Santander, Turn left or turn right?

[Chestbrockwell]

Hello and Good evening campers,
We have done France several times from Troyes To St Tropez, Champagne, Lac Annecy,We love France but think we need to try Spain or Portugal we have two weeks from the 5th October, Now then do we go Santander to San Sebastian then Saint Jean De Luz then Biarritz and work are way north and also ille de rae, or do we go through Spain maybe to Portugal then back to ferry at Santander, All your suggestions /experience /thoughts Welcome.
Regards
Sean and Samantha and Derek the van.

 

[SanderR72]

If your start and end point for the ferry is Santander, you could do a nice trip in Northern Spain, skipping Portugal and France.

Are you looking for campsites with EHU or not? I hardly ever do, so my experience is based on that (most places below I visited end of August and beginning of September this year).

In random order:

Worth visiting is definitely San Sebastián. Outside of it is a nice place to stay in nature for one night. Beware however that the garbage truck might come at 1 am (happened to me) making some noise. Can be crowded however.

https://www.campercontact.com/nl/spanje/baskenland/errenteria/15155/area-de-listorreta

Laredo, small town, worth a stroll but not very spectacular:

https://www.campercontact.com/nl/spanje/cantabrie/laredo/67370/parking-de-los-tres-laredos

Burgos with a great cathedral, but I didn’t stay there.

Valladolid with a very nice park, didn’t stay for the night either.

Pamplona, really nice. This time of year you don’t have to run from the bulls in the streets ;-)

https://www.campercontact.com/nl/spanje/navarra/pamplona/19155/area-camper-berriozar

Avila, didn’t stay here for the night.

Sequovia, didn’t stay for the night.

Should you go further south, Salamanca!!!

Very nice camping with EHU:

https://www.campercontact.com/nl/spanje/castilie-en-leon/cabrerizos/26715/camping-don-quijote

These are just a few suggestions to give an impression and inspiration.

 

[Chestbrockwell]

Thank you very much sanderr72, Great information, Safe travels.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

If you turn left, it’s a beautiful trip along the Northern Spanish coast. I recently did that trip starting at Bilbao (the drive in from Santander is stunning).

Some great places Bilbao, Potes (beautiful mountain town with hiking and one of the most beautiful mountain passes I’ve driven from there to San Vincente de la Barquera). Around there you’ll find surfing beaches, fishing villages, and even a Gaudi house in Comillas.

Head further west and there’s Vigo for wine etc, I would dip into Northern Portugal for Gerês National Patk which has spectacular walking, waterfalls, lakes.

I love France (we have a home in the South), but I love Northern Spain & Portugal possibly more!

 

[Lambeth Cali]

We once did 2 weeks in August in the Cali in Northern Spain. It rained the whole time. On the ferry back we got drenched again and I remember say "what a %$£ing crap holiday" quite loudly. A couple nearby asked us what had gone wrong and I told them about the grey wet weather. They said August is often like that, September and October are much nicer. I thanked them and went off to find the bar.

 

[Chestbrockwell]

We once did 2 weeks in August in the Cali in Northern Spain. It rained the whole time. On the ferry back we got drenched again and I remember say "what a %$£ing crap holiday" quite loudly. A couple nearby asked us what had gone wrong and I told them about the grey wet weather. They said August is often like that, September and October are much nicer. I thanked them and went off to find the bar.

I hope so Lambeth Cali

 

[Bongoloidfloyd]

Why not head South(ish)?

The Rioja region is well worth a visit not just for the Crianza.

LaGuardia is a very interesting village, Logrono has some brilliant bars and there is a superb Michelin starred restaurant in Haro.

I little further down is the Costa Brava, my favourite little beach in Tamarui but there are plenty to choose from.

If you get that far then the South of France is nearby as well.

 

[Chestbrockwell]

If you turn left, it’s a beautiful trip along the Northern Spanish coast. I recently did that trip starting at Bilbao (the drive in from Santander is stunning).

Some great places Bilbao, Potes (beautiful mountain town with hiking and one of the most beautiful mountain passes I’ve driven from there to San Vincente de la Barquera). Around there you’ll find surfing beaches, fishing villages, and even a Gaudi house in Comillas.

Head further west and there’s Vigo for wine etc, I would dip into Northern Portugal for Gerês National Patk which has spectacular walking, waterfalls, lakes.

I love France (we have a home in the South), but I love Northern Spain & Portugal possibly more!

Juan, Thank you so much this is an excellent recommendation .

 

[Chestbrockwell]

Why not head South(ish)?

The Rioja region is well worth a visit not just for the Crianza.

LaGuardia is a very interesting village, Logrono has some brilliant bars and there is a superb Michelin starred restaurant in Haro.

I little further down is the Costa Brava, my favourite little beach in Tamarui but there are plenty to choose from.

If you get that far then the South of France is nearby as well.

Thank you, Rioja yes we love the wine, Great suggestions, I'm going to Google them now, Thanks again.