I'm a Tour Guide A 4 week trip to Spain and Portugal. (2 Viewers)

[Riverbankannie]

I am not very good at writing up a travel trip as we go so I am hoping that just writing a list of the route and stops will help those who dislike trawling through longer threads.

My thanks go to the writers of those threads I have followed and whose tips I have taken. These include jumartoo, Ingwe Lenny HB and I am sure others.

This was our route - I cannot get to grips with PolarSteps so some lines are straight, some dotted, some places are named some not



We booked a pet cabin on the Plymouth - Santander ferry both ways, securing them on the day bookings opened the previous July.

 

[Riverbankannie]

1. 
   The “Elephant” aire at Cabarceno. Free, No services.

We had been before and it was nice to see the new crop of babies. This was Monday in Semana Santa week before Easter and the aire really filled up during the evening, the busiest that I have seen it. The service point, which was always too horrible to use, was all taped off with plastic.



https://park4night.com/lieu/115/

 

[Riverbankannie]

2. Camping El Astral, Torsedillas, 31.40 € too expensive for the facilities open IMO, quiet site by the river and an easy stroll into the town.
Roadworks prevented us from pulling off at Torrelavega for the supermarket shop so we continued south on A67 to Reinosa where there was a Lidl and a Mercadona right at the autopista exit 136.



https://park4night.com/lieu/28687/

 

[Ingwe]

I am not very good at writing up a travel trip as we go so I am hoping that just writing a list of the route and stops will help those who dislike trawling through longer threads.

My thanks go to the writers of those threads I have followed and whose tips I have taken. These include jumartoo, Ingwe @LennyHB and I am sure others.

This was our route - I cannot get to grips with PolarSteps so some lines are straight, some dotted, some places are named some not



We booked a pet cabin on the Plymouth - Santander ferry both ways, securing them on the day bookings opened the previous July.View attachment 890988

Hope you had a great trip. Your route is very similar to one we’ve taken a few times and the locations brought back many happy memories. So thanks for this.

 

[Ingwe]

1. View attachment 890990The “Elephant” aire at Cabarceno. Free, No services.

We had been before and it was nice to see the new crop of babies. This was Monday in Semana Santa week before Easter and the aire really filled up during the evening, the busiest that I have seen it. The service point, which was always too horrible to use, was all taped off with plastic.



https://park4night.com/lieu/115/

Read many posts about “the elephant aire” but have never seen any photos. Not stayed there but possibly will next winter. I’m lucky enough to have seen lots of elephants in their natural environment.

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[Riverbankannie]

3. Trujillo Area Autocaravannas - Free
Our intention was Caceres but arrived to find the aire full and nowhere else nearby so went to nearby Trujilllo where there was plenty of room around the outside of the bull ring. We were very pleased with the stop and spent a pleasant evening wandering around the old town and castle.



https://park4night.com/lieu/28874/

 

[Riverbankannie]

4. Evora Area Autocaravannas , Portugal Free, no services.
Parking right beside the Aquaduct and a short walk into the town. It was raining so we didn’t spend long exploring.

https://park4night.com/lieu/48183/

 

[Riverbankannie]

5. Camping Serra da Bica, Ourique, Portugal, 17 €. Very good value.
Booking advised, we booked this site for 3 nights of the Easter weekend, wanting a quiet space. Land borders a river with various lovely flower filled walks. In summer, the river is accessible for wild swimming but it was very fast flowing this Easter due to the rains. Dutch owners with very good facilities and a campers Happy Hour to get people together. Only about 25 pitches, all hardstanding and with EHU and good separation. ACSI card accepted. Payment by cash.



https://park4night.com/lieu/105888/

 

[Riverbankannie]

6. Alvor
Camping Alvor, ACSI accepted, payment by cash. 17 €

On the recommendation of BreweryDave, we pitched near the entrance and the large facilities block and bar. Glad we did as a bit of a walk into town and the “front” and so saved the old legs a bit. We liked Alvor and the fish restaurants and the boardwalk. Stayed 3 nights. This is a good site if you don’t like regimented small pitches.



We saw a high number of cash machines in Alvor. All have transaction charges so go to the bank Credito Agricola on the big roundabout (google it) where there is a fee free ATM in the foyer.


