Portsmouth to Bilbao (1 Viewer)

[diane taylor]

We are newbies and this will be our first big adventure! Travelling down to Lagos (it’s a 3 and a half week trip). Any tips/suggestions for routes, sites etc ..TIA

 

[Bailey 15]

I will watch this with interest as we are going Santander to Lagos in May for month.
We actually dock at 2pm so probably off at 2.30 so don’t want to travel far without having a stop arranged. ( never wild camped )
Hope you get lots of replies

 

[Tony the Manc']

We are also doing Portsmouth/Santander in May. Done that ferry before with classic MG clubs....Did 3 weeks last year in Moho in France. 1st time with Moho and Lambretta on trailer. Arrive 0800 then drive to Salamanca 5 nights, 7 nights north Portugal, 7 nights south Portugal, 7 nights nr Malaga, 7 nights Almeria, 7 nights Oliva, 7 nights nr Barcelona, 7 nights nr Perpignan, 7 nights nr Avignon, 6 nights nr Beaune, 6 nights nr Reims, 5 nights nr Dieppe for ferry to Newhaven. Phew.........ABW

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[Riverbankannie]

We are also doing Portsmouth/Santander in May. Done that ferry before with classic MG clubs....Did 3 weeks last year in Moho in France. 1st time with Moho and Lambretta on trailer. Arrive 0800 then drive to Salamanca 5 nights, 7 nights north Portugal, 7 nights south Portugal, 7 nights nr Malaga, 7 nights Almeria, 7 nights Oliva, 7 nights nr Barcelona, 7 nights nr Perpignan, 7 nights nr Avignon, 6 nights nr Beaune, 6 nights nr Reims, 5 nights nr Dieppe for ferry to Newhaven. Phew.........ABW

That’s 78 nights ! 7 weeks.

 

[royandsharont]

11 weeks + 1 night

 

[Riverbankannie]

11 weeks + 1 night

Oh yes!

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[cyberyacht]

I thought that until I reread it. The previous trip to France was 3 weeks I think.

 

[Bailey 15]

Any answers or suggestions to original post would be good

 

[royandsharont]

diane taylor & Bailey 15 Ive never been down to the Algarve with the van so I cannot answer your question well and it all depends how long you want to drive for/stay & sight see & time of year but here’s some thoughts for you.

Near to the port is an ACSI site camping Oyambre it is excellent for access to the ferry ports but for me it gives easy access on bus from the site to Comillas & medieval Santillaner del Mer and from there a decent walk to the Caves at Altimera where there is prehistoric cave art. The towns are fabulous for different reasons and at the top of Spains beautiful places to visit.

I would also visit Burgos and Salamanca for their beauty & historical importance. There are ACSI campsites at both, Burgos HERE and I would use THIS one at Salamanca.

If you have the time I would also make a short detour after Burgos and visit the old Templar village of Castrojerez close to Burgos. It is physically on the Camino de Santiago running along the main street where the old church is now a fabulous museum explaining the history of the pilgrimage and an old unoccupied house close by, named Casa del Silencio, where you can enter and contemplate life. We loved it so much here we stayed ages and walked or rode up and down the Camino. We stayed at THIS campsite in the village & on the Camino . Even just for one night to visit the places mentioned and walk a while I think would be worthwhile and the old castle high up above the plain is worth the climb up if you had the time just for the views.

Also Caceres is a lovely city to visit and the ACSI site there even has your own showers etc on the pitch. There is a bus from near the site into the city which has a beautiful old quarter. I’d recommend it HERE

All these I believe will be on your route. Hope it gives you food for thought. Have a good time planning

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[scallywag15]

I will watch this with interest as we are going Santander to Lagos in May for month.
We actually dock at 2pm so probably off at 2.30 so don’t want to travel far without having a stop arranged. ( never wild camped )
Hope you get lots of replies

It takes about one and a half hours to clear port onto motorway. It carries a lot of vehicles i think you will be surprised at the size of the thing. Its like hogwarts... the decks inside move up and down.. we had to wait for deck in front to go up because of height of motorhomes.

 

[Bailey 15]

I’m claustrophobic !
Don’t like the sound of that, so you went on first then?

 

[scallywag15]

I’m claustrophobic !
Don’t like the sound of that, so you went on first then?

Its like a multistory car park..it doesnt matter if your on first last or whenever..we have got on early off last got on last got off last ...no formula involved just be patient...my wife goes into "ferry woman" mode

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[royandsharont]

Any answers or suggestions to original post would be good

It’s nice to see you appreciated the effort of the response, pity the OP has not, this is why I often wonder is it really worth all the effort at times, but I generally still offer help when able to.

 

[Bailey 15]

Oh yes
I love this forum, don’t do FB
I don’t post much but read a lot and it is so helpful and informative I luv it

 

[diane taylor]

It’s nice to see you appreciated the effort of the response, pity the OP has not, this is why I often wonder is it really worth all the effort at times, but I generally still offer help when able to.

