Gibraltar to Lancashire

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norts65
Posts: 21
Joined: 25 Oct 2016, 10:00am

Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by norts65 »

I'm planning a 'book-ended' ride from Gibraltar to Gibraltar Farm and campsite, North Lancashire, which is a few miles from my home. Fly to Gibraltar mid March. Eurovelo 1 looks an obvious route through Spain and west coast France. 1) Any thoughts on why I should or shouldn't use this route? I've picked up that there's not many Spanish campsites. 2) Is accommodation easy to find through booking.com in rural Spain?
Jdsk
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Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by Jdsk »

Recent discussion of Faro to St Malo:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=148315

Jonathan
simonhill
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Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by simonhill »

EV 1 starts and runs for a fair bit through Portugal before reaching Spain.

Personally, I wouldn't follow any EV type route. Too dull and prescriptive. Certainly dip in and out of it if you want, but I'd rather construct my own more interesting and personalised route.
simonhill
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Joined: 13 Jan 2007, 11:28am
Location: Essex

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by simonhill »

Re your question about Booking.com, suck it and see.

Put in a search for a local town. Then go to their map mode. Then expand (or zoom in) and follow your route. All options are shown as you open up the map, not just the town you originally searched.
randonneur
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Joined: 9 Apr 2007, 5:55pm

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by randonneur »

I would agree with Simon, do not follow EV1.
Cycled a couple of times from Faro back to UK.
First time through Portugal where there's little evidence of EV1, but coast often built up and not so interesting, followed by coast of Northern Spain.
Second time followed Camino Via de la Plato from Seville north to intercept the Camino Francis then in reverse to the Pyrenees, with detour through the Picos Mountains. While Inland Spain is not well populated, roads are quiet and following Camino always means cheap accommodation is available.
Once in France, in summer the coastal EV1 route gets very busy, and generally headed inland for sections.
sjs
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Location: Hitchin

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by sjs »

More importantly, you need to add Gibraltar Point, Lincs to the itinerary.
Jamesh
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Joined: 2 Jan 2017, 5:56pm

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by Jamesh »

Why no campsites?

I'd be surprised there are no campsites as France and Spain is full of motorhomer Brits. Room for a little one.. !

Keep the b+b / hotel for wet weather / shower?

Cheers James
norts65
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Joined: 25 Oct 2016, 10:00am

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by norts65 »

sjs wrote: 26 Oct 2021, 10:12pm More importantly, you need to add Gibraltar Point, Lincs to the itinerary.
Of course - it’s now on my route!
norts65
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Joined: 25 Oct 2016, 10:00am

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by norts65 »

Jamesh wrote: 26 Oct 2021, 10:13pm Why no campsites?

I'd be surprised there are no campsites as France and Spain is full of motorhomer Brits. Room for a little one.. !

Keep the b+b / hotel for wet weather / shower?

Cheers James
Plenty of mororhome/campervan sites, Searchforsites is a great app for ‘vanners - but campsites are mostly on the coast
simonhill
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Location: Essex

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by simonhill »

I've seen a few camp sites down the Portuguese coast. Not many though. Mainly big places with chalets, large pitches, etc, no idea if they have places for small tents or if you have to have a large pitch.

Not sure how much the Portuguese tent camp. Not that appealing in long hot days.

Lots of motorhomes, but they are using car park type sites. These official sites are common and cheap. I spoke to someone who was paying €3 a night including electricity. Not good news for campsite owners.

Don't know about wild camping but lots of sand dunes and pine forests near the coast. In popular areas often no camping/parking/etc signs, but nothing in wilder areas.

Quite a lot of hostels with dorm prices around €18- 20 now. These are bookable on booking.com.
Ron
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Joined: 5 Jan 2007, 9:07pm

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by Ron »

Jamesh wrote: 26 Oct 2021, 10:13pmWhy no campsites?
IME in France the problem was not one of just finding campsites.
It appeared that seasonal sites opened later than Brits might expect.
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Tigerbiten
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Joined: 29 Jun 2009, 6:49am

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by Tigerbiten »

Plus I find that a lot of site on the coast are setup for family groups.
So it's a flat rate per night set to a couple of adults pus kids.
That makes it two or three times more expensive than if you're paying per person.

Luck .......... :D
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Mick F
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Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by Mick F »

Gibraltar.
Been there many times in my life in the RN, and also been there a couple of times after.

When there in 1986 and in 1988, I had a bike with me on the ships. Ridden up to the top of The Rock and back down, but I found it harder work coming down than going up.

The hills are about 33% or even steeper in places, so it takes strength and a good set of gears, but in 1986 I did it on a Raleigh Esquire with a 3sp SA. :D

Coming down, it's hard on the arms and the hands pulling the brakes all the way down.
Hairpin bends, so you can't just let fly!

Any road up, it's highly recommended cycling The Rock, so if you visit with a bike, take the time there to have a go.
Up from the town past the Cable Car and the casino (is it still there?) and to St Michael's Cave, then up and up and up. :D
Mick F. Cornwall
Jamesh
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Joined: 2 Jan 2017, 5:56pm

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by Jamesh »

Ron wrote: 27 Oct 2021, 1:08pm
Jamesh wrote: 26 Oct 2021, 10:13pmWhy no campsites?
IME in France the problem was not one of just finding campsites.
It appeared that seasonal sites opened later than Brits might expect.
Agreed!

We went to majorca in may and anything touristy was still closed! It was 25° yet still shut up like Tenby in January!!

Inland you might have more success. Perhaps the many small holdings might have somewhere to stay? Just ask the right person in town with a poor dodgy face!

Cheers James
pete75
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Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 2:37pm

Re: Gibraltar to Lancashire

Post by pete75 »

sjs wrote: 26 Oct 2021, 10:12pm More importantly, you need to add Gibraltar Point, Lincs to the itinerary.
That's where I keep my boat. Can be a bit grim - photo taken early June last year.
IMG_20200606_075537.jpg
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
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