Escaping the winter - Portugal??

[Teasy2007]

Hi

We are considering going to Portugal in January for a couple of months then working our way up to Santa Suzanna for May June.

Are there plenty of sites open, or wildcamping opportunities?

Any advice or suggestions gratefully appreciated.

Ginny and Michael

 

[johnsandywhite]

:Cool: Here:-

Link Removed

Camping in Portugal - Interhike

 

[Don Madge]

Hi

We are considering going to Portugal in January for a couple of months then working our way up to Santa Suzanna for May June.

Are there plenty of sites open, or wildcamping opportunities?

Any advice or suggestions gratefully appreciated.

Ginny and Michael

Hi Ginny & Michael,

The list of free camping spots in Portugal that JSW posted was compiled by me a couple of years ago so might be a bit dated. This is a later list but is over a year old.

Some Free Camping Spots in Portugal

This list was compiled in March 2007. We stayed at or visited all the places listed. Some places are rapidly developing into concentrated tourist areas and these parking places maybe swallowed up. The free camping places could be very busy in the winter period (Dec. – April). I’ve also included the English language radio station (Kiss FM 101.2) which broadcasts on the Algarve only.

In the last few years free camping on the Algarve has become a problem with so many campers wintering in Portugal. It is usually quieter on the western Algarve (west of Lagos) it’s even quieter on the west coast but can be very windy at times

Central and West Coast

BARRAGEM PEGO DE ALTER. (Commonly called Pego by the Brits) Signed off the N 253 Alcacer to Montemor road 6 miles from Alcacer. Excellent long stay place with plenty of parking. Very popular with the Brits on their way home after their winter tour. Spring water available half way up hill. Toilet and shower also available. Tends to get very busy with locals at weekends from Easter onwards.

BARRAGEM DE MONTERGIL. Situated on the N2 between Abrantes and Montemor. Entrance to camping area along side Shell garage. Water available. Trees could cause problems on entering for large outfits.

PORTO COVO. Small village south of Sines on coast road. Plenty of parking on north side of village on cliffs. Toilets and spring water available, municipal market.

Many beachside parking places between Sines and Porto Covo. One of our favourite spots.

VILA NOVA DE MILFONTES. On N 390. Town on river estuary. Good parking spots at Praia de Furness other side of river from Milfontes. Go south from Milfontes on N 390 over bridge next road on the right signed Furness.

ALMOGRAVE. Signed off N 393. Small village on coast good parking on cliffs above beach. Spring water available and the cleanest toilets in Portugal (closed at night).

PRAIA DE ODECEIXE. Signed off N 120. Poor parking in village. Very good parking on other side of estuary from village. Take unmade road on north side of bridge on N 120. Spring water available.

ALJEZUR. Praia de Amoreiro signed from N 120 north of town. Monte Clerigo signed from N 120 south of town. Municipal market in town on riverside. Parking area behind market toilets and water available.

VILA DO BISPO. Don’t go into town centre as streets are very narrow. Take the main exit for the town from the N 125 and this will take you to the supermarket and water. In town follow the sings for Praia do Castelejo then Praia da Cordoama.

Cordoama is an isolated beach down an unmade road and is good for long stays. At Caselejo parking is very limited. During the surfing season both beaches are very crowded.

Algarve

Between Sagres and Cape St Vincent there is parking on the cliff tops. Usually very windy short term only.

SAGRES HARBOUR. Parking on the quayside for small outfits only. For the larger outfits there limited parking in various places in the town and on the seafront. Water is available at the harbour. Toilets at the harbour restaurant. The fish auction takes place late afternoon at the fish dock complex. If you do attend sit very still or you could be the proud owner of a 100kg box of squid.

INGRINA. Signed off the N 125 at the traffic lights at Raposeira. Limited parking next to the beach.

BARRANCO. Not signed but take same turn off as Ingrina then fork right in 150 metres. Unmade road (bad in places) for 3.5 miles to very isolated beach. Mainly used by windsurfers.

Water is available on the right about 200-300 metres from the traffic lights on the Ingrina road.

BOCA DO RIO. Signed off the N 125 at the traffic lights at Budens (Ecomarche for cheap fuel at junction) then tarmac road to beach. Good for long term parking very popular spot in winter. Can get very windy at times. Water and toilets available next village (west) Selema a 15 minute bike ride. Bread is available from a caravan that is parked in Selema square opposite the toilets.

LAGOS. Parking behind the railway station in large car park in front of school. Toilets at the Marina. On the road from Lagos to Meia Praia garage on right, parking on urbanisation behind garage. Some parking on hard standings between seashore and road between Lagos and Meia Praia

MEIA PRAIA. Signed from Lagos parking beachside in sand dunes.

BARRAGEM DA BRAVURA. Signed off N 125 at Odiaxere. Water available at windmill on leaving Odiaxere.

