Seeking Sun for Xmas

First trip south in search of the sun in the Beast Read more

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Trip start
December 18, 2024
Seeking Sun for Xmas
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Day 1
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 9:18 PM
🌧 12 °C
Altitude: 171 m
England Postling 51.122877, 1.0514251°7’22” N 1°3’5” E
Farthing Common wild camp
December 18, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌧 12 °C
Stop over before channel tunnel tomorrow 7.30 in France by 9.30 French time
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Day 2
Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 7:46 PM
☁️ 5 °C
Altitude: 132 m
France Les Grandes-Côtes 48.602798, 4.74906648°36’10” N 4°44’57” E
Camp 2 near the seaside south of Reims
December 19, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C
Lovely quiet spot by a marina with a 36km walk around it. Still heading for sun so no time to do full day walks yet. That can wait until we are in southern Spain.
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Day 3
Friday, December 20, 2024 at 6:06 PM
☁️ 2 °C
Altitude: 479 m
France Saint-Lager 46.106864, 4.65466746°6’25” N 4°39’17” E
Camp 3 high up on Mont Brouilly
December 20, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C
Lovely spot looking down over the Beaujolais vineyards heading towards the Spanish border tomorrow.
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Day 4
Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 3:54 PM
☁️ 8 °C
Altitude: 596 m
France Raujoles 44.091928, 3.02211144°5’31” N 3°1’20” E
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Camp 4 La Couvertoirade
December 21, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
Lovely old walled village south of the very impressive Millau bridge. Arrived late so nobody around, pretty much like every French village we drive through anytime of the day.
Traveler That reminds me of the many bridges in Norway
1/5/25Reply
Traveler That could be somewhere in England
1/5/25Reply
Traveler 👍
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Day 5
Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 2:38 PM
☁️ 14 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Spain Cala de la Fosca 41.858712, 3.14980341°51’31” N 3°8’59” E
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Camp 5 Cala de la Fosca
December 22, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Strange drive down with horrendous winds and temperatures from 10C to 20C on the plateau before the Pyrenees then it dropped again to 14C on entering Spain. Then we were sitting in T shirts at a bar on the beach in Cala de la Fosca. First paying stop, 17 euros with electric now that we need it and hot showers. Tomorrow going down to an aire near Valencia then on to a campsite near Almeria, Wecamp Cabo de Gato for 3 nights over Christmas.Read more
Traveler You look chilled Annette 😊
12/22/24Reply
TravelerYes indeed. It’s beautiful here xx
12/23/24Reply
Traveler 👍
12/22/24Reply
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Day 6
Monday, December 23, 2024 at 10:14 AM
☀️ 11 °C
Altitude: 42 m
Spain Ferreres Aqueduct 41.145367, 1.24240341°8’43” N 1°14’33” E
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Camp 6 Sant Josep Coves Aire
December 23, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
Camp 6 an aire at the foot of a nice gorge walk and St Josep Caves accessible by boat. Arrived after a stupid big spend in Carrefour, arrived in 20C temp, nice late afternoon walk through the gorge. Next stop 288 miles away for 3 nights over Xmas.Read more
Traveler Looks amazing
12/23/24Reply
Traveler You’re kidding me, that’s the via duct just round the corner from mummy’s. 🤣🤣
12/23/24Reply
Traveler Haha no,it’s Roman, they seem to be quite common here but that one was big
12/23/24Reply
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Day 7–10
December 24, 2024 - December 27, 2024
3 nights
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Spain Las Negras 36.87191, -2.0041236°52’19” N 2°0’15” W
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Christmas 3 nights Las Negras
Dec 24–27, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Just managed to get my birthday supper of course everything is closed early today but we found a chef willing to stay on. Just a few pics from the campsite tomorrow pool and beach day. Nothing like spending Xmas day on the beach or round a pool.

