14th August - 4th September
http://www.findmespot.com/spotadventures/index.php/view_adventure?tripid=314509
TUES 14TH AUGUST; Up early and packed the Landy. Had breakfast and sat around for a couple hours fiddling and finalising. Not having to be at the ferry until 15:00hrs, the idea was to meet up with Mike and family in Portsmouth, see a bit of Portsmouth then hit the docks. And so it was, a nice wander around the Gunwharf Quays area in the glorious sunshine, back to vehicles, to port and checked in, in plenty of time. Brittany ferries as efficient as ever, no problems boarding and settled down on the ferry.
WEDS 15TH; A swell in the Bay of Biscay made part of the crossing exciting, good food and drink onboard at reasonable prices, and arrived at Santander early evening. Visited the planned campsite, checked in, and then wandered along the coast for a bit, visited the rather pleasant Bambara tavern and back to camp, set up and relaxed. Pitches are small but the site has good facilities and great location.
http://www.cabomayor.com/index-en.htm €16 a night
THU 16TH; Awoke early, had tea, packed away, wandered up to the lighthouse that overlooks Santander Harbour, and then went off to meet Andy and family of the ferry. All meet up ok, and then hit the main road south to Salamanca. No problems getting there Grunt a bit slow up the steep hills and then cruised on the flat roads into Salamanca early evening in beautiful sunshine. Pitches are a size and the site has good facilities and nice location.
http://www.campingregio.com/Index.php?lang=en €9 a night
FRI 17TH; Camping Regio is a lovely campsite, clean, cheap, and you can get a bus into town from there. Had a good walk around this beautiful ancient city, frogs (toys, pictures etc.) everywhere, because there is on the outside of the university is a skull with a frog on it said to bring you luck, this was spotted and after having a bit to eat and a drink, back to camp.
SAT 18TH; Awoke early, a straight forward drive towards Portugal, took a dirt track with finished early because it was fenced off. As time was getting on, it was decided to stick to small scenic sealed roads, and they were, absolutely stunning this whole area of Portugal is, the Serra da Estrela is a mountainous natural park with loads of dirt tracks, simply stunning views everywhere.
Followed the gps down a short track into a village which was fun and then onto the planned campsite at Toca de Raposa, as I was in front the lane became a dirt track which was ok to begin with, then it turned narrower and narrower and then looked like there was no way through, so I had to turn around, which was an experience and at one stage felt like I was stuck or going to turn the Landy over, the Grunt is made of stronger stuff and after a while of flapping about, turned around and went back out and along the road into the correct site entrance at the other end of the same lane.
Toca de Raposa is a lovely rustic campsite with a great stone bar/eating area, good facilities incl a small pool and friendly owners. We sent up camp, all glad to be in Portugal. Pitches are a good size and the site has good facilities and great location.
http://www.toca-da-raposa.com/homeen.html €15 a night
SUN 19TH; With so many dirt tracks around the idea was to go out and see if we could do any, and we did, had a great day doing dirt tracks and small roads, there is just so many in this stunning area. Stocked up in a supermarket on the way back and had a lovely evening eating Portuguese chicken laid on by the owners, a great evening.
MON 20TH; I wanted to see the cork forests further south and after meeting Filipe, a local at the campsite, he told me about some typically old Portuguese villages near there.
So I went off, leaving the others to relax at the site, and headed south towards Gois and then onto Castelo Branco, this lovely drive although on sealed roads still took all morning, spotted a municipal camping site in Castelo Branco which was poor, so a quick look at maps and spotted another site near the villages I wanted to see but north of the forests. So decided to miss the cork forests, and head to the villages, passing cork trees everywhere so I wasn’t too disappointed.
Found the campsite near a lake, checked in and went off to find the villages of Monsanto and Idanha-a-Velha, and what beautiful places they are, typically built of local stone and just very picturesque.
Back to camp, for a well-earned and much needed, bit of R&R. Pitches are big and the site has great facilities and great location.
http://www.visitportugal.com/NR/exeres/C2F1CEBF-9C22-41A4-9322-34C115AAD888,frameless.htm €13.50 a night
TUES 21ST; Up early, packed and gone by 07:30 for the drive back to Toca de Raposa. Small roads and the odd dirk track to Fundao, which is a really nice place, fuelled up and carried on towards and through Covilha, another scenic town, but I preferred Fundao.
Took the N339/8 all the way into and over the mountains, a simply stunning drive, loads of switchbacks etc, and even a lighthouse on top of one of the mountain passes, a really beautiful drive and arrived back at camp late morning, saw the others, rinsed my washing, and off again.
