Picos de Europe - recommended sites

BernhardandCatharine
BernhardandCatharine Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited January 2016 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Fellow members, can anyone recommend any sites in the Picos de Europe, Spain; in August - Thank you

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  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #2

    Predictably enough, Camping Picos de Europa. Many reviews available on line. 

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #3

    Stayed at a few, this one was okay, absolutely beautiful scenery.

    http://www.picos-europa.com/ficha.php?id=2

  • Cartledge
    Cartledge Forum Participant Posts: 267
    100 Comments
    edited January 2016 #4

    We have used Camping La Viorna, near Potes in the heart of the Picos Europa Mountains. We found it a very pleasant site, with a very plesant family running it, a convenient but limited restraurant and shop and a pleasant pool. It is within a few minutes
    walk of the town which is well worth a visit, but quite a pull uphill in the way back on foot.

    There are caveats. The site access, via Defile La Hermida, is a bit scary. The road passes through a narrow limestone gorge for some 12 miles just before Potes. The overhanging cliffs mean that you will have to pull out with a high vehicle or caravan in
    a few places to avoid hitting the overhangs with your van roof. Local traffic can be a bit fast, overtaking in death defying places. The main problem is the coaches going up and down the gorge. You can avoid these by going up or down at lunch time from 1pm
    onwards. You just have to go slowly anbd ignore the queue behind you until you can pause. Frankly, you need a strong stomach on this road with a caravan or tallish motorhome.

    Once at the site, its very beautiful, but on a steep slope so pitches are on terraces which can be small and not the easiest to reverse onto. It will be very busy in August.

    If you do a search on YouTube, (La Hermida) you can see videos of the gorge taken by motorcyclists which show the nature of the road. One is about 17 minutes long going down the gorge and very graphic; called 'bajando desfiladero de la hermida'.

    Best of luck

    Peter.

    e

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #5

    We also stayed at La Viorna, at Potes, and agree with everything Cartledge has posted. We tow a small 2 berth 'van, but I was glad when we emerged unscathed from the narrow, winding road. Hubby, who was driving, didn't find it any problem whatsoever though.

    The area is fantastic for walking, birdwatching cycling etc. Very popular with British bikers when we were there, also a lot of butterfly twitchers.

    We've also stayed at Avin, on the other side of the Picos. This is better situated for the Cares gorge, and is much easier to access. Preferred Potes, though...

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