ALVOR. Plenty of parking on seafront at eastern end of town near Ocandeerio Restaurant. For parking west of town follow signs for Zona Ribeirina park among palms and oleandas in car park. Could be a problem in the wet. Also parking behind swimming pool.

PRAIA DA ROCHA. Limited parking for vans at eastern end of promenade opposite Hotel Concorde also parking behind Hotel Concorde at lower level.

Praia da Rocha and Alvor more or less run into together along seashore with hotels and apartments.

ARMACAO DE PERA. Parking on car park at western end of town and at the eastern end parking behind football pitch.

QUARTEIRA. Parking at Praia Forte Novo at the eastern end of the town.

FUZETA. Go through village and parking on sea front car park next to camp site (camp site usually very crowded).

PEDRAS D’EL REI. Clearly signed off N 125 west of Tavira. Follow road to lagoon turn right and parking area ahead.

CABANAS. Enter village then turn left at seashore limited parking at far end of coast road. Water tap in municipal bin area on right.

PRAIA DA MANTA ROTA. Parking on large beach car park behind sand dunes. Water available.

GAS BOTTLE REFILLING STATIONS ON THE ALGARVE.

Boliquime. 50 metres off N125 sign clearly visible from main road.

Quelfes. Take the N 398 (East of Olhao) signed Moncaraphacho, Faro & Espahne leave at first exit. GPL station can be clearly seen on the left as you approach the exit.

From A22 leave at exit 15. Take Quelfes turn off from N398 signed on left.

KISS FM. 101.2 FM ENGLISH NEWS PROGRAMS ON THE ALGARVE

Monday – Friday News, Sport & Weather.

08.30, 09.30, 10.30, 14.00, 18.00, 19.00, 20.00.

Saturday News & Sport.

10.30, 14.00, 18.00, 19.00. 20.00

Sunday News & Sport

09.00, 10.30, 12.00, 19.00, 20.00.

Sports Report

Monday – Friday 19.30.


Don


Don

 

[Teasy2007]

Thanks for the information about Portugal Don, it was really good.

We are definitely going in the new year, so this will be a great help when we are planning the trip. Are these all wildcamping? do you know of any campsites, we are still a bit 'green', we would probably want to combine a few of each.

Ginny

 

[Don Madge]

Thanks for the information about Portugal Don, it was really good.

We are definitely going in the new year, so this will be a great help when we are planning the trip. Are these all wildcamping? do you know of any campsites, we are still a bit 'green', we would probably want to combine a few of each.

Ginny

Hi Ginny,

I've got a 2005 edition of Link Removed it will give you some idea of the camp sites available.

I will be at Malvern and Shepton shows or I could post the guide to you. Let me know what you decide.

Regards

Don

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[Teasy2007]

Many thanks for the offer of the booklet Don, I will pm you our address as we have the grandchildren in the summer and wont be going to any more shows this year. We are heading off France and Spain at the end of August to chill in the sun!!

Ginny

 

[Don Madge]

Many thanks for the offer of the booklet Don, I will pm you our address as we have the grandchildren in the summer and wont be going to any more shows this year. We are heading off France and Spain at the end of August to chill in the sun!!

Ginny

Hi Ginny,

It's in the post. Don't worry about the cost it was only £0.90p.

Don

 

[TweetiePie]

QUARTEIRA. Parking at Praia Forte Novo at the eastern end of the town.

Hi, We stayed at the above the year before last and we were moved on by the Police as "Long Stay" residents (british included) were entying their toilets in the Sea !!! :Angry:
We moved up to the area near the fish market and had no problems
We had stayed at Praia Forte Novo for a few years with no problems and emptied our toilet by the fish market, but others couldn't be bothered
Where ever you stay you should have a great time

 

[Teasy2007]

Many thanks Don, I look forward to receiving the book.

Can you tell me when we can order the ACSI book and CD for 2009?

We used the ACSI book when we went to France and Spain earlier this year and found it to be fantastic, we saved a lot of money. We are going to order the CD as well to help in finding some of the sites.

Do you know if it will have Latitude and Longitude in next year, we struggled with some of the directions!

Ginny

 

[Don Madge]

Many thanks Don, I look forward to receiving the book.

Can you tell me when we can order the ACSI book and CD for 2009?

We used the ACSI book when we went to France and Spain earlier this year and found it to be fantastic, we saved a lot of money. We are going to order the CD as well to help in finding some of the sites.

Do you know if it will have Latitude and Longitude in next year, we struggled with some of the directions!

Ginny

Hi Ginny,

You will be able to pre order the ACSI guide/CD in September and it will/should be published the first week in December. If you are not in the UK in December we can post it to you wherever you are.:thumb:

We have suggested to ACSI that they should include the GPS co ords hopefully they will do so in the 2009 edition.:thumb:

Don

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[Teasy2007]

Brilliant, thanks Don