This time to the LandyMania 2010 venue and gps track, another nice drive, followed the gps along a track for a while and then it narrowed between stone walls, and then got even narrower, after a while after getting out to walk the track I found I couldn’t turn around after a tight ‘S’ bend and if I went pass the ‘S’ bend I couldn’t reverse back, so I abandoned the track after picking up a few scrapes , dent in the bumper, various bits of foliage and a slow puncture. But never the less enjoyed it.
Back to camp in roasting weather, hung the washing up, changed the tyre and relaxed with the others, just enjoying the holiday.
WEDS 22ND; Up early for the drive to Porto, not taking toll roads because of differing stories re paying with devices only, so took yet another gloriously stunning drive over another mountain range and through some really lovely villages. I must say Portugal already is one of my favourite Countries to drive in, simply stunning.
Arrived at the campsite in the afternoon, a nice place, a lovely large pool, near to the beachfront with food and bars, an easy going and cheap site. You can also get a bus into Porto not far away. Pitches are small but the site has good facilities and great location.
http://www.orbitur.com/campsite-orbitur-madalena €14 a night
THU 23RD; A relaxing day today, doing this travelogue, a few mins on the internet, and a visit to the beach this afternoon when the others get back is planned.
FRI 24TH; Go up early, found an excellent garage to fix the tyre (€20) and then did a spot of food shopping, found a whole split Portuguese chicken for only €1.80 and it was tasty. Got back and then it clouded over and it rained a lot, all afternoon and evening, which was annoying, and un-Portugal like.
SAT 25th; Got up to a wet site and some despondent fellow campers, after a while and a chance of possible showers later, Mike and family decided to go a day earlier than planned, back to Salamanca as their ferry was early than ours.
We decided after already paying to stick it out, and thankfully the sun came out and real heated up, had a lovely lunch and a drink or two down on the beach at an excellent little café right on the front, followed by a paddle and rock pool session in the sea. Back for a swim and a bit of R&R, and then I caught a bus driven by a lunatic into Porto late evening and saw the lovely port, bars, cafes etc. I like Porto, its lovely place!
SUN 26th; Up early and on our way to Braganca, made good time and only paying €6.80 on the few toll roads, made campsite at noon, where one of the vehicles wouldn’t start, AA called, fob battery or bad earth or td5 electrics problem, who knows.
Got it started, and pitched tents in the lovely warm afternoon sunshine. Pitch tents anywhere and the site have good facilities, no pool but a river runs through the site all in a nice location.
http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/portugal/montanhas/inatel-parque-campismo-bragan%E7a-116876/ €8 a night
MON 27th; Onto the Picos de Europa today, but first confirm td5 was ok, it wasn’t, and the garage couldn’t start work on it until morning. Oh well, I like Braganca it’s a lovely place, so while the others sourced a hotel I went back to the campsite and dossed about the rest of the day, and talked to an interesting Swiss guy overlanding on his kitted out Yamaha.
TUE 28th; Up early, found Grunt had an oil leak from the propshaft seal, possibly a duff seal as it was changed recently, not too much of a problem, so got stores and fuelled up, td5 was ready, but now a day lost in the Picos, I had time in hand but the others didn’t and were keen to push for Santander, which I understood.
It was a long day, both pulling into Cabo Mayor camping in Santander just minutes apart late afternoon, pitched my tent, the others had a cabin and I just collapsed and relaxed.
WED 29th; had a nice breakfast, a lovely cup of tea and a shower, I was ready for the world or so I thought. Some bright spark (Andy’s son) had spotted a “Go-Ape” across the road from the campsite and at only €21, apparently cheap. So donned various carabineers and a sort off very snuggly fitting harness and off we went. Well can’t say I enjoyed it, glad I did it and the zip wire was fun, but some of the parts of the course, I was well out of my comfort zone, did as much as I could before reality kicked in and I sat the rest out. It was fun thinking back, at least I had a go, and not sure I’d try it again though.
And after a coastal walk, an afternoon nap, down the nearby Bambara Tavern for a lovely evening in the sunshine with a good meal, large G & T’s and good company, then strolled around the beach, even spotted some old Series Landies watching the tide to enable to come onto the beach to pick up seaweed.
THU 30th; It rained during the night and again in the morning, but had a good chat to 2 French guys in their kitted out 110’s who have been touring Northern Spain with their families and were on the way back home.
Said my farewells to Andy and family, their ferry today. And I went off to Laredo to find a campsite I’d found near a beach, the weather was poor but it brighten up in the afternoon, although I put up an awning and 1 side just in case and as I was going to be here for 3 days just chilling.