Campsite Alvor: a guarded campsite with friendly staff. There is a swimming pool, 5 small outhouses so there is al...

https://park4night.com/lieu/53476/

 

[Riverbankannie]

7. Alte, a small hilltop town with interesting river features. Bakery/café recommended. We spent a lovely afternoon here and a quiet night on the carpark next to the cemetery. Lovely cook breeze from the carpark position with great views. Free, no services. Plenty of space.


https://park4night.com/lieu/29293/

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[Riverbankannie]

8. Fuzeta, Portugal. Municipal Camping. We were recommended to come here by fellow campers at Alvor who come to the area every year. Although we could see some people come here for long stay, we didn’t think there was much there of interest and just stayed the night.


https://park4night.com/lieu/20895/

 

[Riverbankannie]

9. Tavira/Santa Luzia

We looked at the Camperpark but decided against it as very busy and quite a way out of town. As we were deciding in the road outside, a couple walked out with 3 GSDs and that set Rosie off even though she was inside the camper and we had to close the blinds. Decision made we drove back into Tavira and parked on a large rough area with a cafe in the middle. Deciphering the sign, only not allowed on Market day. A good town with beautiful Portguese architecture, we enjoyed the walk around and general feeling of the place.

I had bookmarked nearby Barril Beach as being a stop, so we went there and parked roadside with other campers. However when they all left, we were not sure of restrictions so we moved to a piece of rough land just inside town sign for Santa Luzia. A few other MHs parked up and I wondered if that was the “old aire” mentioned on the forum. Had a nice quiet night.

Free, No services. Parking for Barril Beach itself, near the bridge, was newly built and had barriered entry.



Tavira MH park - not used

https://park4night.com/lieu/166229/

Parking here, not Saturdays


https://maps.app.goo.gl/zFEavpuz6eTb4Xxk6?g_st=ic

Overnight here



https://park4night.com/lieu/31467/

 

[Barryh]

Great information, thanks for taking the time to post it.

 

[Riverbankannie]

10. Seville Area Autocaravannas Gelves Marina
Quite a few people had recommended this stop and we were lucky to get one of the last 2 spaces. Arrive early is my recommendation as lots of vans move on every day. 30 euros per night but worth it for location. Services including toilets and showers and EHU.

Small spaces and little shade but we opened the rear doors and sat in the little enclosure made with the river alongside us. Stayed 2 nights. First afternoon just relaxed in the shade, next day was a first for me as I used the Uber app to order a pet friendly taxi into Seville. A brand new Lexus turned up and it was €17. We enjoyed the sights and got another Uber back. In the evening, I went on my own on the bus back to my timed ticket for the Alcaraz. Amazing !

The M 140 bus runs every 20 mins on a loop so the bus stop you get off at is the one you return to for return journey. 1.65 € exactly please!

Bus stop in Seville,

Payment by card only.

Seville everything you expect and more.



https://park4night.com/lieu/12067/

 

[Riverbankannie]

11.Ronda, Photogenic situation on the escarpment. Prepare to be jostled by the coach parties and try to go early or later to avoid as everyone wants “that photo”.
To go early, we stopped 1 night at the newly built Camperstop that is on a level walk to the old town, then left late afternoon next day. Very well laid out, new trees so not much shade. New facilities, toilets, EHU, showers washing machines and MH service area. Barrier/ticket machine entry, pay on leaving at machine in reception. 18 € for first 24 hours and then 4.50 € for each 6 hour period after. Great if you want to do as we did and leave in afternoon.



https://park4night.com/lieu/69726/

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[Riverbankannie]

12.A green and natural break needed so we found a spot by the Iznajar reservoir. By a hiking track, many locals came to walk or doggy walk and the guardia civil came by in the evening and the morning. Just smiled at us. We were the only ones staying. I did a litter pick as there was a bin provided but not always used.
Free, no facilities.

A great spot.



https://park4night.com/lieu/109182/

 

[VXman]

Interesting - I shall follow this as we are planning to drive France, Northern Spain, Portugal and possibly on to Morrocco in Autumn.

 

[Riverbankannie]

13.Cordoba - my favourite in this area. A bit more manageable than Seville and more to it than Ronda. The parking area recommended by someone in Gelves, was manned by a Looky Looky man who got 5 euros out of me (I started with 3) but later I watched how the Spanish do it, a few coins literally back handed but you need to be able to talk the language. Anyway, we were happy with the spot. No facilities.
A very good, short, walk into town on wide pavements (not always a given) between the Zoo and the Botanical Gardens. We took turns to go into the Mesquita (Mosque/Cathedral ) which was well worth a visit. Later that night, the centre was close enough for another walk in at dusk to stroll across the river on the Roman bridge, in the warm air, like a local.



https://park4night.com/lieu/49076/

 

[Riverbankannie]

14. Sabiote - Another historic medieval hilltop town. Set amongst the largest olive growing area with 2 large co-operatives in the town. Absolutely stunning views. A really restful place to stay and take in the views.
Stayed 2 nights at the newly created Autocaravannas stop. Pitches marked by newly planted trees, toilets, showers and MH services and a cafe/bar popular with locals on site. 7 euros or 10 if you want EHU. Great value, very friendly, door mats provided!