Well a delicious Spanish meal, their take on bacon egg and chips and a delicious salad.Read more
Traveler What a way to spend Christmas day
1/5/25Reply
Traveler Is that your private pool? 😊
1/5/25Reply
Traveler And private beach 🤣
1/5/25Reply
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Day 9
Thursday, December 26, 2024
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 4 m
Spain Castillo de San Ramón 36.86357, -2.004236°51’49” N 2°0’15” W
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Boxing day walk
December 26, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Love;y Boxing Day walk
Traveler Oh, a bit of the staircase missing, no prob you’ll manage
1/18/25Reply
TravelerYes hop skip and a jump and I got up
1/18/25Reply
Traveler Btw , I was wondering why you’re not posting anything, I don’t get the info that there’s something new on penguins 😔, need to check my settings
1/18/25Reply
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Day 10
Friday, December 27, 2024
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Spain Playa De La Joya 36.698686, -3.48227936°41’55” N 3°28’56” W
Camp 8 Tertulia Beach
December 27, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Nice stop in a quiet aire on the edge of town tonight before we hard slightly inland tomorrow for a wild camp. Lovely walk from the aire over the cliff tops to a small beach where we saw Spanish Ibex which appear to be very good cliff climbers. Had to stop at a local bar for a couple of drinks and gratis gazpacho with the first round and gratis tapas with the second round. They really know how to look after customers here. :-)Read more
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Day 11
Saturday, December 28, 2024
☀️ 14 °C
Altitude: 406 m
Spain Gobantes 36.952642, -4.80241636°57’10” N 4°48’9” W
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Camp 9 Penarrubia
December 28, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Camp number no 9 Penarrubia on the edge of a reservoir and it’s wild. First proper wild camp off piste in a beautiful location with views to die for hot sun and peace and tranquility. Found lots of tracks so followed them only to realise they are probably wild boar or goat tracks so ended up walking down to the lake with a very long arduous walk back up other tracks past troglodyte cave houses to find ourselves above the camp spot so had to come back down. All worth it though.Read more
Traveler Are you wearing a GoPro round you chest?
1/18/25Reply
TravelerNo sunglasses
1/18/25Reply
TravelerYes, seen those, crazy, and good quality photos.
1/18/25Reply
TravelerGot the, for the last bike trip for videos but great if just walking around and don’t want to keep lifting phone up, plus nobody knows I’m taking a picture or video either, I just say “ hey meta photo or hey meta video” and the take a picture of what I’m looking at or a 1min or 3 min video. Really handy.
1/18/25Reply
Travelerthe rayban ones?
1/18/25Reply
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Day 12
Sunday, December 29, 2024
🌬 16 °C
Altitude: 26 m
Gibraltar John Mackintosh Square 36.140859, -5.35437736°8’27” N 5°21’16” W
Camp 10 Gibraltar
December 29, 2024 in Gibraltar ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
Tonight’s camp Gibraltar or near enough parked up, in the marina in Spain walking Into uk tomorrow, found a Morrisons so we can get some chicken gravy granules, she forgot, and beef gravy doesn’t work with chicken no matter what. Gibraltar nothing to shout about, but a comfortable stop in a very large aire in the marina. Had a nice walk up a gorge en route though.Read more
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Day 13
Monday, December 30, 2024
🌬 16 °C
Altitude: 21 m
Spain Iglesia San Francisco De Asis 36.013345, -5.60479336°0’48” N 5°36’17” W
Camp 11 Tarifa
December 30, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
Set off for the hills from Gibraltar but was cool and windy and since we could see a very sunny coastline decided to stay in an aire in Tarifa just 14km from Morocco. Super hot and sunny again, lovely old town and hundreds of motorhomes everywhere. 5pm and Annette’s still sitting out in shorts and t shirt and I’m having to wait for my tea.Read more
TravelerLeave her, she’s on holiday, make your own tea
1/18/25Reply
Traveler🤣🤣🤣
1/21/25Reply
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Day 14
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Spain Iglesia del Carmen 36.537107, -6.30027536°32’14” N 6°18’1” W
Camp 12 New Years Eve Cadiz
December 31, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
New Year’s Eve in Cádiz, what a fab place, hot, full of life, a labyrinth of narrow alleys with street cafes, little boutique shops especially the chocolate and fudge ones, now we know why the cruise ships come in here although wouldn’t want to be here in high season with all the cruise ship tours blocking the way.Read more
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Day 15
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 51 m
Spain El Abalario 37.086541, -6.71066537°5’12” N 6°42’38” W
Camp 13 Huelva Beach
January 1 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Camp 13 back in the wilderness amongst sand dunes, very hot and vast expanse of beach. Tested the 4x4 in soft sand so far so good.
