What a difference a border makes we have gone from the quiet sleepy villages of Portugal into the land of the loud, fast-talking Spanish.
Our chosen park up for the night is right next to the river Pontevedra which leads out to the North Atlantic Ocean and the views are lovely, however, there’s a bar next to the site which is relatively quiet all afternoon so we think it should be ok but come late evening and the sun has barely set, the party starts, where the loud music continues to thump into the early hours, at one point we even thought about getting up and joining into the Macarena!!
I’m going, to be honest, Spain, in general, isn’t my favourite destination when in the motorhome, however, it does what it says on the tin most of the time when it comes to finding places to stay and that’s all you can ask, we just need to be more choosy when finding somewhere to stay at the weekends.
The next morning we are rather bleary-eyed and some of our neighbours are already on the move, and it doesn’t take us long to pack up and move on in search of somewhere quiet for the rest of the day.
Moving further north we dip in and out of historical sites and charming fishing villages with beautiful beaches looking out to the Atlantic coast, thankfully there’s no buzzing atmosphere here.
It’s a bright morning as we bump our way towards the French border and we won’t be sad to say goodbye to the horrendous roads in this part of Spain they are more like a patchwork quilt. And as for driving that too has been challenging at times, the Spanish take the slow approach to joining the motorway, they practically stop and then speed off like they are Fernando Alonso which doesn’t help.
On the whole, Spain has offered us some great motor home spots and we have woke up to some incredible views with the weather changing daily from misty, foggy mornings to the blistering sun shining afternoons to chilly evenings, that’s seen us wearing coats and jeans one day then back into T-shirts the next let’s hope it’s adios to the cold weather now.
Poio is a perfectly preserved old town comprising an intricate network of cobbled streets dating from the 18th century.
Located just across the border in Spain we find the town of Poio and park at the designated site for motorhomes and it’s just a short walk from here that we find the interesting village of Combarra
In Combarra we spot the Galician-raised granary houses, known as Palleiras in this area they are used to grow fruit and vegetables.
The chocolate bars are huge here €14.95 per bar
The narrow alleyways of Combarra have to be discovered on foot, with some leading to the sea where you can have a paddle.
The Way of Saint James has been and keeps on being, definitely, the most ancient route, busier and more celebrated of the old continent, over the next two weeks we pass hundreds of people all walking at their own pace with Santiago De Compostela in mind, the square next to the cathedral is full of pilgrims
Santiago de Compostela is a charming cathedral city brimming with character. Located in the northwestern region of Spain, this unique destination has welcomed pilgrims for over 1,200 years, we arrive just as mass is about to start.
The focal point of the city has to be the Santiago De Compostela cathedral, a Romanesque structure with elements of Gothic and Baroque architecture.
We catch the bus into Santiago which costs us €2 return each
On leaving Santiago the weather takes a sudden turn and we find ourselves in thick fog that is clinging to the bare mountains, and we can’t even see the deep valley below, it’s a relief when it finally clears.
In less than 24 hours we have gone from t-shirts and shorts to jeans and coats, it’s blowing an absolute hooley when we arrive in Foz
We have been to Foz before but this time we park on the other side of the town in a free site.
There is almost 15 km of beaches in Foz with fine white sand that becomes more visible once the tide goes out.
The Foz estuary is a natural paradise for birds, and this part of the sea is also full of fish, not that we see any of the fishermen catch anything
Luarca is a charming fishing port that is often referred to as ‘the little white town on the Green Coast’.
The town of Luarca sits between the sea and rugged cliffs and is divided in two by the Black River. We park at the top of a hill with amazing views of the town and the sea.
In the town square, there’s a medieval fete taking place, and it’s the first event the locals have had since covid so the shops all close early so everyone can attend.
Lunch made by Pizzas de Pais at the Luarca fete is delicious.
The Transcantabrico luxury train was the first tourist train in Spain. Created in 1983 this prestige train is converted into a luxury hotel with historic original wagons dating back to the 1920s and first-class suites that combine the elegance of yesteryear and the comfort of the 21st century.
A dream trip through northern Spain on a journey through beautiful landscapes and cities of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country. Tonight it’s parked in the station next to the motor home site.
The U-shape harbour in Luarca is dotted with a few restaurants, bars and shops that line the pavements and a prom section allows for a stroll beside the water.
We walk some of the coast line at Ribadesella in search of the old lighthouse.
San Vicente de la Barquera, in Cantabria, is a picturesque town on Cantabria‘s coast with wonderful beaches, a pretty Old Town and an astounding backdrop to the Picos de Europa mountains.
At San Vicente de la Barquera we park across the bay which is popular with surfers and spend the afternoon at the beach.
I feel a new hobby coming on…..all the gear
Home for the night in San Vicente de la Barquera
It’s Monday morning and we are in desperate need of food and a trip to the laundrette before our bag of washing goes on its own!! Cup of tea and launderette to myself. €5 for an 11kg load and €4 to dry
Cabárceno Natural Park is an open-air safari park and a nature reserve located in the town of Cabárceno, and just behind the hedge where we park for the night, the Elephants roam freely.
Along with the Elephants, the Deer and water buffalo share a vast area which is wonderful to see.
The shop on wheels is busy today in Cabárceno we buy some plums and peaches
Cabárceno park up for the night right next to the lake.
Bilbao is our last stop in Spain and as we have been to the city before we opt to just have a walk around the park and look at the views.
Coordinates for sites used in Spain
Casalvito
N 42.43820
W 8.69325
Santiago de Compostela
N 42° 53′ 31
W 8° 30′ 2
Foz
N 43° 33′ 47
W 7° 15′ 28
Luarca
N 43° 32′ 18
W 6° 32′ 13
Ribadesella
N 43° 28′ 6
W 5° 5′ 25
San Vicente de la Barquera
N 43° 23′ 19
W 4° 23′ 6
Cabarceno
N 43° 21′ 31
W 3° 49′ 8
Bilbao
N 43° 15′ 35
W 2° 57′ 49