Just a lovely evening sat not doing much, and then after eating and drinking too much took a wander along the beach watching the sights including horses been ridden along the beach, which I hoped to do sometime over the next couple of days. Pitches are big and the site has good facilities, excellent showers, no pool but in a great location.
http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/spain/cantabria/camping-playa-del-regaton-107701/ €14 a night
FRI 31st; Up early for no real reason, just glad to be camping near a beach in the sun, a long morning walk along the beach, a snack, an afternoon nap and then just a total relaxing afternoon/evening around a bbq enjoying life.
SAT 01st; A horse ride along the beach was the order of the day, but rather stupidly I wore shorts, so every time we trotted (well the horse trotted I sort of bounced up and down) my leg hairs were getting trapped between the saddle and some other bit. After an hour and minus some leg hairs later, we returned to the paddock after having a great time, really enjoyed it, in spite of.
Back for afternoon and evening relaxing, brought some cheap Portuguese wine which was awful, brought another type of wine, this one being 20cents a litre more and actually tasted better, a nice bbq and a slurp or 3 was my evening.
SUN 02nd; up early, showered, breakfast and raring to go. Took a lovely to Santander along the CA141 through the lovely fishing village of Santona, then on to Berria, Arnuero, Galizano, Sorno, Pedrena, a really nice drive.
Back to Camping Cabo Mayor, a nice little wander around the natural park next to the campsite and spent the evening chilling, had a nice chat to an Australian couple who shipped there split screen VW camper over from OZ to Southampton and have spent quite a few months driving around Europe.
MON 03rd; my ferry day, it always seems to come around quickly. So down to the port in plenty of time, checked-in, wandered around Santander and then boarded the ferry. A calm crossing, and a good evening meal, then relaxed.
Tues 04th; docked in Portsmouth on time, through customs and home 20mins later.
Another lovely trip! I love Portugal, the mountains, the lakes, the villages and towns, the dirt tracks which are everywhere, the people, it’s a great Country. 1,554mls.
Toll roads in Portugal; Bewildering to say the least, some you can pay cash on, some you can only go if you have a special device in your vehicle or you buy a toll road pass from Post offices etc. or you drive and pay within 5 days at a post office what tolls you were charged according to your number plate. Why they don’t have cash as well as these devices, who knows but it would make life simpler for sure.
http://www.findmespot.com/spotadventures/index.php/view_adventure?tripid=314509
TUES 14TH AUGUST; Up early and packed the Landy. Had breakfast and sat around for a couple hours fiddling and finalising. Not having to be at the ferry until 15:00hrs, the idea was to meet up with Mike and family in Portsmouth, see a bit of Portsmouth then hit the docks. And so it was, a nice wander around the Gunwharf Quays area in the glorious sunshine, back to vehicles, to port and checked in, in plenty of time. Brittany ferries as efficient as ever, no problems boarding and settled down on the ferry.
WEDS 15TH; A swell in the Bay of Biscay made part of the crossing exciting, good food and drink onboard at reasonable prices, and arrived at Santander early evening. Visited the planned campsite, checked in, and then wandered along the coast for a bit, visited the rather pleasant Bambara tavern and back to camp, set up and relaxed. Pitches are small but the site has good facilities and great location.
http://www.cabomayor.com/index-en.htm €16 a night
THU 16TH; Awoke early, had tea, packed away, wandered up to the lighthouse that overlooks Santander Harbour, and then went off to meet Andy and family of the ferry. All meet up ok, and then hit the main road south to Salamanca. No problems getting there Grunt a bit slow up the steep hills and then cruised on the flat roads into Salamanca early evening in beautiful sunshine. Pitches are a size and the site has good facilities and nice location.
http://www.campingregio.com/Index.php?lang=en €9 a night
FRI 17TH; Camping Regio is a lovely campsite, clean, cheap, and you can get a bus into town from there. Had a good walk around this beautiful ancient city, frogs (toys, pictures etc.) everywhere, because there is on the outside of the university is a skull with a frog on it said to bring you luck, this was spotted and after having a bit to eat and a drink, back to camp.
SAT 18TH; Awoke early, a straight forward drive towards Portugal, took a dirt track with finished early because it was fenced off. As time was getting on, it was decided to stick to small scenic sealed roads, and they were, absolutely stunning this whole area of Portugal is, the Serra da Estrela is a mountainous natural park with loads of dirt tracks, simply stunning views everywhere.
