Is WILD CAMPING IN EUROPE FUN ANYMORE?

[Stanski]

We have done many stints of wild camping from UK to Portugal via Spain. We have had no problems finding nice places to stay for a night or two, but always avoid "obvious" popular places where there are multiple vans. Coastal places in Spain can still be found, and we have never been asked to move on. Out of season, tho. France have loads of village sites and seem happy for us to park and spend money in the local shops and cafes. Portugal similar if one avoids the Algarve coastal places (with crammed in vans) and the nature reserves where not allowed. Lots of towns with free parkups, and facilities signposted in many places. There definitely seem to be more motorhomes touring...but not as many from UK ...only saw a couple in several weeks when on our travels....not the contingent from WC snowbirds!

Morning REC, good to hear these opinions, to give some confidence in expected forays.
You mention out of season. Is this out of peak summer July to October or longer?
Do you stop at Aires mostly or wild?
Thanks for response.

 

[Stanski]

We found it declined dramatically in recent years and now we`ve stopped going over ( wifey`s health ).

We are missing it but nowhere near as much as we thought we would and that is primarily down to the last 3 or so years events over there.

We got to stage of being ashamed to admit we were British because of the staggeringly atrocious behaviour of other British motorhomers and in particular groups of them in rental vehicles.

We always went down south to proper France and tried stay away from the big tourist hotspots but the barstewards even invaded one of our favourite stopovers at Garvarnie one year, when i pointed out to them it was now pay & display they answered ..............

Fcuk em, we're up a friggin mountain no one going to see and if you daft enough to pay that's your fcuking problem.

That night was horrendous as they were partying until the early hours, had engines running with headlights on so they could kick a football about, kids running everywhere, frightening the local Pottok like crazy and the following morning when i was packing up found out they`d even got our chairs out from under our mortorhome and used them because they were with several others left out.

The final 2 times at Bray Dunes CCP that we used the night before returning to Blighty was just as bad with similar twats.

Hi Wooie1958, to me the loutish behaviour of Brits is returning, the days of Spain Binges continues in MH adventures.
The country has bred a new group of disrespectful, careless and rude idiots whom have little respect for themselves and others.
A shame and agree the thought of not promoting being British for rebukes from locals.

Our recent foray last year to Italy, France, Germany, Belgium and Holland was good, having no encounters, perhaps because not on beach routes.

Good luck with your adventures and health.
Stan

 

[alcam]

Morning REC, good to hear these opinions, to give some confidence in expected forays.
You mention out of season. Is this out of peak summer July to October or longer?
Do you stop at Aires mostly or wild?
Thanks for response.

Generally travel feb/march-april/may , short trip in June then October -november .
Aires/wild mostly . Though always think definition of both is vague .
Occasional campsite . Occasional CCP (halfway between campsite and aire) .
Really no fixed rules .

 

[REC]

Morning REC, good to hear these opinions, to give some confidence in expected forays.
You mention out of season. Is this out of peak summer July to October or longer?
Do you stop at Aires mostly or wild?
Thanks for response.

Hi there, mostly aires but free ones...only place we paid was one right on the coast in Mojacar Spain but actually there were some vans even there, parked in quieter car parks which seemed to not be bothered. I think it's when large vans and groups of three or more congregate that people object and police notice. We travel mainly January to April. I have noted sites on the poi app. And reviewed some also.

 

[rugbyken]

one example the tomato beach mentioned years ago could park there without problems then they put in a very reasonably priced aire nearby and moved people on then that stopped, couple of years later they started enforcing the only 48hrs in a national park rule and some people got fines now during the summer you can park there but there is a €5 fee but this year feb/march was free without problems ,