Research access carefully as some steep bits of road to negotiate. If approaching through the town, no problems with the roads but the turn into the camperstop is sharp and on a steep downhill, easily missed. We followed signs to Bus parking and travelled around the castle walls but there was a steep ramp with a sharp change in level just before the entrance.



https://park4night.com/lieu/455260/

 

[Riverbankannie]

15. Castillo de Garcimuñoz
A nice place to stay for the night, by the castle and near the main road on our journey towards Cuenca, quiet night.

Free and with MH service point.





https://park4night.com/lieu/42142/

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[Riverbankannie]

16. Cuenca, many people have recommended Cuenca but I don’t know if they meant the town or the Sierras. We plumped for the Sierras de Cuenca, what a beautiful drive. We stopped at the Enchanted City, an area of fantastic rock shapes. Spent a very enjoyable afternoon wandering around but very mindful of the dreaded processionary caterpillars of which we were warned about. We saw many dried up/stamped upon ones but some live ones. We were going to spend the night here but too dangerous for Rosie as we saw them in the parking area too.


https://park4night.com/lieu/20057/
So we moved on for the night to nearby

Uña, a tiny lakeside place with wonderful views of soaring vultures. Nice hiking trails. We stayed on our own in the carparking area of the Interpretation Centre for the birdlife, which is only open at weekends so maybe not good to stay then unless arriving late.

Guardia Civil came by, not bothered. 3 other vans stayed a bit further away in the widened bend of the road. A recognised “dark sky” spot

Free, no services



https://park4night.com/lieu/412711/

 

[Riverbankannie]

17. Albarracin - just when you think you have seen it all, along comes Albarracín. More cobbled steep streets but so different from those seen before. A great stop.
We stayed at the newly created Autocaravanas Area which was virtually empty because of the difficult gated entry system. The sign on the gate directed you to download an app or use the QR code to access a webpage. Had to register on webpage and book and pay for the date required. Only in Spanish, I had to get a handy youngish Spaniard to help me. 14 € paid online with the booking. No toilets or showers but an inside washing up sink with hot water and a free to use washing machine. EHU included and WIFI plus MH services. Secure fenced area which was just as well as we found we had left the passenger cab window wide open when we went away for hours into the town.

Once paid, a gate code was displayed which I quickly wrote down on paper. This code needed on the gate keypad to open the vehicle gate and the pedestrian gate if you went out - and therefore needed to get back in! To get the van out the next day, I went out the pedestrian gate and used the code from the outside to open the vehicle gate again. So it was a really important code which didn’t seem to be emailed or texted to me even though I had given both in my registration.



So only 4 vans managed the process and we had a nice quiet night.







https://park4night.com/lieu/390083/

 

[Riverbankannie]

18. Nuévalos - time for a free lakeside spot again as we wanted to be early in the nearby gardens Monasterio de Piedra and this is another place where you really want to avoid the coach parties. This time of year, just after Easter, mostly older Spanish who seem to stop and talk to each other just in the way.
Lake seemed quite full and we just had 3 other vans for company.
The next day visited the gardens, famous for the cascades. We were in at opening time and were very lucky as there had been quite a bit of rain this spring and the cascades were wonderful. Took over 3 hours to walk around them all but a lovely place. A lot of steps and one bit quite tricky going into the cave behind the biggest waterfall (and drippy wet!). Really liked it.

Free, no services
https://park4night.com/lieu/5683/

 

[Riverbankannie]

19. Arnedillo - 42 cents an hour by barriered ticket machine. Up quite a steep hill but a good place with MH services and toilets. Toilets large with a sink and hot water so easy to wash in there. EHU by meter with coins.
We went there to try out the hot springs. In the early evening it was reasonably busy and, for an oldie like me, access into the water not easy and even harder getting out! There are 3 pools feeding into each other and I only managed to get in the coolest with the water flowing out from the other 2. Would have been really nice at a quieter time. Lovely though it was to sink into the warm water, couldn’t help thinking about the people it had passed to get to me. You need to take a towel and a way to change out of wet cossie in front of the crowd, before tackling the walk back to the van.

https://park4night.com/lieu/6579/
Not sure you need a photo of me in my cossie!