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Day 16
Thursday, January 2, 2025
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 103 m
Portugal Odivelas 38.186951, -8.10378238°11’13” N 8°6’14” W
Camp 14 Camping Markadia Portugal
January 2 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Camp 14 now in Portugal, campsite, beautiful setting only 19 euros. So water filled up, toilet emptied, washing machine doing the washing -don’t let Annette tell you she did it cos a machine did it. 2 nights here as it was such a nice setting and have a rest so did a 9 mile walk.Read more
TravelerPitch black at night. Wandering around for 20 minutes trying to find the van after my shower 😬🤣
1/16/25Reply
TravelerBecause it’s so small, wouldn’t have happened with that German monster truck 🤣
1/18/25Reply
TravelerSo you did buy it with the washer ? Looxuri 🤣 I used to dream of avin a washer
1/18/25Reply
TravelerHa ha no washing machines on site. Only use the sites for a rest, washing and emptying waste and filling up water.
1/18/25Reply
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Day 18
Saturday, January 4, 2025
☁️ 14 °C
Altitude: 122 m
Portugal Brescovo 39.626113, -8.16226239°37’34” N 8°9’44” W
Camp 15 Tomar
January 4 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Camp 15 was going to be a wild camp at Praia Fluvial do Penelope Furado canyon in a superb setting beautiful surroundings and walks including a 4 mile board walk with a million and 2 steps. Unfortunately when we got back to the camp spot we spotted the GNR hanging around at the top of the road so decided to move on rather than risk a minimum 130 euro fine. Now parked up in a cobbled square in Tomar overlooking the river and castle.Read more
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Day 18
Saturday, January 4, 2025
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 60 m
Portugal Casa dos Cubos 39.602699, -8.41193139°36’10” N 8°24’43” W
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Camp 15 Tomar
January 4 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
2 nights in the lovely Templar town of Tomar where all the narrow streets are cobbled with white and black cobbles showing the cross of the Knights Templar. Couldn’t not visit the huge Knights Templar Tomar castle, absolutely stunning.Read more
Traveler Are these mobile phone photos? They’re good 👍
1/18/25Reply
Traveler Yes although there may be odd ones from my sunglasses too but not on this stop probably on the hot sunny ones and all videos are from sunglasses
1/18/25Reply
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Day 20
Monday, January 6, 2025
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 18 m
Portugal Praia das Rochas 39.324257, -9.35921439°19’27” N 9°21’33” W
Camp 16 Consolacao, Peniche
January 6 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
After 2 nights in the lovely town Tomar we are now in an aire back on the coast in Consolacao, a small village with a peninsula with a huge beach to the north and high cliffs to the south. A big change to the scenery of the Templar town of Tomar where all the narrow streets are cobbled with white and black cobbles showing the cross of the Knights Templar. Couldn’t not visit the huge Knights Templar Tomar castle, absolutely stunning.Read more
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Day 21
Tuesday, January 7, 2025
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 254 m
Portugal Santa Margarida da Serra 38.12196, -8.6040338°7’19” N 8°36’15” W
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Camp 17 Grandola e Santa Margarida
January 7 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Slight change in weather today with clouds, set off south to a castle village called at Obidos where cherry liqueur is the local speciality. Lovely little town surrounded by the castle walls and narrow alleys. Not sure we would come mid high season plenty of American and Chinese tourists even now but would stop by again in thier aire right next to a huge viaduct. Carried on south now parked at the top of a hill near a small chapel, lovely views and a slightly rough trip up to start with. Waze took us up the roughest track yet after crossing a gravel ford half the track was washed away and we were on 3 wheels at one point. Very impressed with the 4x4 system. Although the track wasn’t the worst bit it was low hanging branches so we managed to turn round and find another route.Read more
Traveler 👍
1/18/25Reply
Traveler Are you finding most of your night spots on park 4 night?? This one looks very peaceful
1/18/25Reply
TravelerYes or as second option search for sites but park4night better as it shows 4x4 stops and I can select by star rating so usually go for 4**** and above unless there’s nothing around then have to drop a star.
