Wild Camping in Spain Forums

aido

Just reading March2006 MMM mag.regarding wild camping in Spain,some of the letters were very much against the practice of wild camping, they even said the local inhabitants regard wild campers as scroungers and parasites.disposing of sewage in unauthorised places etc.does this happen in spain during the winter months as is suggested.....aido Surprised

johnsandywhite

savannah

Hi, just a thought.....if you fancy wildcamping in Spain.....why not go inland and get away from the winter coastal gettos and enjoy beautiful scenery, peace, nature and the real Spain ?

ScotJimland

johnsandywhite

I agree with Savannah. We have a regular place we visit in the Orba valley. Surrounded by Orange groves. Cool

savannah

Oh...where to start ! There are SO many beautiful spots.....try by the lakeside at Iznajar, its between Granada and Antequera.....good access, then there is around El Chorro near where I live.....loads of little tucked away spots, also several large off the road layby's in Extramadura......they even have dead WOLVES by the side of the road....its THAT wild.....yes I know, it was really sad, tragic in fact, but makes a change from the poor cats and dogs in my area ! Don't really mean to be flippant......just pointing out how wild the countryside is.
Then of course there is central Portugal......beautiful...try the Estrela mountains.....but DON'T be tempted by the poor little puppies for sale in cages by the road side in the mountains ! Also, Bussaco forest area and Luso have lots of quiet little areas.I have wild camped all over inland Spain and parts of Portugal and have NEVER had any problems. Just use your common sense and be aware.....but it is NOTHING like the Costa's !
Have a great time in October.....good time to visit the south.
Lynda

Detourer

Hi

JSW......agree entirely with what you are saying, but I think that the behavior of some "wildcampers" has little or anything to do with the cost of their MHome, rather it is about attitude and care........However, I think we are shortly going to see a clampdown on wildcamping in some areas...and not just Spain....Morocco has [at last] done something about the freeloaders who spent sometimes months along the beaches in the south. In some areas the filth washed back up onto the waterline had to be seen to be believed, and often came back way along the coast from where they were camped.

You would have thought that 3000+ wild camping Mhomes would have brought something to the local economy.......not so....Main topic of conversation was how much they HAD NOT spent during their stay.

I am firmly PRO wilderness/wild camping. I just hope that the few [3000!!] don't spoil it for all........

Anyway.......This article hit the press on a popular Del Sol rag this week......Interesting.....

Quote......

SUN, SEA and SOD ALL TO PAY

In a scene straight out of Meet The Fockers, a gargantuan hotel on wheels seemed to momentarily cut out the sun as it swung off the road on to the beach. Seagulls resting happily by the water's edge as they waited to gorge on rich pickings when the returning fishing boats gutted their catch, suddenly scattered in a white whirlwind. Robert DeNiro, whose gadget packed vehicle almost stole the show in the hit film, would have smiled in appreciation at the sheet size of this alien invader. I could swear someone inside announced, "Tranquility base here the Eagle has landed". As the door opened, you fully expected to see the leg of a bulky suited spaceman reach tentatively for the ground one small step for encroachment, one giant leap for intrusion. Sure, there was a leg, then another, peeping out of crinkled shorts, followed by a T shirted pilot, a busty co pilot, a dog, chairs, a washing line hastily erected and a blast of Rod Stewart from the cockpit radio, thankfully quickly turned down. Relative peace was restored for a few minutes, then, like saucers gathering round the mother ship, more of them. Smaller this time. Four or five, circling, settling on the sand, engines whining to a whisper. And, almost as suddenly as it started, it was over. Now, between the new village of mobile homes, you could just detect the eager gulls trailing the fishing boats, but the rest o fthe sea was obscured by a wall of gleaming metal. February in Andalucia. From the northern territories of Europe, the army of sun seeking free loaders had arrived in force. No caravan fees for them. Sun, sea and sod all to pay thats what they had come here for. And doesnt it make you boil. The good souls who booked their places last autumn were installed just down the road, hooked into the electricity supply, facilities on tap, but those whose only interest was to fill every available space on the playa couldnt care less. Or, at least, thats how it appears. Isnt it time something was done? Why should these people get away with it? Who knows whats lying beneath our flag winning beaches when theyve gone? Tread carefully, because, after hours of being cooped up inside these mobile monstrosities, dogs need to go somewhere. And what happens to all that you know what in the chemical loos? I cant imagine theyll drive off with it merrily sloshing around after a fortnight. Where do they dump it? Not so long ago, it was reported that the local authorities were minded to charge such owners "landing fees" but theres little sign of it yet. Our roads are already full of them, we dont want the beaches choked, too. By now, youll realise Im no great fan of todays pantechnicons. Time was when their most modestly sized forbears mixed reasonably with the rest of seaside paraphernalia. Those were the days of hi di hi holidays, when hotels were the retreat of the rather well to do, so taking your pots and pans on an annual excursion were excusable. But, since then, bigger and not better descendants have taken over. Now they dominate, not integrate. I remember many a pleasant holiday on the Norfolk coast in a static caravan, so Im not totally against the notion of spending a week or two in such surroundings. All Im saying to these carefree travellers, is dont be selfish and try to understand the impact you can make on the environment around you.

END QUOTE.
By Brian Paine / The Euro Weekly News, 23rd Feb to 1st March 2006.

savannah

Hi Detourer.....oh no...thats all we need......bad local publicity !
People do tend to tar everyone with the same brush...lets hope not though. If only people would 'spread out' a bit more into the countryside, park considerately, leave no rubbish etc etc......we wouldn't be quite so noticeable !
Mind you, bearing in mind the deplorable state of the majority of Spanish campsites, its no wonder people want to wild camp.
Personally, I like to do both, as most people I suspect, and there ARE some lovely sites, one of my favourites is the Rio Jara site I think its called, near to Tarifa....magic, sitting there on a fine evening looking at the coast of Africa, wonderful sunset, glass of Rose in hand.....BLISS ! !

Lynda

zulurita

We like to wild camp but have stayed at a few sites in Spain. When we were in Portugal we used one site that took camping cheques at Nazare. At that time of the year NOV it was fine as there were new pitches at the top of the site, large, fully serviced pitches and we had no trouble parking up. However if these were full (there were about 10 I think) then it was a very steep drive down to other pitches and these looked quite difficult to maneuver a large motorhome.
Also when on the Algarve we looked in at a couple of sites which were either FULL or very loose soil/sand that one would become bogged down in. In fact at one place we were parked by a restaurant with the owners permission and it rained heavily that night and the campsite opposite (full) was very boggy after this.
I would say that both Spain and Portugal need to do something about their campsites, making adequate provision for motorhomes both in quantity of sites over winter, decent pitches, facilities like dumping (which are often not convenient). Also some countries motorhomers (no names) seem to grab parts of pitches that are not even their allocated pitch and are unwilling to move when a newcomer arrives looking for a pitch. Also pricing could be more realistic on some sites that charge the earth and do not in winter have many facilities open. Most motorhomers are content with a pitch that doesn't get boggy in rain, EHU water and dumping nearby.
I like the peace of wild camping but equally like to use a campsite occasionally for a week or two.
Its no wonder we wild camp, but I deplore inconsiderate people who spoil it for the locals, others or spoil the environment. Would they like it if people dumped in their gardens at home.