place to ourselvs ,on the saturday it was like someone turned the holiday tap on ,we headed for the port as quick as our little wheels would carry us, and by the monday morning we were on the boat and out of it ,
hope you have pictures to share MOS .

 

[fairytooth]

Great to hear you had a great time. You will find many recommendations for alternative routes down through France to Spain on the site. If you join up you can also get all the wildcamping POIs too for your satnav (if you have one).

We normally go via Rouen and avoid Paris by keeping west of it, there are literally hundreds of stopovers, sites, Aires to choose from. Some with free water, drainage, even electric hookups. There is much information to assimilate if you are new to this. But it's great fun and you will find there is a wealth of info on this site and many helpful contributors too.

We also use Passion France, ACSI and Camping Cheque for those useful stops at affordable campsites when we need washing showering, etc. done. Near Mont St Michel for example is a camping cheque site called Halliotsis (not halitosis please note!) just a couple of miles inland at Pontorson. For less than 15 euros you get all the facilities - pool, sauna, japanese garden, best motorhome service point in the world, etc. All for 2 euros more than the Aire you mentioned.

Anyway, good to hear from you and enjoy the site!