Hi , just been looking at Google for sites in Portugal ,seems that there is a concensus that a lot are run down , I have only seen one at Lagos that seems to be decent, looking to travel up the coast to Porto then back to Santander ,if anyone has any recommendations I/we would be grateful.
Sites in Portugal
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After Porto camping Quinta Chevez Grande, if spelled right, was wonderful. Very rural & rustic but no pitches, pitch where you want and electric lead will reach. Dry stone walling & grape vines wonderful family owned. We stopped for 2 nights on way to Porto and stayed for 13, until the rain came and headed south instead. You’ll find it on ACSI right in the middle of the country
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Hi.
Orbitur sites.There are plenty of sites dotted about and have been posted on here,IF you can find them. One i can post is
Pacfozdoarelho@gmail.com
Look it up,seems to tick all the boxes,we will be going back to it either going down or coming back from the Algarve.
Local to us Orbitur Praia de Mira ( Closed for the winter )....Orbitur Vagueira ..Was open plus, there is an Aire down in the town 100yds from the beach...
Tea Bag
Orbitur sites.There are plenty of sites dotted about and have been posted on here,IF you can find them. One i can post is
Pacfozdoarelho@gmail.com
Look it up,seems to tick all the boxes,we will be going back to it either going down or coming back from the Algarve.
Local to us Orbitur Praia de Mira ( Closed for the winter )....Orbitur Vagueira ..Was open plus, there is an Aire down in the town 100yds from the beach...
Tea Bag
I stopped at Turiscampo near Luz a few winters ago, it was excellent. Not far from Lagos, nice cafes, fish market etc.
HugoBNB
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We were thinking of doing similar to the OP. What are the transport links like to get into the centre of Porto from here?
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Not sure, but I can't imagine they'd be very good - the quickest road route shows at 158Km, and it's very rural, and a lovely site. If you want a site with public transport access to Porto, there's an Orbitur site at Madalena on the coast S of Porto, with a (hair-raising!) bus into Porto centre from just outside the site. But the site itself was very run-down when we went, 9 years ago - it may have improved since then?
Or there's a site at Vila Cha on the coast North - site a bit odd, but you can get a taxi to the Metro station to go into Porto.
I believe there's an Aire at ParcoBiologico de Gaia, on the outskirts of Porto, plus various other aires. There was a lengthy thread here.
Sorry BnBJwf but as I said the campsite is very rural and in the middle of the whole country so is about an 80 mile drive away. I did not see any form of public transport anywhere close to the campsite
HugoBNB
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Cheers. 80 miles is a bit of a trot for sure. It still may feature in our trip though as it sounds like a good place.
Keep safe and well
BnBJwf We absolutely loved it and the Portuguese family who own/manage it were delightful. Lidia & Victor Pouwels assisted by Jorge, Lidia’s brother. Plenty of walking from site and unbelievably tranquil in a beautiful setting.
Make sure your well stocked before you arrive as nearest supermarket was in Viseu but a bbq van and a small fresh veg van came once a week & the bar also did do food & bread etc. Things may be different now.
After there we stopped at Tomar, the last stronghold of the Knights Templar & were lucky enough to be there for the Templar Festival. Fantastic experience, beautiful castle to visit & centre municipal style campsite, a bit dilapidated but worth it for the location, everything within walking distance. Then back into Spain at Caceres.
Make sure your well stocked before you arrive as nearest supermarket was in Viseu but a bbq van and a small fresh veg van came once a week & the bar also did do food & bread etc. Things may be different now.
After there we stopped at Tomar, the last stronghold of the Knights Templar & were lucky enough to be there for the Templar Festival. Fantastic experience, beautiful castle to visit & centre municipal style campsite, a bit dilapidated but worth it for the location, everything within walking distance. Then back into Spain at Caceres.
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I think it would depend very much on your definition of run down, not many that are like the UK club sites.
West Coast sites that we have used over the years are Zambujeira do Mar, Camping Milfontes at Vila Nova de Milfontes, Orbitur sites at Foz de Arelho, Praia de Mira, Rio Alto, Caminha, some better than others but all acceptable to us.
West Coast sites that we have used over the years are Zambujeira do Mar, Camping Milfontes at Vila Nova de Milfontes, Orbitur sites at Foz de Arelho, Praia de Mira, Rio Alto, Caminha, some better than others but all acceptable to us.
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HugoBNB
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Perfect, and thank you so much for the detailed information. We are arriving from France via Santiago. Plan is to then go via Porto, on to The Algarve, then into La Cala via Seville. Staying down there for a couple of weeks then going back up the East Coast of Spain to France then onto the UK.
We have always been "planners" wanting to ensure we have had places to stay (a legacy from out tugging days I think). This time we have decided that we will have a rough route in mind but will not book anything. The trip is in March so we don't think anywhere will be rammed.
A shout out to anyone who reads this post please. Any suggestions for stops or places to visit along the above rough route would be greatly received.
Stay safe and well.
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HugoBNB
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We will certainly look at these. My definition of run down is somewhere that is not that inviting to sit outside the MH with a beer on an evening. The facilities are not that important to us. So saying, I think the condition of a toilet block speaks volumes about the attitude of the people who own a site. For example, we have found a site close to the River Trent that is, on first impressions, certainly not looking like a CAMC site. However, the old looking toilet block is spotless, with branded toiletries in it. The staff are fantastic too. "Never judge a book".
Best wishes.
HugoBNB
LIFE MEMBER
Update! She, who is the best thing in my life, has just found this. I thought it was worth sharing.
indiecampers.co.uk
North West Spain Road Trip: A Unique Coastal Trip to Galicia
Cross Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia, on this North West Spain road trip along a coast full of charming fishing villages and stunning beaches.
