Bilbao to Sitges

[Jules132]

Hi Everyone

We are very new motorhomers (1 year) and have just traded up for a bigger motorhome and plan on travelling overseas this summer for the first time. We have just booked a return ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao in June and plan to head across to the Med probably to Sitges as we will only be away for two weeks.

What is the best route to take (looks like AP68 to Zaragoza then N232 on Google maps) and are there any nice sites to stop at en route?

Any tips or guidance is very welcome.
Julie

 

[scotzsue]

There is a municipal site in Zaragoza, basic but on a bus route and Zaragoza itself is beautiful (old part) We have stopped at Haro, good if you like Rioja the ACsi site is a 5 minute walk from the central square, picuresque and the bodega area has wine tours. Have also stayed at Navarette there is a wine co-operative near the site. there is a bit of a theme going on here.
Have stayed at the campsite at Sitges a couple of times, but have also stayed in the town, great for train to Barcelona, beautiful beaches, good food. Have a great time.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Definitely use the campsite at Haro and don’t go away without buying a couple boxes of the local Rioja from the bar! Much cheaper than the tourist shops in the town.

Sites is nice but you need to be more aware of security. We were broken into whilst parked up there this March. Make sure your alarm set at all times.

 

[BwB]

Go and visit northern Spain instead. Thank me when you get back

Save the trek to the Med for when you have more time.

 

[Riverbankannie]

We also stayed one night on the aire at Arguedas. Free and set at the foot of some cave dwellings. Nice views.

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[Riverbankannie]

Go and visit northern Spain instead. Thank me when you get back

Save the trek to the Ames for when you have more time.

To be honest I agree with this. The northern beach towns and the drives inland through the Picos are fabulous.

 

[busby]

Cracking aire in Pamplona,,1 km from the centre,,leccy,,grey and black dumps and water.Very safe and secure. 10 euros..Well worth a visit on route,,BUSBY.

 

[webby1]

For 2 weeks I would definitely stay in the northern part of Spain..................Bilbao itself................San Sebastian just round the corner and we really love Burgos.

If you wanted some seaside you could even nip into France St Jean de Luz or Biarritz

 

[Joe Griffin]

Definitely use the campsite at Haro and don’t go away without buying a couple boxes of the local Rioja from the bar! Much cheaper than the tourist shops in the town.

Sites is nice but you need to be more aware of security. We were broken into whilst parked up there this March. Make sure your alarm set at all times.

Do you have the coords for the Haro site. It's not showing on the two apps I have. Thanks.

 

[Camdoon]

Logrono is a favourite of ours - free aire and plenty to eat and drink - pinchos and rioja https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/the-rioja-region-of-logrono

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[Joe Griffin]

Logrono is a favourite of ours - free aire and plenty to eat and drink - pinchos and rioja https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/the-rioja-region-of-logrono

Thanks for that. We are planning on going in January, heading south. Wonder what it'll be like in this area at that time of year.

 

[Camdoon]

Thanks for that. We are planning on going in January, heading south. Wonder what it'll be like in this area at that time of year.

The weather in N Spain appears to be similar to ours so not good. We were there for 3 days in August and could have stayed for more as the evenings are just perfect during the summer with everyone out and about, having a drink and moving from bar to bar. Head for the tourist information office as they have a booklet in English explaining what each bar specialises in.

 

[Gaston aires]

Northern Spain is superb but don’t expect warm weather. It’s all about scenery.
Phil

 

[Joe Griffin]

thanks for the replies. We will only be passing through Northern Spain on our way south having driven through France. It was just some suggestions as to where to stop maybe for a night in one or two places. We will be keeping an eye on the weather as we head southwards and deciding as we go which route to take. So one route is to travel towards Zaragosa then to the med coast. Then onto via Valencia and Alicante and continue down and travel about a bit. At the moment trying to find a range of stopovers and thanks for all the suggestions so far.

 

[webby1]

I think the posts regarding Northern Spain were for the OP who is travelling in June,arriving by ferry at Bilbao and only has 2 weeks.

Travelling in January is a completely different matter and deserves it's own thread

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[Joe Griffin]

I think the posts regarding Northern Spain were for the OP who is travelling in June,arriving by ferry at Bilbao and only has 2 weeks.