1/18/25Reply
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Day 23
Thursday, January 9, 2025
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 27 m
Spain Iglesia del Divino Salvador 37.389744, -5.992437°23’23” N 5°59’33” W
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Camp 18 Seville
January 9 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Camp 18 half way through the holiday now. We had rain last night even though it is still warm but woke up to clear blue sky. Had a good walk around Seville early on, it was actually chilly when we set off but hot on return. Did a fair bit of walking so opted for a horse drawn carriage to takes us the rest of the way, only 45 euros, which badger and Benji seemed to enjoy, finishing in La Place Espania. Superb architecture. Look what we parked next to a brand new 6x6 Bliss Mobil Expedition truck. They have just picked it up in Germany and are doing a test run in it. 24 tonnes. I felt slightly inadequate next to it but it is amazing. 3 lottery wins to buy one. Then set off for Ronda going from clear skies to strange thick fog and cold 14 deg. over the plains back to 23 deg on arrival in Ronda at 4pm. Stopped near a lake enroute to stay but decided to carry on.Read more
Traveler Great photo
1/15/25Reply
Traveler The 4 royals 🤣
1/16/25Reply
Traveler OMG what a monster. Typical German, bigger, better, stronger 🙈
1/16/25Reply
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Day 24
Friday, January 10, 2025
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 728 m
Spain Plaza Duquesa de Parcent 36.737049, -5.16508536°44’13” N 5°9’54” W
Camp 19 Ronda
January 10 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Camp 19, a nice night in the smallest but best aire yet with proper hot showers, electric included, did all washing and drying, we walked into Ronda. What a fabulous town, scenery superb, the bridges unbelievable, could have spent another day here but tomorrow is Saturday and it will be heaving.Read more
TravelerI’m adding your places to our bucket list and thought this place looked familiar. Went here when it was Andrew and Karin’s get together. Been there, done that ✅
1/18/25Reply
TravelerYes we didn’t go that time, called on the way down but it was Saturday absolutely packed and the sat nav took us through the centre over that bridge so we gave it a missed and called back on a weekday.
1/18/25Reply
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Day 24
Friday, January 10, 2025
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 380 m
Spain Gobantes 36.960464, -4.7966536°57’38” N 4°47’48” W
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Camp 20 Embalses Guadalteba
January 10 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Now parked up down a track next to a ruin in the woods overlooking another lake with fabulous views. Walked badger and Benji down for a swim which they thoroughly enjoyed as it’s still really hot.
Traveler Ooh, nice and rough
1/15/25Reply
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Day 25
Saturday, January 11, 2025
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Spain Playa Castell Del Ferro - Sotillo 36.719135, -3.36376436°43’9” N 3°21’50” W
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Camp 21 Gualchos El Romeral
January 11 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Camp 21 back on the coast back to 20+ deg feeling vey hot compared to the hills. Another super aire right on the beach amongst palm trees hot showers toilets washing machines all for 12 euros. Can’t complain. Even found a fish and chip shop Spanish style so got a take away of prawns, octopus, dog fish, squid, small fish and chips.Read more
Traveler That’s what I call holiday 👍 it all looks delicious
1/15/25Reply
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Day 26
Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 12:37 PM
☁️ 11 °C
Altitude: 854 m
Spain Gorafe 37.510979, -3.03312737°30’40” N 3°1’59” W
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Camp 22 Gorafe desert
January 12 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Camp 22 and what a fabulous camp in a spot with views to die for. Marked on park4night and a pretty rough track in places but well worth it. Left 18.5 deg c temps on the coast this morning, hit thick cold fog on the Granada plateau the temp dropped to 7.5 at one point only to drive out of it into brilliant hot sunshine again. Came up a very steep twisty narrow pass from Gorafe to park up in the Gorafe desert only to find there was an easier flat route. But all part of the fun. Had a visit from a herd of goats with their bells ringing which broke the silence for 10 minutesRead more
Traveler 16 mile hike, well I never 🤣
1/15/25Reply
TravelerI never thought there was that kind of desert/mountains in Spain. Looks amazing, we have to add it to our list
1/15/25Reply
TravelerIt’s amazing and loads of trails like this. About 4 4x4 campers like yours went past us when we were parked up.
1/15/25Reply
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Day 27
Monday, January 13, 2025 at 1:01 PM
☀️ 8 °C
Altitude: 856 m
Spain Tiscar 37.767456, -3.0226737°46’3” N 3°1’22” W
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Camp 23 cueva de Tiscar
January 13 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Camp 23 Tiscar, up in another mountain range superb scenery including waterfalls in caves. Did a very strenuous walk down the hill to the next village , it was the steepest road known to man to mankind 2:1 even had a handrail on the walls to hold onto to walk up. Sunset turned the rocks behind us red.Read more
Traveler 👍
1/16/25Reply
Traveler Looks Like youre having a great time
1/16/25Reply
TravelerOh it’s fabulous
1/16/25Reply
TravelerAnd how are the 🐕 🐕 taking it?
1/16/25Reply
TravelerThey seem to be really enjoying it. No problems at all xx
1/16/25Reply
Traveler👍
1/18/25Reply
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