Off on a big old road trip with my partner and half year old son for a couple of months in our wee van. Which is either a brilliant idea or a dreadful one. Tbc.
Any tips of any kind for along the Atlantic coast of France (south of Brittany), Pyrenees, Navarra, Basque country - visited Bilbao and San Sebastian previously so probably going to skip in favour of new pastures and taking advantage of having a vehicle - Asturias and Galícia.
Food, culture, towns etc. No shortage of good taste round here so thought I’d ask.
Probably be chasing a few waves along the way as opposed to nightlife but would love to catch some music (heard some great basque folk stuff from John Gomez), and if I happen across some records so be it.
I went to a place for years (still do) down the Atlantic coast called Lit-Et-Mixe. Just a huge massive beach through a pine forest. Easy surf. Very chill. Etc. the campsite there is at Cap De L’homy and you can drive down to Biaritz in an hour. Top spot. You need to book the camp site in advance but maybe a van is easier. It’s pretty popular with the French as it’s so perfect. It’s also pretty cheap. Good food too.
This will be a cracker! Especially in late summer. Paul’s place on the coast sounds excellent. I’ve never heard of it and I live here and know that coast.
I always suggest Hondarribia to people. Smaller and less expensive than Donostia, but tip-top munchies! We went to Santander last year and really enjoyed it. The mountains and parks south of the city look well worth a visit.
It sounds like one of those trips where the slower you go, the more you see. Have a ball and tell us your highlights! If you want any Bdx tips, I’ll be happy to suggest some.
Paul - that’s totally the vibe. I had randomly found a place when researching really near that town and matching that description but hadn’t committed. Sounds lovely and a great endorsement.
Del - thank you. Planning on stopping in Medoc. Like you say, slow it down and see more but prioritising Spain for various reasons this trip. Which maybe makes where we stop in France all the more important, so any tips round bdx, great. Would you recommend the medoc national park and that stretch?
I saw a few of your tips in other threads. Definitely going to stop in Hondarribia.
Will chuck a few highlights back in this thread in due course.
Can definitely recommend Galicia, been twice in the past few years. Once drove up from Porto and the other time took a train from Madrid. We really liked staying in Santiago de Compostela, amazing fish market there. Pontevedra and Cambados are lovely little spots for restaurants and wine bars. Porto do Son is good for beaches and it’s worth doing some research since (as you probably know through surfing and all) the sea gets rough around there - unless that’s something you’re after which I guess it is?
Costa do Morte is called that for a reason so proceed with caution but I guess you’d find something to surf around there.
Haven’t been to A Coruna and only passed through Vigo to buy weed but I guess there’s plenty to get into in the bigger cities just never felt like that’s the best way to spend days in that part of the world.
Personally it’s all about the seafood and wine.
Should be a couple good spots in A Coruna for records, I have a friend who plays and is based there. Can ask him again as I’ve forgot them all…
I was 3 when we did a similar trip to yours in 1976 so this maybe sketchy . One thing that always stuck in my memory was some absolutely massive sand dunes in France… Looking into it, must’ve been Dune du Pilat, biggest in Europe apparently.
Also vague recollections of armed police/soldiers in the Basque country, scared the hell out of me but think you’ll be OK on that score. Have a brilliant time.
Do let us know how you get on @TobarNaCluas I’ve long wanted to do a road trip in the North. I did suggest taking time off and doing the Camino and my missus just laughed and went You?
My only experience of Santander was an overnight ferry from Plymouth in 1999 which was mostly empty apart from a few pensioners and 2 Mancunian croupiers en route to Marbella. It’s the home of the late golf legend Ballesteros and the Peñucas restaurant, run by the family of ex-Barça & Espanyol midfielder Ivan de la Peña.
If you make it as far West as Galicia, I went on a coach trip there 2/3 years back with my Mum and posted a review of sorts HERE Barely scratched the surface though
As for the French side, I really liked Bayonne. Much as I love the Med, I found myself really missing the Atlantic when we were over there last. We ate at the Le Jardin de la Pailotte Bleue on the beach, which was a bit pricey but kid-friendly with tables outside.
Musicwise, I don’t know much, because everyone I know in the North plays super dark music. Might be worth sounding out Borja & Jaime from Two Mamarrachos though to see if there are any chilled music bars near the border.
it looks incredibly romantic in film & fiction, lush landscapes and rustic vineyards but large sections are just dual carriageways and it pisses down loads
. One thing that always stuck in my memory was some absolutely massive sand dunes in France… Looking into it, must’ve been Dune du Pilat, biggest in Europe apparently.