Travelling in January is a completely different matter and deserves it's own thread

Thanks for the reply. I have started a separate thread on travelling in Spain in January and February and had some very helpful replies from other members on that thread. But as this conversation was also referring to some of our planned route it seemed to me that it would be OK to ask about travelling in January on this part of our planned route. Hopefully it is still OK to have this discussion here even though it is not about the same time of year the OP referenced.

 

[Lenny HB]

Cracking aire in Pamplona,,1 km from the centre,,leccy,,grey and black dumps and water.Very safe and secure. 10 euros..Well worth a visit on route,,BUSBY.

If it's the one I stayed at it's free apart from 4 days in July when the bull running is on.

Edit: may be a different one don't remember any EHU.

 

[mfw]

We also stayed one night on the aire at Arguedas. Free and set at the foot of some cave dwellings. Nice views.
View attachment 269126

Nice there all the caves lit up at night also water and waste point just down road

 

[Jules132]

Scotzsue my partner loves Rioja so your theme and suggestions will go down very well with him thank you! Riverbankannie also suggests the Rioja so a crate is now most definitely on "the list". I assume the site is ok at Sitges security wise and it's just when you are out and about you need to be more mindful there? I don't know anything about Northern Spain but is sounds lovely from some of the posts above. Are there any sites near beaches there as it would be nice to be able to stay near one? Also what is ACSI please?

 

[Riverbankannie]

ACSI is a camping card scheme which you can purchase best from these guys
https://www.vicarious-shop.com/

There are good discounts on campsite fees out of the main school holidays and will pay for itself in a few nights. The sites are generally of good standard. The Haro campsite is one.

We didn’t stay on the site in Sitges, but along with many others stayed roadside. We had been there 2 nights and on the second were broken into by chancers on scooters. They knew the quick way of popping the locks with a long thin implement. We were asleep at the time and it was my own fault as had not set the alarm. In all our years of wild camping never had a problem so a bit complacent.
Sitges is part of the notorious Barcelona areawhere you have to be very careful about pickpockets and bag snatchers and so I had concentrated my efforts on preventing this!!
However, I’m sure the site will be more secure and just remember to always set your alarm. Sitges is a lovely place to visit.

On the Northern coast there are lovely beaches. We have stayed at
SAN Vicente de la Barquera. This is a lovely coastal town and if you look at the camping website it’s in a fabulous location.
http://www.campingelrosal.com/en/index.html

We travelled all along the coast and also stopped at Foz. These are the beaches

I can also recommend
ACSI Camping la Isla Picos Europe, which is inland at Potes. This is a lovely old town, there are fabulous drives through gorges to and from the coast. The campsite has good views and is well laid out and has a pool.

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[Jules132]

Wow, that looks amazing, perhaps we'll stay north then Also I'll have to have a look in my manual as don't know if I can set the alarm if we're in the 'van but assume so as it's only six months old. Will also have a look at the link you sent and get a card ordered. Thank you Annie

 

[Riverbankannie]

Thanks for the reply. I have started a separate thread on travelling in Spain in January and February and had some very helpful replies from other members on that thread. But as this conversation was also referring to some of our planned route it seemed to me that it would be OK to ask about travelling in January on this part of our planned route. Hopefully it is still OK to have this discussion here even though it is not about the same time of year the OP referenced.

Of course it’s ok to ask your questions anywhere but the weather in January is such that I (and others) could not recommend holidaying to the Picos. There will be snow, lots of it. It will be very cold and not beach weather. The campsites will mostly be closed, the one I mentioned above at SAN Vincente is closed November to March.

We went in March this year and had to travel down as far as Murcia to get warm sunny weather. There was snow on the Picos and of course the Pyranees but main road south to Madrid was clear and also the road through Zaragoza to the coast also clear.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Wow, that looks amazing, perhaps we'll stay north then Also I'll have to have a look in my manual as don't know if I can set the alarm if we're in the 'van but assume so as it's only six months old. Will also have a look at the link you sent and get a card ordered. Thank you Annie

I’m sure there will be a way of setting it whilst disabling the interior motion detector.