FAO Chas & Cath re El Bero
Hi Chas & Cath, well we may finally get to visit this camp site in September. Having never been to El Bero before, but knbow some of the area in a car, which way do you use to get there? Can I manage it with my 8m van and are the pitches large enough? The
ACSI directions give A7 Murcia-Granada, exit 627 Alhama de Murcia. Dir. Mula route C3315 Alhama-Mula. 2nd exit El Berro C25. (1st exit not suitable for caravans). Follow signs at the beginning of the village, not through the village. Help is available
at the last incline. Call in advance! Do you have to call them and what is meant by the last incline? Do you think it would be a suitable site for Spanish friends to join us with their young family in a tent? Thanks in advance for your help. Regards,
Roy 
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Just spotted your post Roy!
The directions you list are corrrect. The road up from al Hama de Murcia is twisty windy and car must be taken at blind corners, but you will make it in your 8m 'van. Getting through al Hama is a bit of a faff with a one way system.
When you get to el Berro there's a sharp right turn up a steep hill which then turns left up to the church. Get in first or second before startinig off from the left hand side of the road.
You then travel along a narrowish road until you will finally come out behind the campsite. You pass behind the campsite and downhill past the school where you turn left to Camping Sierra Espuna!
In the past few years, the front row pitches have been made bigger, and there are a couple at the end of the first row which willeasily accomodate your van. Some of the pitches in the sceond row have sunshade frames.
Phone them or email to be sure of a longer pitch, but you can get onto other pitches at an angle. Ask for Angela and say that Catherine and Chas recommended the site to you.
Tenting ok, but no grass on pitches. They have cabines to rent as well.
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Thanks very much for this extra info, much appreciated. I knew I could rely on you. Regards Roy
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Hi again. I have looked at the route on Google Earth Chas & I see what you mean about a tight right turn at the start of the village but I am sure we shall be fine. The site says call for help with the last bit but what do they actually mean? Also are there
grocery shopping facilities in the village. If we get there and like it would we need to ensure we had enough food onboard before we got there to stay for a good while? I hope you manage to pick this up again. Ferry all booked for 30th & going from Hull now
which will make a change, only 5 miles to the port! Regards Roy0 -
The site is run by a consortium of the staff who took over when the owner decided to concentrate on his other business including the one bijou hotel in the village. They take it in turn to be on duty and have varying levels of English.
There are two small markets in the village (we prefer Fina's) and two bakers, one of which also sells stamps ( David's). Neither is expensive as they are supplying the locals. Note fresh vegatables on Thursdays and fresh meat on Fridays. Fina will carve the bits of chicken you need herself. By the way, Fina speaks fluent French - her parents were refugees from the Civil war.
There are two restaurants in town which take turns to open. Both sell good food at reasonable prices. As you probably know, 'menu del dia' for lunch can last hours - 4 courses starting with a salad which you eat as the first course on its own. Take your phrase book with you.
There are no banking facilities in town, so take spending cash with you. You can pay the campsite with your debit card.
Finaly. don't go through the village! Parked cars on the back road are the only thing to watch out for, and don't panic at the camber half way along!
Have a great trip, and say hello to Angela, Issy and the Campsite team, and to Fina - it's our turn to be envious!
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Thanks a lot Chas or Cath for getting back to me, I knew I could rely on you. I am pretty confident we shall go & if we like it we shall possibly stay a while. I will pass on your regards too. Regards, Roy
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Hope I'm not muddying the water. The tight turn is a bit of a dog. I have a semi-automatic so I put it in manual, and that's only a 6m van. Some people I talked to always come on the top road. They take the first turn coming from Alhama signed to Camping El Berro which goes up higher and comes down the hill to the entrance to the campsite just after the school and avoids the tight turn and the narrow road and any danger of missing your turn off and going through the village.
Haven't gone that way myself, but some I spoke to swear it's better. We cycled it and it's still pretty narrow and twisty, but there's little traffic - at least not in January.
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I think from what you have described Geejay that is the signposted route that Chas & I are talking about. There appears to be only 2 roads that lead to El Berro. The first exit off the C3315 I have driven in a car & it was tight & very bendy but the second
exit along the C25 is the one they say to take. The sharp right Chas is on about is at the very start of the village & you go up and around the back to the school. It is signposted but still goes through some narrow streets with houses But all should be
fine that way. Thanks for your comments. Regards, Roy0 -
Yes, the first one is the route several campers I spoke to said they always used. It comes downhill to the site. The C25 is the one I've used, and is recommended, and has the very sharp and steep bend. I think we're agreed, but it's probably six and two
threes. Enjoy your visit, Graham.0 -
I have been in contact with Angela and she said any friends of Chas & Catherine's were most welcome
and if we telephone nearer our arrival date she will try to keep one of the larger pitches you mentioned for us.
I am looking forward to it and just hope we can get up the roads in the village without too much of a problem. I fancy visiting Haro on the way down, since I have missed it many times now, but not sure whether to go from there via Aranjuez making a long drive
to El Berro or go via Zaragoza and the coast so we can stop twice on the way there to arrive much earlier in the day. Same distance but more sites on offer. Thanks once again. Regards, Roy0 -
Hi Chas, well we managed to get here and thank you for the help. I would like to post some photos of the view from our pitch, which was a bit tight to get into as it is at the end of the road almost. I think it is a newly laid on as it right at the top of
the site with covers above & we need them in the record September temperatures, 31.5C as I type. Unfortunately I am having some wifi issues with my phone. The 10mile journey from Alhama du Murcia was a slow drive along the narrow road with tight bends. Never
got out of 2/3 gear most of the way & once had to go into 1st. The roads in the village were really tricky & very steep at 2 points with hairpin bends. But we did it fine! The campsite looks good although we have not explored yet as I wanted to get set up
before the midday sun arrived. The short drive meant we were here by 1145. I don't think we shall be biking somehow. The roads are really steep & whilst I may manage it Sharon won't. Had lunch and it is not too bad in the shade at 35.4C with the breeze, hope
it stays but not too strong to cause me to take the canopy in. We have lots of friends now, flies! Here for a weeks chill I think & see if there is another way out of the village through the park instead of going down those 10 miles again. I am looking forward
to the stay & all the staff were helpfull via email & phone, but it was a good job my Spanish is reasonable. The man who checked us in thought it was perfect, I wish. Regards, Roy0 -
Well done, Roy and Sharon - You made it! We've never been there in Summer so haven't experienced el Berro in 30 plus temperatures.
Looking forward to a 'post-it' and some photos, so get your wifi sorted! In the meantime, say hello to Angela, Izzy, Paco and Rosa. If you go along to Fina's shop, say hello to her from us too.
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It was debatable whether I was going to write any stories this trip but I may just do so now. All send their regards & Fina was very pleased to learn you had sent her your best wishes today. She asked I return them to you too. We can see why you like it
here. Regards Roy0