Followed the gps down a short track into a village which was fun and then onto the planned campsite at Toca de Raposa, as I was in front the lane became a dirt track which was ok to begin with, then it turned narrower and narrower and then looked like there was no way through, so I had to turn around, which was an experience and at one stage felt like I was stuck or going to turn the Landy over, the Grunt is made of stronger stuff and after a while of flapping about, turned around and went back out and along the road into the correct site entrance at the other end of the same lane.
Toca de Raposa is a lovely rustic campsite with a great stone bar/eating area, good facilities incl a small pool and friendly owners. We sent up camp, all glad to be in Portugal. Pitches are a good size and the site has good facilities and great location.
http://www.toca-da-raposa.com/homeen.html €15 a night
SUN 19TH; With so many dirt tracks around the idea was to go out and see if we could do any, and we did, had a great day doing dirt tracks and small roads, there is just so many in this stunning area. Stocked up in a supermarket on the way back and had a lovely evening eating Portuguese chicken laid on by the owners, a great evening.
MON 20TH; I wanted to see the cork forests further south and after meeting Filipe, a local at the campsite, he told me about some typically old Portuguese villages near there.
So I went off, leaving the others to relax at the site, and headed south towards Gois and then onto Castelo Branco, this lovely drive although on sealed roads still took all morning, spotted a municipal camping site in Castelo Branco which was poor, so a quick look at maps and spotted another site near the villages I wanted to see but north of the forests. So decided to miss the cork forests, and head to the villages, passing cork trees everywhere so I wasn’t too disappointed.
Found the campsite near a lake, checked in and went off to find the villages of Monsanto and Idanha-a-Velha, and what beautiful places they are, typically built of local stone and just very picturesque.
Back to camp, for a well-earned and much needed, bit of R&R. Pitches are big and the site has great facilities and great location.
http://www.visitportugal.com/NR/exeres/C2F1CEBF-9C22-41A4-9322-34C115AAD888,frameless.htm €13.50 a night
TUES 21ST; Up early, packed and gone by 07:30 for the drive back to Toca de Raposa. Small roads and the odd dirk track to Fundao, which is a really nice place, fuelled up and carried on towards and through Covilha, another scenic town, but I preferred Fundao.
Took the N339/8 all the way into and over the mountains, a simply stunning drive, loads of switchbacks etc, and even a lighthouse on top of one of the mountain passes, a really beautiful drive and arrived back at camp late morning, saw the others, rinsed my washing, and off again.
This time to the LandyMania 2010 venue and gps track, another nice drive, followed the gps along a track for a while and then it narrowed between stone walls, and then got even narrower, after a while after getting out to walk the track I found I couldn’t turn around after a tight ‘S’ bend and if I went pass the ‘S’ bend I couldn’t reverse back, so I abandoned the track after picking up a few scrapes , dent in the bumper, various bits of foliage and a slow puncture. But never the less enjoyed it.
Back to camp in roasting weather, hung the washing up, changed the tyre and relaxed with the others, just enjoying the holiday.
WEDS 22ND; Up early for the drive to Porto, not taking toll roads because of differing stories re paying with devices only, so took yet another gloriously stunning drive over another mountain range and through some really lovely villages. I must say Portugal already is one of my favourite Countries to drive in, simply stunning.
Arrived at the campsite in the afternoon, a nice place, a lovely large pool, near to the beachfront with food and bars, an easy going and cheap site. You can also get a bus into Porto not far away. Pitches are small but the site has good facilities and great location.
http://www.orbitur.com/campsite-orbitur-madalena €14 a night
THU 23RD; A relaxing day today, doing this travelogue, a few mins on the internet, and a visit to the beach this afternoon when the others get back is planned.
FRI 24TH; Go up early, found an excellent garage to fix the tyre (€20) and then did a spot of food shopping, found a whole split Portuguese chicken for only €1.80 and it was tasty. Got back and then it clouded over and it rained a lot, all afternoon and evening, which was annoying, and un-Portugal like.
SAT 25th; Got up to a wet site and some despondent fellow campers, after a while and a chance of possible showers later, Mike and family decided to go a day earlier than planned, back to Salamanca as their ferry was early than ours.
We decided after already paying to stick it out, and thankfully the sun came out and real heated up, had a lovely lunch and a drink or two down on the beach at an excellent little café right on the front, followed by a paddle and rock pool session in the sea. Back for a swim and a bit of R&R, and then I caught a bus driven by a lunatic into Porto late evening and saw the lovely port, bars, cafes etc. I like Porto, its lovely place!
SUN 26th; Up early and on our way to Braganca, made good time and only paying €6.80 on the few toll roads, made campsite at noon, where one of the vehicles wouldn’t start, AA called, fob battery or bad earth or td5 electrics problem, who knows.