 

[Riverbankannie]

20. Haro, Camping Haro, ACSI 25 € all facilities. A bit pricey for a quick night but it was where we wanted to be.
We have stayed here twice before and always stock up on bag in box Rioja from the campsite bar, 11 € 5 litres. The campsite reception also has a selections of good bottles ranging from 5 to 11 euros a bottle. You can, of course, go to the Bodegas area Estacíon de Tren, and do wine tasting and buying. A nice little town on the river, easy to walk to from campsite.


https://park4night.com/lieu/118296/

Burgos, just a quick in and out for the vet visit. A Saturday so only open in the morning and booked in advance for 11:30 am so we had an early (for us) start from Haro. We had intended to stop over at the Area Autocaravanas mentioned nearby, when I booked it. However, I later read that closed on market day, Saturday and actually I couldn’t find it on Google street view. So we stayed in Haro. Vet in Haro didn’t have great reviews so I didn’t try and change appointment and we were tight on the window as all vets closed Saturday pm and Sunday and the sailing was on the Monday.

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[Riverbankannie]

21 Corconte, Embalse del Ebro lakeside.
We pulled up here, intending to stay, but not for us as all the residential places around had large dogs in their gardens, not always chained up. One came out to follow me and Rosie. At this close date to ferry, we are trying to keep her triggers down so we decided to move . Free, MH service point.



https://park4night.com/lieu/136902/

We moved a few kms away to here, again Free but not sure about services. Cafe/bar over the road. We went back to the first place to use the new point there.

https://park4night.com/lieu/190012/

 

[Riverbankannie]

22. Comillas - Free no services. Very glad we decided against planned stop of Santillana del Mar and came here for the beach. Rosie so enjoyed her first run free of lead chasing her ball. We hadn’t stayed anywhere else where she could safely be off lead. Plenty of parking in the town and only restrictions June to October. We stayed on the car park by the beach with other vans, Guardia Civil came by. No entry on Park4Night so here is google maps link

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6R3vKns5iWp9BrGj8?g_st=ic

 

[scotzsue]

Haven't liked every post although I could have done.
A good mixture of places we have visited and those we have not. Each year we set off saying we will use more aires and give portugal a miss, we have managed with the more aires, but always end up in Portugal where Alvor and the fish are not to be missed.
Despite my arthritis and John's recent hip replacement we found the walk into and around the town and port area quite doable, hill is steepish going back up and the Pingu supermarket round the corner from the site is great.
Thanks so much for giving me food for thought for our in through France out at Santander trip this year.

 

[Riverbankannie]

And so back to Santander after making a mistake of going to the “wrong” Carrefour for stocking up on more wine. We had gone to this one the last time in the van in 2018 but forgot - all parking underneath (or up ramp on top with height barrier) with height restrictions. Able to park on road alongside but difficult to manage the heavily laden trolley! So go to another one !

So 21 stops in 32 days. We tend to move on a manageable distance late mornings after a lazy start. Then walk around late afternoon and sometimes just decide to stay extra nights to recharge the human batteries.

 

[Ingwe]

10. Seville Area Autocaravannas Gelves Marina
Quite a few people had recommended this stop and we were lucky to get one of the last 2 spaces. Arrive early is my recommendation as lots of vans move on every day. 30 euros per night but worth it for location. Services including toilets and showers and EHU.

Small spaces and little shade but we opened the rear doors and sat in the little enclosure made with the river alongside us. Stayed 2 nights. First afternoon just relaxed in the shade, next day was a first for me as I used the Uber app to order a pet friendly taxi into Seville. A brand new Lexus turned up and it was €17. We enjoyed the sights and got another Uber back. In the evening, I went on my own on the bus back to my timed ticket for the Alcaraz. Amazing !

The M 140 bus runs every 20 mins on a loop so the bus stop you get off at is the one you return to for return journey. 1.65 € exactly please!

Bus stop in Seville,
View attachment 891060

Payment by card only.

Seville everything you expect and more.



https://park4night.com/lieu/12067/
View attachment 891016
View attachment 891018

Wow, the price of the site at Gelves has shot up since we used it! But it is really peaceful and pretty handy for access to Seville. We caught the bus round outside the entrance to the marina. As you say, Seville is fantastic. We will definitely return.
Thanks for the great photos and interesting narratives.

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