Just returned (last night) from our Spain/Portugal Road Trip……….it has taken us 3 years to repeat some of the experiences featured in
-this time we tried to use some of the lessons learned in the ‘22 trip.
Our ‘circuit’ was clockwise this time, as opposed to anti-clockwise- and we omitted some places and featured some others. Tried to push on a bit- more distance between stops-to get to where we really wanted to go……and had tried to minimise one-night stops- but didn’t manage that entirely (we had 3 weeks as opposed to 5 this time).
So, drive to Rosslare from home in NI, a roughly 3.5 hour run. Left home at 03.15hrs to ensure arrival for the departure of Brittany Ferries “Salamanca” at 09.00 hrs.
This ship (along with the “Galicia”), replaces the “Connemara” which we used in Sept 2022, and we had high hopes for a better sailing experience, given that the Connemara was advertised as a “no frills service”.
It’s a 27.5 hour crossing to Bilbao…… not for the faint hearted…….
Stayed one night in a lovely hotel very close to Bilbao Aiport and next day drove 246 miles to Salamanca-an old friend from 2022. Two nights.
Fabulous city and our hotel very near the Puente Romana, walking distance to the centre of the old town and under-hotel parking.
Then Seville-285 miles away. Big mistake.
Lovely city, don’t get me wrong, but
bear in mind our NC is a base model, with no aircon and a soft top.
Arrived at our accommodation on the outskirts with the thermometer showing 41C……I believe Sevilla is often referred to as “The Cauldron”…….and I can see why.
In retrospect we should have broken the journey and stayed one night somewhere between Salamanca and Seville- but hey, we got 2 nights in Seville, although the heat made sight-seeing very difficult!
Then Portugal-heading for Tavira (another old friend) we crossed the border at Ayamonte/Vila Real. Only a 106 mile day, and the temperature just fell away…… arrived in the Algarve to a pleasant and very refreshing 26C. Such a welcome difference to Seville.
3 days in Tavira, then 164 miles west to Lagos and 6 nights in this wonderful town.
Henry the Navigator had his sailing school there going back in time, and despite the mass tourism, Lagos has managed to hold on to some of its history. Also visited some friends staying in Penina near Portimão, and travelled to Monchique and also Sagres in the far western Algarve.
Then north to Setubal just south of the Tagus (164 miles) for one night, before heading for Figueira da Foz , via Obidos-crossing the Tagus on one of Lisbon’s amazing bridges for another single night.
Then 114 miles to Braga, near Porto for 2 nights.
Revo-Rack still fantastic!
Heading back to Bilbao, we crossed into Spain again. Firstly 229 miles to León for 2 nights, followed by 206 miles to Bilbao for the last night, staying in the same place in which we had started the journey.
I firmly believe that a 2 night stop makes the longer journeys between stops more bearable- but the heat- especially in Spain because our route was away from the coast definitely took its toll. Our Portugal part of the tour was all coastal, either Algarve or Silver Coast and temperatures were much more bearable.
Hope these ramblings help someone else try something along these lines- good luck.
