UK to Southern Spain route/stops

buxtonguy

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need info on best routes/stopovers for trip to Spain - see my thread in 'Spain' folder
thanx
 
buxtonguy said:
need info on best routes/stopovers for trip to Spain - see my thread in 'Spain' folder
thanx
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This is the route I normally take if I want to get to Southern Spain. ( there are many others I am sure) I never go on the Toll roads. This info: is Off Toll roads. Some parts of highways are Toll free.

Calais to Boulougne sur Meer: A16/ E402, highway, toll free. Boulougne to Abbeville: N1 is a Toll road, so take the
N1/D901 to Abbeville. Abbeville to Rouen: not a Toll road, A28/E402. Rouen to Alecon: A28/E402 is a Toll road, so take the N138/D438 to Alecon. Alecon to Le Mans: A28/E402 is a Toll road, so take the N138/D338 to Le Mans.
Le Mans to Tours: A28/E502 is a Toll road, so take N138/D938 to Tours. Tours to Poiters: Take N10 to
Poiters. Poiters to Angouleme: N10. Angoulemeto Bordeaux: N10/E606.(Note carefully) at Marcenais, the N10 joins up with A10/E05 which is Toll free and skirts around Bordeaux (like the M25 in London)keep on it and look for Bayonne. From the A10/E05 branch off for A63, shortly thereafter branch off again for the E05/E70/A63. Keep the Bayonne sign in your thoughts, htis route should take you to Bayonne. Follow the road from Bayonne to Biarritz to San Sebastian (Donostia) From San Sebastian follow route for Vitoria Gastiez, (A1) then N1 to Burgos then A1/E05 to Madrid. From Madrid A4/E05 to Aranjuez, keep on this road all the way to Guarroman, from here on, watch out for the branch off for Granada, A44/E902. At Granada, take any sign for the South coast. You are practially there. If you are heading straight there without hanging around, you should do the trip comfortably in 3 to 4 days. Rest up or stopping for the night, you will have no problems anywhere over the above route as France and Spain are comfortable Countries to stop without hassle and also quite safe, although, you should still play safe if you are unsure. Hope this helps.
 
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can i meet you?

Dear buxtonguy, I am heading for Spain from Whaley Bridge on the 10th of January 2012 and plan to travel the coast down to Portugal, spend a month or so there and return to Dover on the 28th of March. You seem to know what you are talking about and I would love to meet up and have a chat. if you agree the drinks are on me. I am no youngster as I retired last year. My name is Paul, I do hope we can meet up but if we can not have you any other information that would help.
 
David and Ann, I often use the self same route, bar one exception. I do use the toll motorways A63 and A8 to get around Bayonne, Biarritz, Irun and San Sebastian. My van at the over 3500kg toll rate, cost about 12 Euros early 2011 and well worth it, as these towns can get fairly snarled up with traffic. To save getting off the Peage I overnight at Bidart services. Haven't been gassed robbed or otherwise violated....so far!!
 
When we went to Spain for part of the winter a few years ago we decided to travel down the west coast of France, along the north side of the Pyrenees to the Med and then hop over the top into Spain to travel down the Med coast. I don't suppose it was the best route for all sorts of reasons but we love France and thought we'd make it part of the trip. It was fine except that it was so-o-o-o cold!

We hadn't planned beyond that broad outline and thought we might wild camp a bit along the coast and see where it took us. Where it took us, as it turned out, was Playa Tropicana campground, Alcossebre on the Costa del Azahar where we found ourselves a 9 euros a night all-in long stay deal and a rally of the C&CC. It wasn't what we'd intended but it proved to be just what we needed. The rally folk were very welcoming and we enjoyed joining in with some of the low-key activities. The site was beautifully situated right on the coast and had good facilities at that very low price.

I'm not suggesting that you do the same of course, just making the point that sometimes you end up doing something totally different from what you thought you might, and enjoying it! And it sure beat the foul winter they'd been having back home!

