Northern Spain Recommendations for a family trip please

[OxfordMorgan]

Morning Funsters, Keen for some recommendations for our Summer holiday in August to Northern Spain.
We have young teenage kids so this is the only time we can go - We usually explore France, but wanted to go a bit further South.
Limited to 2.5 weeks and will be driving through France rather than Ferry (for various reasons not relevant here).

Outline plan is to head for Saint-Jean-de-Luz / Biarritz for a day or so, then into Spain to San Sebastian then take 1.5 weeks trundling Eastwards to end up on the Med Coast where we'd like to stay for a few days on a beachy site before heading back home.
We like walking/ cycling/ exploring/ kayaking (anything outdoors really) - maybe Pyrenees, maybe not - open to idea's, but don't really want to be heading further south than Tarragona
Also open to ideas heading East from San Sebastian and doing that part of the coast instead

Thanks

 

[royandsharont]

At that time of year, given the likely temperatures forecast for this summer, I think I would go west from San Sebastián and head to Galicia. You can stop in the Picos del Europa at Potes and explore before perhaps following the Camino de Santiago to its end, beautiful city to visit then have a few days on the coast at perhaps Muros area. Beautiful part of Spain often overlooked all along those northern provinces, inland or on the coast.

 

[Brains]

Morning Funsters, Keen for some recommendations for our Summer holiday in August to Northern Spain.
We have young teenage kids so this is the only time we can go - We usually explore France, but wanted to go a bit further South.
Limited to 2.5 weeks and will be driving through France rather than Ferry (for various reasons not relevant here).

Outline plan is to head for Saint-Jean-de-Luz / Biarritz for a day or so, then into Spain to San Sebastian then take 1.5 weeks trundling Eastwards to end up on the Med Coast where we'd like to stay for a few days on a beachy site before heading back home.
We like walking/ cycling/ exploring/ kayaking (anything outdoors really) - maybe Pyrenees, maybe not - open to idea's, but don't really want to be heading further south than Tarragona
Also open to ideas heading East from San Sebastian and doing that part of the coast instead

Thanks

One of Europes best walks in on your way.
The Odessa Gorge at Torla
You could make a two (or more) day adventure by spending the night in one of the mountain huts.

If you are seriously into walking, then the Breche de Roland will be something teenagers will never forget.
(Don't do it if there is still a lot of snow, as you would then need crampons and ice axes)

White water rafting is good in the area, but you need to be on the French side of the Pyrenees.
And if you are on the French side, then Carcassonne is worth a visit, as is Lourdes (think Disney does God. very odd place)
The cirque de Gavarnie is a world class view with southern Europe's highest waterfall (spectacular after rainfall)

 

[Phill D]

Cambrills is worth a look,

 

[Barti Ddu]

I'd probably recommend heading west through Asturias and Galicia too. Varied itinerary with a rugged Atlantic coast (Google - Cathedral Beach), interesting fishing villages and the Picos de Europa. Santiago de Compostela is also spectacular and atmospheric.

If you do decide to head east across to the Med towards the Tarragona / Barcelona area, then a day around Montserrat is very worthwhile. Girona is another interesting, historic and vibrant city worth exploring.

Ps. San Sebastian is definitely worth a day or two. One of our favourite Spanish cities.

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[GeeCee]

I'd recommend travelling through Aragon/Pyrennes. Particular places of interest for the activities you mention are:

• Murillo de Gallego - There's a basic campsite here with use of a pool and you can do the walk up to Riglos and from there the circular hike - great fun. Riglos is a site to behold. There's also a water sports activities hire place in Murillo village. Or you can just walk down to the river and swim in it in places. Plus the campsite has a pool.
• Alquezar - There's a campsite just down from the town. Good walking routes from the town. Also water sports nearby. And not bad for cycling as the surrounding area is not too hilly. Lovely town with great views.
• Canyon Rio Lobos - Another great one for walking. Again there's a campsite nearby. The main walk through the Canyon has some speactacular views and there's a massive, impressive cave in the canyon you can look around. Probably only worth a one or two-night stop as there's not much else to do. But definitely worth it.
• Ainsa/ Boltana - Another good one for walks, cycling/MTB, water sports. A couple of campsites near the town. Two more at Boltana but this is a bit further away from the main activities at Ainsa. The old town of Ainsa at the top of the hill is extremely pretty and well worth a visit.

If you're heading down to the med, I would also highly recommend Banyoles. This town is inland on the edge of a lake, and there are all manner of water sports activities, plus walking and cycling routes.

 

[Jays2]

Agree with san Sebastian, we have parked at the aire near the university, also by the stadium (easier to stop at the stadium)


Lekeitio along the coast is a great place to stop at, walk across to the island at low tide.

Keep off the fast roads and you will see more.

But i would just follow the coast and you will get as far as you get without a agenda.

 

[The Old Man]

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/morning-funsters.42763/page-12825#post-5543082

 

[cyberyacht]

Go west, young man. Spanish med coast is a bit 'fry your brains' in August and crowded. Laredo between Bilbao and Santander is a nice seaside spot. We didn't get past there last year although originally headed to Potes.

 

[kev54]

Laredo is a great beachy/casual stop. Zarautz is also. Burgos and León are wonderful city stops. The Med side gets a bit crowded

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[Razamataz]

Loved Laredo