Going off-grid in northern Spain and Portugal

[Peter Nick Harvey]

I am planning to be away from the UK from 1 September until 30 November 2023, starting by ferry from Portsmouth to northern Spain before touring - and trying to keep off-grid as much as possible - through north/west Spain and Portugal, then southern Spain and Gibraltar before eventually driving home via a northern French port. Tips welcome please. Especially about parking off grid in Spain and Portugal. Thanks in advance.

 

[Jays2]

What do you do on a normal trip away?

 

[Peter Nick Harvey]

What do you do on a normal trip away?

Cycle and walk, typically off the beaten track. But enjoy towns and cities in small doses, so looking forward to Porto, Lisbon, etc.

 

[Jays2]

That’s great, how do use the camper?
Do you stay on a site?

 

[Peter Nick Harvey]

That’s great, how do use the camper?
Do you stay on a site?

Ideally on small sites or off-grid. With a diesel-powered blown air heater, dual gas cylinders and a 150W solar panel powering two leisure batteries we can be relaxed for a week or more.

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[Jays2]

search user Lenny, northernriader , Jamar to name a few, loads of others and look through threads. Loads of info

 

[Peter Nick Harvey]

search user Lenny, northernriader , Jamar to name a few, loads of others and look through threads. Loads of info

Thank you.

 

[jumartoo]

Take a look at the threads I did. They are in my signature. Then ask any questions you like.

 

[jollyrodger]

Did a similar trip a few months back,when it was a lot hotter.
Starting plym to Santander. Then roughly driving the route of the comino trail from Logroño across to Santiago de Compostela, then down though Portugal to the Algarve, a trip around the costas back to nth Spain at Altieda another part of the comino trail then back up through France.
Did stay on a couple of sites due to the heat and they had pools.
But mostly wilding, would love to be back down there now

Used mostly search for sites and Park4night.
I have read on here a few threads all about having to register for Portugal tolls, we never bothered and no issues,went under multiple cameras on route with toll costs but heard nothing.
Have a good trip.

 

[Peter Nick Harvey]

Did a similar trip a few months back,when it was a lot hotter.
Starting plym to Santander. Them roughly driving the route of the comino trail from Logroño across to Santiago de Compostela, then down though Portugal o the Algarve, a trip around the costas back to nth Spain at Altieda another part of the comino trail then back up through France.
Did stay on a couple of sites due to the heat and they had pools.
But mostly wilding, would love to be back down there now
View attachment 690608

Used mostly search for sights and Park4night.
I have read on here a few threads all about having to register for Portugal tolls, we never bothered and no issues,went under multiple cameras on route with toll costs but heard nothing.
Have a good trip.

Thank you!

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[Lenny HB]

My trips are linked in my signature.

 

[Peter Nick Harvey]

Take a look at the threads I did. They are in my signature. Then ask any questions you like.

Thank you.

 

[Peter Nick Harvey]

My trips are linked in my signature.

Thank you.

 

[seasideBill]

Did a similar trip a few months back,when it was a lot hotter.
Starting plym to Santander. Then roughly driving the route of the comino trail from Logroño across to Santiago de Compostela, then down though Portugal to the Algarve, a trip around the costas back to nth Spain at Altieda another part of the comino trail then back up through France.
Did stay on a couple of sites due to the heat and they had pools.
But mostly wilding, would love to be back down there now
View attachment 690608

Used mostly search for sites and Park4night.
I have read on here a few threads all about having to register for Portugal tolls, we never bothered and Dantiag no issues,went under multiple cameras on route with toll costs but heard nothing.
Have a good trip.

Did an almost identical trip in 2019, highlights were the wild beaches in northern Spain (Costa Verde & Praia das Catedrais), Santiago del Compostela, Porto, Evora, Tavira, Seville, Ronda, Estepona, & Valencia. If you don’t enter Portugal on one of the major routes you should register on the toll system beforehand or shortly thereafter.

 

[Minxy]

My trips are linked in my signature.

A sure sign I need to go to bed is that I just read 'signature' as sausages! It must be the word 'link' that made me think of them strung together!!! Night-night!!!

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[Brendan + Kath]

Did a similar trip a few months back,when it was a lot hotter.
Starting plym to Santander. Then roughly driving the route of the comino trail from Logroño across to Santiago de Compostela, then down though Portugal to the Algarve, a trip around the costas back to nth Spain at Altieda another part of the comino trail then back up through France.
Did stay on a couple of sites due to the heat and they had pools.
But mostly wilding, would love to be back down there now
View attachment 690608

Used mostly search for sites and Park4night.
I have read on here a few threads all about having to register for Portugal tolls, we never bothered and no issues,went under multiple cameras on route with toll costs but heard nothing.
Have a good trip.

 

[Peter Nick Harvey]

Take a look at the threads I did. They are in my signature. Then ask any questions you like.

Thank you.

 

[Peter Nick Harvey]

Thank you.

 

[Peter Nick Harvey]

Did an almost identical trip in 2019, highlights were the wild beaches in northern Spain (Costa Verde & Praia das Catedrais), Santiago del Compostela, Porto, Evora, Tavira, Seville, Ronda, Estepona, & Valencia. If you don’t enter Portugal on one of the major routes you should register on the toll system beforehand or shortly thereafter.

Thank you.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Are your gas cylinders refillable? Calor bottles are not exchangeable in Spain/France. With your set up, I do not expect you will use much gas though.

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[Peter Nick Harvey]

Yes, good point, I can refill my gas cylinders thank you.