Motorhome travel: Secrets of the Costa Brava
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Just like the Beatles sang of a secret to share, we have had a mental debate over telling our fellow motorhomers of our Spanish winter delight. We feared that it might just take the edge off the peace and quiet of our place in the sun if it’s too well known.
Eventually our desire to share this secluded corner of the Costa Brava won over; see what you think of it, but please keep it a secret.Our normal way down through France starts with the guaranteed calm crossing of the Channel on Eurotunnel sometime in February. Then turn right and follow the A16, A28, A154, A20, A61 (or sometimes on the adjacent green roads) and A9 into Spain.
(www.campinglafontainedesclercs.fr; open all year)
Stop two: Camping Etangs de Marsalin at Vert-en-Drouais
(www.campingdemarsalin.fr; open all year)
Stop three: The municipal campsite at Morterolles(87250 Morterolles-Sur-Semme; tel: 0033-555-760509)
Stop four: Camping Le Lac de la Thésauque at Nailloux
(www.campingthesauque.com)
I know most Brits seem to head a lot further south to the ‘delights’ of Benidorm and beyond, or even into Portugal, for their winter sun.
But we prefer the Costa Brava, where we have enjoyed outdoor parties or walking, cycling and trekking in T-shirts in quiet solitude in our corner of Spain.
As you can see, we don’t tend to rush down as the journey is part of the experience; smell the flowers as they say, not that there are many about in February.
Once over the Pyrenees at the southeastern corner of the French/Spanish border on the A9, it’s instantly warmer as though the mountains act like a fridge door keeping the frosts of France at bay.
A short drive of about 80km and we are enjoying the unspoilt open scenery of old Spain and our destination, the village of L’Estartit.
Our base here is a few minutes’ drive from the village centre, and like an oasis in the desert (only surrounded by fields and wildlife reserves instead of sand dunes), sits Les Medes Camping. This small family-run campsite is of the highest standard and deserves the respect it receives from its clients.
During our last over-winter spell in this part of Spain we never moved our motorised home from our comfortable pitch, being able to source all of our food and drink supplies either from the two supermarkets (within 3km) or the on-site shop. Recreation needs were also more than met with the wonderful walking, cycling and local cafés and excursions.
With the proviso the campsites do not become too busy, we hope to return…
Stop two: Camping Etangs de Marsalin at Vert-en-Drouais
(www.campingdemarsalin.fr; open all year)
Stop three: The municipal campsite at Morterolles(87250 Morterolles-Sur-Semme; tel: 0033-555-760509)
Stop four: Camping Le Lac de la Thésauque at Nailloux
(www.campingthesauque.com)
I know most Brits seem to head a lot further south to the ‘delights’ of Benidorm and beyond, or even into Portugal, for their winter sun.
But we prefer the Costa Brava, where we have enjoyed outdoor parties or walking, cycling and trekking in T-shirts in quiet solitude in our corner of Spain.
As you can see, we don’t tend to rush down as the journey is part of the experience; smell the flowers as they say, not that there are many about in February.
A short drive of about 80km and we are enjoying the unspoilt open scenery of old Spain and our destination, the village of L’Estartit.
Our base here is a few minutes’ drive from the village centre, and like an oasis in the desert (only surrounded by fields and wildlife reserves instead of sand dunes), sits Les Medes Camping. This small family-run campsite is of the highest standard and deserves the respect it receives from its clients.
During our last over-winter spell in this part of Spain we never moved our motorised home from our comfortable pitch, being able to source all of our food and drink supplies either from the two supermarkets (within 3km) or the on-site shop. Recreation needs were also more than met with the wonderful walking, cycling and local cafés and excursions.
With the proviso the campsites do not become too busy, we hope to return…
This is an extract from January 2014 MMM. To read the article in full, click here.
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