Margaret Williamson April Travelling in our Carado motorhome, we left England at the beginning of December on the Brittany ferry from Portsmouth to Ouistreham, the port for the city of Caen. We headed south down the west coast of France to the Pyrenees. Here we paused for some time in the Basque country, hiring a car for a week out of Biarritz for a tour which included Christmas on the Spanish side of the mountains. After two months and 1, miles 2, km motorhoming through the centre of Spain, we crossed the mountainous border into Portugal.
Avoiding the crowded coast, we enjoyed a month of camping, cycling and walking in the splendid hill country along Portugal's border with Spain, from Marvao to Guarda, the country's highest town. Crossing back into Spain, we headed for Salamanca. In this travel log, we drive through Spain to Ainsa and a crossing of the Pyrenees into France through the Bielsa Tunnel at 5, ft, aiming all the time for Cherbourg and a ferry to Rosslare in southeast Ireland.
Open 27 Feb Oct. At exit 33 Vilar Formosa we turn off to check Camperstop Zaza, less than half a mile along the road towards the town. Too early in the day for us to stop, but it is certainly more accessible than the campsite at Guarda and is open all year.
The Portuguese side is busy with shops and fuel stations but there are no checks or hold-ups. Entering Spain, clocks go forward one hour. Again I notice storks nesting in trees as well as on old buildings. Shortly before Salamanca we take its outer ring road signed Tordesillas and follow it to the exit for Cabrerizos. Use the SatNav, then camping signs for the final couple of miles to find the large, popular and well organised campsite that is obviously on the migration route from Northern Europe to Southern Spain.
With several campsites round Salamanca including two other ACSI Card sites , I chose this one as it claims to be an easy cycle ride along a riverside path into the city. This will be tested tomorrow. For non-cyclists, there is also a bus. Sadly, it doesn't quite fit! Cycling 19 km return into and around Salamanca.