Got it started, and pitched tents in the lovely warm afternoon sunshine. Pitch tents anywhere and the site have good facilities, no pool but a river runs through the site all in a nice location.
http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/portugal/montanhas/inatel-parque-campismo-bragan%E7a-116876/ €8 a night
MON 27th; Onto the Picos de Europa today, but first confirm td5 was ok, it wasn’t, and the garage couldn’t start work on it until morning. Oh well, I like Braganca it’s a lovely place, so while the others sourced a hotel I went back to the campsite and dossed about the rest of the day, and talked to an interesting Swiss guy overlanding on his kitted out Yamaha.
TUE 28th; Up early, found Grunt had an oil leak from the propshaft seal, possibly a duff seal as it was changed recently, not too much of a problem, so got stores and fuelled up, td5 was ready, but now a day lost in the Picos, I had time in hand but the others didn’t and were keen to push for Santander, which I understood.
It was a long day, both pulling into Cabo Mayor camping in Santander just minutes apart late afternoon, pitched my tent, the others had a cabin and I just collapsed and relaxed.
WED 29th; had a nice breakfast, a lovely cup of tea and a shower, I was ready for the world or so I thought. Some bright spark (Andy’s son) had spotted a “Go-Ape” across the road from the campsite and at only €21, apparently cheap. So donned various carabineers and a sort off very snuggly fitting harness and off we went. Well can’t say I enjoyed it, glad I did it and the zip wire was fun, but some of the parts of the course, I was well out of my comfort zone, did as much as I could before reality kicked in and I sat the rest out. It was fun thinking back, at least I had a go, and not sure I’d try it again though.
And after a coastal walk, an afternoon nap, down the nearby Bambara Tavern for a lovely evening in the sunshine with a good meal, large G & T’s and good company, then strolled around the beach, even spotted some old Series Landies watching the tide to enable to come onto the beach to pick up seaweed.
THU 30th; It rained during the night and again in the morning, but had a good chat to 2 French guys in their kitted out 110’s who have been touring Northern Spain with their families and were on the way back home.
Said my farewells to Andy and family, their ferry today. And I went off to Laredo to find a campsite I’d found near a beach, the weather was poor but it brighten up in the afternoon, although I put up an awning and 1 side just in case and as I was going to be here for 3 days just chilling.
Just a lovely evening sat not doing much, and then after eating and drinking too much took a wander along the beach watching the sights including horses been ridden along the beach, which I hoped to do sometime over the next couple of days. Pitches are big and the site has good facilities, excellent showers, no pool but in a great location.
http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/spain/cantabria/camping-playa-del-regaton-107701/ €14 a night
FRI 31st; Up early for no real reason, just glad to be camping near a beach in the sun, a long morning walk along the beach, a snack, an afternoon nap and then just a total relaxing afternoon/evening around a bbq enjoying life.
SAT 01st; A horse ride along the beach was the order of the day, but rather stupidly I wore shorts, so every time we trotted (well the horse trotted I sort of bounced up and down) my leg hairs were getting trapped between the saddle and some other bit. After an hour and minus some leg hairs later, we returned to the paddock after having a great time, really enjoyed it, in spite of.
Back for afternoon and evening relaxing, brought some cheap Portuguese wine which was awful, brought another type of wine, this one being 20cents a litre more and actually tasted better, a nice bbq and a slurp or 3 was my evening.
SUN 02nd; up early, showered, breakfast and raring to go. Took a lovely to Santander along the CA141 through the lovely fishing village of Santona, then on to Berria, Arnuero, Galizano, Sorno, Pedrena, a really nice drive.
Back to Camping Cabo Mayor, a nice little wander around the natural park next to the campsite and spent the evening chilling, had a nice chat to an Australian couple who shipped there split screen VW camper over from OZ to Southampton and have spent quite a few months driving around Europe.
MON 03rd; my ferry day, it always seems to come around quickly. So down to the port in plenty of time, checked-in, wandered around Santander and then boarded the ferry. A calm crossing, and a good evening meal, then relaxed.
Tues 04th; docked in Portsmouth on time, through customs and home 20mins later.
Another lovely trip! I love Portugal, the mountains, the lakes, the villages and towns, the dirt tracks which are everywhere, the people, it’s a great Country. 1,554mls.
Toll roads in Portugal; Bewildering to say the least, some you can pay cash on, some you can only go if you have a special device in your vehicle or you buy a toll road pass from Post offices etc. or you drive and pay within 5 days at a post office what tolls you were charged according to your number plate. Why they don’t have cash as well as these devices, who knows but it would make life simpler for sure.