Route to Spain

[ANDKEZLULA]

Hi all,
we are heading off via calais to Barcelona on the 16th December(for Christmas) then Cadiz, any tips & best route to avoid using snow tyres etc would be much appreciated.
Its our first time in the van to Spain but have been to France a few times, all be it summer trips. We are hoping to not have to book any sites & are happy to use Aires.
Grateful for any feedback.

 

[ANDKEZLULA]

In that case you really need Aparcamiento Santa Catalina, Calle Campo de las Balas, Cádiz. This is situated at the western tip of the 'island' and is a very short walk into the centre of the old town area. It has no / limited facilities and is quite expensive as its really a 24h city centre car park, but its location is perfect ! easily seen on Google earth. ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...435bb6ce5154b8ca!8m2!3d36.5339233!4d-6.307354 )
The next nearest is the free 'wild camping' area just at the eastern end of the town adjacent to Cortadura beech on the CA-33. ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@36.4...4!1s4N5HBVUUJwtxD9RGZLIvRg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 ), this not to be confused with the van lifers etc living on the road side parking areas just inside the town area within the adjacent commercial / industrial area ( not too nice but ok for a night if stuck). ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@36.4...4!1swMGkA7WR_wuex0-r0QvQ2g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 ).
Further along the CA-33, about a mile + is a great wild camping spot but with no transport to Cadiz at the Santibanez beech. ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@36.469687,-6.2544829,4269m/data=!3m1!1e3 ) The restaurant just up the ways ( El Chato) is superb and is the restaurant with the glass floor and Napoleonic remains of Rick Stein fame.
Moving further afield, across the bay to El Puerto de Santa Maria the choice is a couple of wild camping areas, a camp site ( Las Dunas, as mentioned above) and a local authority 'aire' come carpark with no facilities but again a great location! The aire ( https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@36.5...4!1s348hHfs61UmVfi_1KuILBw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 ) is about 4 euro a night and the footbridge over the river takes you right to the town centre. The wild camps are at Parking Mercadillo ( on the right) and Playa Calita ( to the left) and the Camp site Las Dunas is at centre top of this; https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@36.5847498,-6.2428651,1069m/data=!3m1!1e3
The ferry connection to Cadiz is just along the river from parking Mercadillo towards the town centre; https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Terminal+Marítima+El+Puerto/@36.5930228,-6.2316704,2134m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0xd0dcfc34903c125:0xc5cfcba5b149cff2!8m2!3d36.593778!4d-6.226493
The ferries run from breakfast time to early evening (19:00/ 21:00 ish) and are very weather dependant, though a bus service is always provided when not running. Also a good train service also runs from El Puerto to Cadiz via the eastern end of the bay which is quite a nice trip. It runs later and the last train is around 23:00 - 24:00 ish. The both cost around 3 euro or so each way. The wild camps are often frequented in the off season and so a few days on there with a drop into the camp is not a bad regime ! Rota too has a great wild camp area and ferry link to Cadiz but its not as interesting a place as El Puerto I think and the camp areas not as convenient for the ferry!
Another good thing for the area is that the train links give great access to Jerez ( my favourite place) and Sevilla. Though in El Puerto ( no one ever calls it by its full name as the term El Puerto was bestowed by royal charter) early morning coffee in the Chicha Ye Ye bar, under the walls of the 11/12th century castle once home to Christopher Columbus prior to sailing on his first voyage to the Indies from the port is quite a pleasant experience....... This of course is all predicated in an off season visit as come the summer the place is absolutely swamped and wild camping or just turning up is a no no......1
P S envious of your mate with the Cadiz apartment, if he ever needs any 'house sitting' ........!

