MMM – September 2019

88 outandaboutlive.co.ukSeptember 2019

TRAVEL Spain

Pamplona

Olite

Villafranca

Zaragoza

Morella

Navajas

Aranjuez

Santa Elena

Jalance

Granada

Sierra Nevada

Soria

Teruel

Valencia

Cartagena

MálagaNerja

Murcia

Madrid

A2

A23

N232

A4

A31

N330

A44

SPAIN

N121

Bilbao

San Sebastián

Benicàssim

Vinaròs

Dénia

Benidorm

Alicante

Xàbia/Javea

Motril Almeria

Santander

= Campsite

= Route

KEY

1

2

3

4

Peniscola

Eusa

Cascante

northwest of the ci ty and leave in four miles

ontothe N10.It is dual-carriageway for 12 0

miles, past Angoulême, to the junctionwith

a fr ee sectionof A10 motorway towards

Bordeaux (routes avoiding the ci ty go far

inland, are complex andslow , so stick

with it ).

For the sugges ted Bordeaux campsite

follow airport signs going north round the

city. Otherwise, exit ontothe N230,which

turns south goingclockwise andleave on

the fr ee A63 motorway.

In 15 miles, as you approach junction 22,

you hav e a choice. To continue on the A63

(previously N10)there aretwo pay-at-toll

points.To avoid the first, exit at ju nction 18

to Pissos, returning to junction17. To avoid

the second, exit at junction 12to Dax, then

D824 and D810 towards Bayonne. These add

about 14miles, see‘the costs’ panel for tolls.

Expect central Spain to be
cold and windy. Wintry
showers are possible
Campsitesonthe Med are
busy inwinter. Many people
pre-book, but this fixes your
travel time and itinerary. If
not pre-booking, try to arrive
in early afternoon. Sites justa
few miles inland will often
have plentyofroom
Motorhome aires are not
common butmotorhome
parks, small campsites just
for ’vans, are springing up
along the coastal areas
Wild campingisless
tolerated. Large groups which
stay too long willbemoved
onbypolice

TIPS FOR SPAIN

Alternatively, at junction 22take the A660

towards Arcachon. In two miles exit on the

D216to Sanguinet, then follow the D652

thro ugh several small towns forsome 80

miles to Capbreton. The route is obviously

slow er, butmuc h prettier, avoids tolls anda

motorway busy with heavy trucks h eading

for Spain. It also has many aires and, in fine

weather, we recommend a few nights’ stop.

Stage 5: Bayonne toPamplona

From Capbreton just north of Bayonne you

havea choice again. The A63motorway

fromjunction 8 to the Spanish border has

three more toll sections; this avoids the

coastal t owns, butall the heavy trucks are

oblige d to use it.

Alternatively, the D810runs parallel

through Bayonne and past Biarr itz; slow er,

but straightforward.

Either way you arr ive at the border t own

of Hendaye and cross the ri ver in to its

Spanish neighbour, Irun. Now turn south on

the N121A, agood road thro ugh tunnels and

mountain foothills to Pamplona.

ACROSS SPAIN TO THE COSTAS

Much of central Spain is above 1,000

metres, so w intry weather is not unusual.

Fortunatel y, you cango long distances on

high-quality dual carriageways (autovias)

with light traffic. Goodprogress is

necessary as inland campsites and suitable

motorhome aires are few and far between.

We don’t tell you where to stay alon g

the coast; there is huge choice, well covered

in other ar ticl es. The Costa Brava and

Barcelon a arenot in cluded as they’re not

usually considered as winte r destinations.+