Oh, by the way, we took a couple of days to go inland to Teruel. One day I'll go back there in the spring or early summer because it was a fascinating town but I shall never, NEVER, NEVER go there again in the winter! I have never been so cold in all my life. I guess the snow along the mountain roads on the way there should have given me a little clue......
 
james paul said:
Dear buxtonguy, I am heading for Spain from Whaley Bridge on the 10th of January 2012 and plan to travel the coast down to Portugal, spend a month or so there and return to Dover on the 28th of March. You seem to know what you are talking about and I would love to meet up and have a chat. if you agree the drinks are on me. I am no youngster as I retired last year. My name is Paul, I do hope we can meet up but if we can not have you any other information that would help.
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Hi. A few bits of info for you, the Cantebury P n R is a good place to overnight before Dover £2-50 24 hrs water and toilet dump and free bus into Canterbury, then an overnight on the Dock at Calais free at the ticket office car parks, lots of vans use it, once through France[ almost ], there is a good Aire at St Jean du Luz free, then head for Vitoria Gasteiz in Spain, good free Aire here , then Pamplona, another good free Aire here, then Zafra, Spain good free Aire there .Caseres Spain, another good free Aire here and free electricity if you are lucky.then on to Valverde del Camino, free Aire there .very good , you are then about 60 miles from Castro Marin in Portugal on the Algarve where there is another good free Aire if you look at your maps you will see that this is a very good route , free roads all the way and easy to drive at 60 -70 miles per hour on them if that is your way, {not mine } I dawdle,distances between stops are about 150 to 250 miles easy driving as the roads are empty, I have the Sat Nav Co Ordinates for all these stop overs and many more but my sat nav is out in the van, I can post them later if you need any further info, Happy travels Malc.
 
vindiboy said:
Hi. A few bits of info for you, the Cantebury P n R is a good place to overnight before Dover £2-50 24 hrs water and toilet dump and free bus into Canterbury, then an overnight on the Dock at Calais free at the ticket office car parks, lots of vans use it, once through France[ almost ], there is a good Aire at St Jean du Luz free, then head for Vitoria Gasteiz in Spain, good free Aire here , then Pamplona, another good free Aire here, then Zafra, Spain good free Aire there .Caseres Spain, another good free Aire here and free electricity if you are lucky.then on to Valverde del Camino, free Aire there .very good , you are then about 60 miles from Castro Marin in Portugal on the Algarve where there is another good free Aire if you look at your maps you will see that this is a very good route , free roads all the way and easy to drive at 60 -70 miles per hour on them if that is your way, {not mine } I dawdle,distances between stops are about 150 to 250 miles easy driving as the roads are empty, I have the Sat Nav Co Ordinates for all these stop overs and many more but my sat nav is out in the van, I can post them later if you need any further info, Happy travels Malc.
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Hi Vindiboy.
When looking at your post I realised that we will want to use that route soon, as we live in France could you give us the Sat Nav Co Ordinates for Spain and Portugal Please? Bambi 2
 
SPAIN OK,* This sign will have to stand for degrees as I can' t post the proper 0 sign. * *****
PALENCIA N42*00.237' W 004*32.077'

ARANDA de DUERO. N41*40.101' W 003*41.746'

CASERES N 39*28.817' W 006*22.123'

ZAFRA N 38*25.522' W 006*522.657'

VALVERDE del CAMINO N 37*34.871' W 006*45.088'

DONOSTIA san SEBASTIAN N 43*18.481' W 002*00.867'

VITORIA GASTEIZ N 42*52.024' W 002*41.100'

MIRANDA de EBRO N 42*41.325' W 002* 57.300'

PORTUGAL.

BATHALA N 39*39.685' W 008*49.516' Super Cathedral right here.


SANTUARIO [FATIMA] N 39*38.003' W 008*40.217' Place of pilgrimage huge .

ABRANTES N 39*27.214' W 008*11.451' three Aires here to choose from.

BGM PAGO do ALTA N 38*25.146' W 008* 23.532'

ALDEIA de LUZ N 38*20.582' W 007*22.437' at a new town ,exact replica of old town which is below the Lake after flooding from new Dams.

CASTRO MARIM N 37.21986* W 7. 44449* NOTE CHANGE OF FORMAT. Free Aire, all services super town with Castle.