Thanks so much for all that information, that's so helpful. I will endeavour to post some appropriate pics in due course. And of course pass on your offer to house sit

 

[WoodysTravels]

WE are a few days in front of you
Calais
Rouen
Bordeaux
Hendaye
Zaragoza
But we turn Right to Benidorm instead of Left to Barca at Valencia

For precise route check you don't stray off the Correct roads at Rouen of the ZFE will get you there is only one road through to the East and a Autoroute around the North and West that are not within the ZFE - anything over Class 3 is not allowed in

Similar calais, rouen, le mans, bordeaux, zaragoza benicassim, bit anxious about rouen.

 

[Carpmart]

Similar calais, rouen, le mans, bordeaux, zaragoza benicassim, bit anxious about rouen.

In what way is Rouen making you anxious?

 

[Tosser]

Similar calais, rouen, le mans, bordeaux, zaragoza benicassim, bit anxious about rouen.

this is from Rouen department.
you will be ok until 2023 then they might even extend this,

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[Tosser]

View attachment 695157
this is from Rouen department.
you will be ok until 2023 then they might even extend this,

sorry until 2024.

 

[Barti Ddu]

Anxious or not, if you want to avoid Rouen, another alternative is to use the toll-free Brotonne bridge to the west of the city. Much more scenic than the industrial outskirts of Rouen.

We did it earlier this week. Adds just under an hour to the journey.

Next time we might consider using the free ferries that cross the Seine between Rouen and Le Havre - just for a change and a bit of fun. There are 6 crossing points. Four are limited to 3,500kg vehicles the other two are unlimited.

 

[ianp]

Anxious or not, if you want to avoid Rouen, another alternative is to use the toll-free Brotonne bridge to the west of the city. Much more scenic than the industrial outskirts of Rouen.

We did it earlier this week. Adds just under an hour to the journey.

View attachment 695179

Next time we might consider using the free ferries that cross the Seine between Rouen and Le Havre - just for a change and a bit of fun. There are 6 crossing points. Four are limited to 3,500kg vehicles the other two are unlimited.

The ferry crossings sound good........I'm not anxious about Rouen but just don't like the hustle and bustle of the place.....have you a link to details of the places please?

 

[Barti Ddu]

The ferry crossings sound good........I'm not anxious about Rouen but just don't like the hustle and bustle of the place.....have you a link to details of the places please?

The first link is the official government site including a link to download timetables.

Bacs de Seine

Huit bacs, gérés et exploités par le Département de la Seine-Maritime relient les deux rives du fleuve de Canteleu à Quillebeuf-sur-Seine. Un mode de transport pratique et économique qui participe à la…

www.seinemaritime.fr

Les bacs sur la Seine, mode d'emploi | Normandie Tourisme

Le long de la Seine, huit liaisons permettent aux chauffeurs, cyclistes et piétons de relier les deux rives du fleuve en empruntant le bac.

www.normandie-tourisme.fr

Shipping Seine - The Bacs

The Seine Bacs Just until the end of the 1950's the only means of crossing the River Seine between Rouen and its estuary 60 miles downstream at Honfleur was by ferry or 'bac'. The opening of the Tancarville bridge in 1959 and the Brotonne bridge in 1977 has led to a reduction of the number bacs

sites.google.com

Crossing the Seine by bike: Normandy bridge and ferry on the river

After Rouen there are free ferries for bicycles to reach both banks. The Normandy bridge can be crossed by bike but we do not recommend it.

www.laseineavelo.com

 

[peterc10]

We have just started our journey today. Lunchtime train OK. Got as far as the Aire at La Maileraye by the side of the Seine, which is one of our favourites. Weather not as cold as at home.

If you are coming over via Calais area don't bother filling up on diesel in the UK. Prices are much cheaper in France and used the Fuel Flash app to find the best. This turned out to be the Total Station at the Aire de 2 caps on the A16 about 10km South of Calais, which was on our route. €1.66 per litre which equates to less than £1.50.

Finally, for those who are worried about Rouen, the main A28 tunnel is closed for works and there is diversion to the West of the city centre. We didn't use it because when we go to La Maileraye we use the Pont de Brotonne via Yvetot.