Picos Du Europa National Park

Otter Spotter

Otter Spotter

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This is a tentative query, I am thinking of going to the National park in the next couple of years( I have to plan) to photograph the wildlife, my question is are the roads easy to negotiate with a PVC and are there campsites, Aires or wild camping available in the park?
I have never been to to Spain so would be meeting up with friends who speak the lingo.
 
No problem with the roads, not that many places to spend the night. Wild camping is illegal in national parks in Spain.
 
Been a couple of time Potes is a good base staying at camping la Virona it's not far from Fuente De where you can get a cable car to the top and if you energetic walk back down which takes about 3hrs spectacular views. We noticed several people were wild camping overnight regardless of no overnight camping signs in the large carpark. From Potes we went to Riano on a good but very scenic route with lots of parking spaces along the way. Riano has a campsite with lovely views over the town and lakes. Well worth going especially if you time it when the tour de Spain cycle race comes through.
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You are choosing one of many spectacular regions of Spain to visit, we've been many times, can get busy in the towns, no problem with PVC, roads good...overnighting outside July and August no problem.
The weather can be very fickle, big mountains close to the sea can bring in rapid changes, a totally stunning place with a culture that is so different to the rest of Spain, great food too...
 
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We are going to the Picos towards the end of next week. We plan to go to the Aire at Posada de Valdeon and walk from there. We are also into wildlife and photography.
 
Redders69 said:
We are going to the Picos towards the end of next week. We plan to go to the Aire at Posada de Valdeon and walk from there. We are also into wildlife and photography.
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Nice there just be careful if you use EHU, if you overload it trips out the lighting and the leisure centre lights next door & won't get reset until the next morning, it's always the Brits that do it.
 
Lenny HB said:
Nice there just be careful if you use EHU, if you overload it trips out the lighting and the leisure centre lights next door & won't get reset until the next morning, it's always the Brits that do it.
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Thanks for the advice Lenny. Assume then it doesn't take much to trip it out.

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Redders69 said:
Thanks for the advice Lenny. Assume then it doesn't take much to trip it out.
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Yes I think it's the heating that does it the 2 or 3 nights were there both times a Brit van came in they tripped it.
Not us, our heating is gas only.
 
If you have time, worth dropping down to Castrojeriz to see the Great Bustards. The town itself is interesting being on the Camino route. The campsite there is owned by keen. wildlife photographers. Then while in the area you can go to Burgos to stock up on wine. 🙂
 
Otter Spotter said:
This is a tentative query, I am thinking of going to the National park in the next couple of years( I have to plan) to photograph the wildlife, my question is are the roads easy to negotiate with a PVC and are there campsites, Aires or wild camping available in the park?
I have never been to to Spain so would be meeting up with friends who speak the lingo.
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Well worth visiting. Many Brits do not realise that Spain is a very mountainous country - perhaps because they promoted the Costas as a tourist destination for many years to the exclusion of other areas. If you are into wild-life photography and you're planning to go to the Picos - you're not too far from the NE of Portugal and the Montesiho Natural Park. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montesinho_Natural_Park)
This area has been depopulated over the years and is gradually becoming reclaimed by the wild-life - including Iberian Wolves.

As far as the roads are concerned - we have absolutely no problems in our 5m Transit and I would be confident driving a larger PVC along them. If I am at all concerned about a mountainous route I use the drive-through facility on Google Earth to recce it beforehand.

There are some spectacular roads - what are referred to in the Tour de France as "Lacets" (laces?)
 
spikehcm681 said:
Well worth visiting. Many Brits do not realise that Spain is a very mountainous country - perhaps because they promoted the Costas as a tourist destination for many years to the exclusion of other areas. If you are into wild-life photography and you're planning to go to the Picos - you're not too far from the NE of Portugal and the Montesiho Natural Park. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montesinho_Natural_Park)
This area has been depopulated over the years and is gradually becoming reclaimed by the wild-life - including Iberian Wolves.

As far as the roads are concerned - we have absolutely no problems in our 5m Transit and I would be confident driving a larger PVC along them. If I am at all concerned about a mountainous route I use the drive-through facility on Google Earth to recce it beforehand.

There are some spectacular roads - what are referred to in the Tour de France as "Lacets" (laces?)
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We are not really beach people we would rather see wildlife and mountains. I am particularly interested in Wolves, Lynx and Raptors.
 
Thanks for all these great tips. We're heading to Galicia via the Picos shortly. The campsite looks great and it's on ACSI too - win win (y)
 
Been through the area a number of times on our motorcycles (not done the area in the van yet), great climate to tour in May / June and not too busy. Try to avoid July / August (busy). (y)
 
Becoming a great thread....I totally agree with what everyone has posted so far....but I do think the coast is the best part of Spain ( Feeble attempt to keep the numbers down in the interior)
 
Were going 4th April anyone been that time of yr

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Otter Spotter said:
This is a tentative query, I am thinking of going to the National park in the next couple of years( I have to plan)

I have never been to to Spain so would be meeting up with friends who speak the lingo.
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Simple Answer -- - Just do it

as for the language simply download Duolingo and start learning you will be surprised just how easy it can be and the app helps you to Read as well as Speak Spanish
 
We've been there in April, possibly about 6 years ago, and on that occasion the weather was perfect.

It's good weather in that part of Spain now, totally different to the Med!!
 
We are planning to go to the Posada de Valdeon side of the Picos rather than the Potes side. We like walking and wildlife which side would people recommend? We are going to be there from about 1 April for a few days. Thanks
 
Redders69 said:
We are planning to go to the Posada de Valdeon side of the Picos rather than the Potes side. We like walking and wildlife which side would people recommend? We are going to be there from about 1 April for a few days. Thanks
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There’s an Aire at the Sports Centre which was 10 Euros a night, we went there in 2019. We walk to Cain had a great lunch then back, a great but tiring walk. Posada is a small village with only a small shop.
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