Hope this is of help, once on the Algarve you will find lots of Wild Camping places and lots of people in vans who will be more than happy to point out all the good places to stay, These Aires and stop overs have all been used by us, they are easily found ,safe, and comfortable but are not in any particular order as we tend to wander all over the place.
 
deffo take the peage as said to avoid san sebastian etc,i like to enter portugal at garda in the north,avoid the motorway and cut across to just below lisbon,lovely bit of country up there and go down the west coast freeparking all the way in all the coastal towns.once you hit the algarve head for silves as there's a car park full of campers full of suggestions.pop into the cafe ingles under the castle and say hello
 
n brown said:
deffo take the peage as said to avoid san sebastian etc,i like to enter portugal at garda in the north,avoid the motorway and cut across to just below lisbon,lovely bit of country up there and go down the west coast freeparking all the way in all the coastal towns.once you hit the algarve head for silves as there's a car park full of campers full of suggestions.pop into the cafe ingles under the castle and say hello
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N 43 18.481' W 002 00.867' - Google Maps We like to go into San Sebastian and use the Aire, Super town and Sea Front to explore, depends on how much time you have I suppose.
 
vindiboy said:
N 43 18.481' W 002 00.867' - Google Maps We like to go into San Sebastian and use the Aire, Super town and Sea Front to explore, depends on how much time you have I suppose.
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I liked the old part of town by the harbour, with it's Tapa bars and narrow streets. I agree, a great place. Follow the road along the river and once you cross the lights it leads onto the road to the top of the old harbour. Park along the cliff wall by the toilets, where you can get water and emty your toilets. Walk down the steps and you are in the old town. Above cliff wall is a great walking area where you get a fantastic view of the sea and city.
 
Silves, Portugal - Google Maps This is where the Wild Campers go in Silves Portugal, right alongside the Swimming Pool with free Wi Fi, super old town and Castle to explore ,good shops inc, LIDL nice Cafes and Restaurants and local Market, close to a Barragem where the Wilders go too. Toiilet dump but no water, well there is but it is not worth the bother to get it as it is only about 60 cents for 5 ltrs from Lidl.
 
New services at Lagos

Just opened new municipal services available near sports stadium. Free toilet & grey water dump, but can only be accessed in "office hours" which is very few (don't think its at weekends). Free overnight parking. I will update with co-ordinates at a later date. Supposed to be free wifi - I couldn't get a connection. Also supposed to be free WC's, but the sports stadium staff could
n't unlock them - they were unlocked the day the mayor of Lagos opened it. 1.50 euro for 100 litres water


Loads of space to overnight in Vilamoura, not found anywhere to dump though
 
Wreckydiver

I presume when you get to Southern Spain, you have a stop over in Almerimar?
 
wreckydiviver said:
I presume when you get to Southern Spain, you have a stop over in Almerimar?
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Plenty of places in Southern Spain. Torrox Costa: Showers, also beach showers and toilets, can empty out in toilets and rinse at foot showers. Calahonda Chaparral: Same as Torrox. Almeria: Same again. Mojacar: Same again, except empting out. Just a few for starters. These are summer time facilities. Winter, I have no idea.
 
The police used to tolerate wild camping around Lagos up to 4 years ago,so I'm surprised to see that some Municipal facilities are now being provided, perhaps a result of the economic situation. Half way up the hill leaving town heading west there is a subsidised (very handy for town) campsite for armed services and police, foreigners with proof of military or police service can stay, quite a few Brits do.

Last winter the wildcamping at the sites at Almerimar, ie the car parks along the beach and the beach at Guardia Viejas were tolerated by the police much of the time, I stayed for several short stays and moved once.
The Municipal campsite on the waterfront at Almerimar is crap just a stretch of road with no views viz. a 4 metre high sea wall on one side, and a 3m concrete block wall on the other side. There were a couple of vans that actually stayed here several weeks,11 Euros a night I think. The marina owners will allow camping on the car park at their offices ie the lighthouse, no facilities though unless you take a long walk to the "campsite" facilites, 7 Euros for this privilege.
 
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