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Sites can be a bit scruffy in Portugal but the beaches are stunning so it's worth putting up with.
2 campsites that i did like a lot though:
Camping Costa do Vizir at Porto Covo nice for a couple of days. 2 different price brackets so go for the more expensive pitches which even have a nice bit of grass by them. Gorgeous little beach walking distance from campsite. Some nice restaurants in the little town.
Orbitur Sagres. Huge site far from any roads set amongst a pine forest. We like the pitches at the far end or on the Western edge near the Chalets. Pitches aren't fancy at all but it's a nice setting and the beaches are amazing there.
2 campsites that i did like a lot though:
Camping Costa do Vizir at Porto Covo nice for a couple of days. 2 different price brackets so go for the more expensive pitches which even have a nice bit of grass by them. Gorgeous little beach walking distance from campsite. Some nice restaurants in the little town.
Orbitur Sagres. Huge site far from any roads set amongst a pine forest. We like the pitches at the far end or on the Western edge near the Chalets. Pitches aren't fancy at all but it's a nice setting and the beaches are amazing there.
Thanks Helen we will take a look
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Twogirls
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We're in Alvor for the weekend, Camping Alvor is open and there's a nice looking (but quite busy) motorhome aire right next to the boardwalk on the beach where you can walk for miles, must say the aire looked really nice when we walked past it today.
gwyntaxi
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Oh yeah , is this meant as a wind-up or have you made some mistake, we went
on the "aire " which is officially closed, and has been for the last 19 months or so, we were on it for one night there were 16 other motorhomes there and the next morning the GNR arrived in two cars plus a council pick moved everyone on and put up.new barriers, and as for looking really nice, it's looking quite shabby at the moment as it's got shrubbery growing everywhere even in the M/home service point, so I think you must be looking at a different aire, you might have seen some Van's in the palms parking area, but the aire was definitely far from open and looking lovely 10days ago, the GNR also moved us all off Ferragudo the following day, which was hardly surprising as a British couple of full-timers had 2 tables 2 full length sunbeds & 2chairs outside their van and they left them out All night and people wonder why we get moved on, talk about campsite behaviour.....Just sayin....
gwyntaxi
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This was at Ferragudo last week before we got moved on.
As far as I'm aware the "aire" at Alvor will not ever be reopening... i have been told the one at Lagos by the stadium is now taking vans again...but anyone who has stayed there will know that is certainly "cheap and rough" although we enjoyed our stay there..
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Marian Lightfoot
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Turiscampo at Espiche/Praia de Luz excellent. We were last there in November - have stayed several times. Staff friendly and helpful facilities best ever seen.
Twogirls
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Calm down dear! This our firt visit to Alvor, walked along the boardwalk yesterday and saw many MH's (including UK reg) parked in a paved area which looked very pleasant. That's all! No need to get offended, I was only trying to be helpful. If we go that way again today I'll take another look.
gwyntaxi
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Hey I think you might have taken my reply a little bit out of context, I was not offended and I wasn’t having a go at you,I just thought it’s gotta be a windup seeing as we were there the middle of last week and it was still looking neglected and run down, that’s why I thought your post was a windup, so it would have been a little misleading for anyone thinking of heading there thinking it was back open and looking lovely, thanks for your help anyway it is as you say normally a stunning area and beach, it’s just a shame the council have kept the aire closed since Covid for reasons unknown with no firm dates for reopening, hope I haven’t upset you but I’d like to know where the aire was that you seen.
gwyntaxi
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When we were there last week when the GNR Arrived with the council van which bought Carlos they guy who collects the money on the aire and I spoke to him and he says that the aire will be opening at some time but doesn’t have a clue as to when this will be, just passing the information on that I got from him, but to be honest I think the council are probably negotiating with developers.
.....just sayin.
Twogirls
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gwyntaxi I've just googled motorhome parking Alvor, and it looks like it might be this place : Estacionamento Alvor.
As I said, never been here before, noticed it yesterday and it looked busy and nice, not a rough wild camping type of place, no idea if its purely parking only or if there are services there.
As I said, never been here before, noticed it yesterday and it looked busy and nice, not a rough wild camping type of place, no idea if its purely parking only or if there are services there.
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laurieash
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Hi it looks like what we call the pines.
It's at the side of the old Aire that Carlos had.
You used to be able to park there but definitely no chairs or tables or steps or ramps. Not been since COVID
Take2
Free Member
We’re on this route in March too! Nothing booked as yet but we intend to use mostly Aires and occasional camp sites, can’t wait!!Perfect, and thank you so much for the detailed information. We are arriving from France via Santiago. Plan is to then go via Porto, on to The Algarve, then into La Cala via Seville. Staying down there for a couple of weeks then going back up the East Coast of Spain to France then onto the UK.
We have always been "planners" wanting to ensure we have had places to stay (a legacy from out tugging days I think). This time we have decided that we will have a rough route in mind but will not book anything. The trip is in March so we don't think anywhere will be rammed.
A shout out to anyone who reads this post please. Any suggestions for stops or places to visit along the above rough route would be greatly received.
Stay safe and well.
gwyntaxi
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Hi there,
Yes I know where you mean, the Palms area alongside Carlos's aire we were there last week and there were about 30 vans there one British van had a chair outside reading, the GNR had a word but didn't move anyone off, but they did move us off the aire. We love it in the Palms as Alvor is a lovely little town.
HugoBNB
LIFE MEMBER
We will keep an eye out for Funster stickers en-route. Safe travels.
I stopped at the Orbitur on the South side of Porto, the bus terminate, and left, from the site entrance but, be warned, if it's the same driver, it's not for the faint hearted, the bus passing within inches of front doors etc. at speed.
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