Very disappointed that you are so quick to judge. I very much appreciated your response, detailed and informative as it was. There’s a lot going on for me at the moment…but of course you don’t know that and I’m sorry that I didn’t get chance to thank you as quickly as you would like. Today was the first chance I’ve had to come back on to the site …..a whole 48 hours later.
…

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[Eddieb]

We done this trip in January 2022 but from Portsmouth to Santander and took a leisurely six days to get to Lagos.
First stop was Lierganes about half an hour from the port - a free Aire in a lovely village.
We then stopped a couple of nights in the walled city of Avila - the Aire here is right outside the walls and for 12 euros for the night included leccy, a toilet and shower.
Next up was at Caceres a really nice campsite with great bus links to the town and each pitch has own little wash house and toilet.
The last stop before Lagos was the mountain village of Monsaraz - no facilities but views to die for.
We stayed in Lagos for a month before a two month Ziggy Zaggy route back up the road to Calais

 

[diane taylor]

We done this trip in January 2022 but from Portsmouth to Santander and took a leisurely six days to get to Lagos.
First stop was Lierganes about half an hour from the port - a free Aire in a lovely village.
We then stopped a couple of nights in the walled city of Avila - the Aire here is right outside the walls and for 12 euros for the night included leccy, a toilet and shower.
Next up was at Caceres a really nice campsite with great bus links to the town and each pitch has own little wash house and toilet.
The last stop before Lagos was the mountain village of Monsaraz - no facilities but views to die for.
We stayed in Lagos for a month before a two month Ziggy Zaggy route back up the road to Calais

Thank you, very useful….but what is an Aire?

 

[royandsharont]

Very disappointed that you are so quick to judge. I very much appreciated your response, detailed and informative as it was. There’s a lot going on for me at the moment…but of course you don’t know that and I’m sorry that I didn’t get chance to thank you as quickly as you would like. Today was the first chance I’ve had to come back on to the site …..a whole 48 hours later.
…

Sorry Diane to disappoint you, not intended, but your history shows you’ve been on the site lots since posting. If I’d have thought otherwise I wouldn’t have added my feelings.

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[EuroTrotters]

It takes about one and a half hours to clear port onto motorway. It carries a lot of vehicles i think you will be surprised at the size of the thing. Its like hogwarts... the decks inside move up and down.. we had to wait for deck in front to go up because of height of motorhomes.

20 mins for us last time !

 

[Eddieb]

Hi Diane - An Aire is not a campsite but an area usually setup and run by the local council providing overnight standing for motorhomes. The facilities and prices vary from zero upwards. They are first come first served and there is a really good app called camper contact run by some Dutch people giving details of all the Aires in each country

 

[Bailey 15]

Diane
When are you going? If it’s end of May we could meet up
We have never stayed in an Aire but would like to, I get bit nervous
But this one sounds ok we might give it a go seeing not far from port

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[stevewagner]

Very disappointed that you are so quick to judge. I very much appreciated your response, detailed and informative as it was. There’s a lot going on for me at the moment…but of course you don’t know that and I’m sorry that I didn’t get chance to thank you as quickly as you would like. Today was the first chance I’ve had to come back on to the site …..a whole 48 hours later.
…

Yes you are right the response was unnecessary. Sometimes people forget that some of us have lives outside of the forum.

 

[diane taylor]

Sorry Diane to disappoint you, not intended, but your history shows you’ve been on the site lots since posting. If I’d have thought otherwise I wouldn’t have added my feelings.

Ok, I see how that appears, however, my partner was checking up on the answers to the Leisure battery question. A bigger priority at the moment because it’s flat. Unfortunately I don’t have as much time as I’d like to focus on the forum so I won’t always be able to respond immediately.

 

[diane taylor]

Yes you are right the response was unnecessary. Sometimes people forget that some of us have lives outside of the forum.

Thank you for your understanding

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[Sapper520]

Its like a multistory car park..it doesnt matter if your on first last or whenever..we have got on early off last got on last got off last ...no formula involved just be patient...my wife goes into "ferry woman" mode

Motorcyclists are always tucked away in the bowels.…..particularly unpleasant on Pont Aven.

 

[diane taylor]

Diane
When are you going? If it’s end of May we could meet up
We have never stayed in an Aire but would like to, I get bit nervous
But this one sounds ok we might give it a go seeing not far from port

Hi, sorry for big delay in replying! For some reason I’m not getting notifications about replies Un fortunately we return to the UK on the 18th May. We will probably try one or two Aires. Hadn’t thought about whether it’s something to be nervous about! Now you’ve got me thinking

 

[Bailey 15]

Thanks for coming back
You have to tick Watch to get notification on replies
Let me know how you get on pls