Exploring Northern Spain in a camper van

Driving Miss Daisy - exploring Northern Spain in a camper van with Daisy the Westie

“I think we had better go and change,” said my wife Judy as she took one last look at the glorious sunset and wiped a stray prawn from her forehead.

We were sitting outside our motorhome about to watch the sun go down over the Bay of Biscay and eat the fresh seafood pasta Judy had lovingly prepared.

We were tucking into the first mouthful when Daisy, our West Highland Terrier, spotted a lizard and chased after it at full pelt – pulling over the lightweight camping table I'd tied her to and covering us from head to toe in our seafood pasta and wine.

It was our first evening on holiday in Northern Spain - our experiment with taking Daisy on holiday abroad with us. Despite that one literally sticky moment, it was working out pretty well.

In the past, we'd always put Daisy in kennels which cost a fortune and left us wracked with guilt instead of enjoying our holiday. Now, we reasoned, it would cost us less to take her along and we'd all have a better time.

We'd had to get Daisy a pet passport which meant jumping through hoops with vets visits, a rabies jab and a six month wait until she could travel. But the rules will be relaxed on Jan 1 2012 to bring Britain into line with rest of Europe – reducing the waiting time to just three weeks and making everything else easier too.

We hired a motorhome and crossed over to Europe on Brittany Ferries to Santander. We planned to drive around visiting different areas in Northern Spain and then take the ferry back to Portsmouth from Bilbao.

The ferry is a great way to travel. We had our own four berth pet friendly cabin so Daisy could stay with us throughout the trip. Although, if we had wanted, we could have booked her into kennels on board instead.

Dogs are not allowed in the rest of the boat so we left Daisy in our cabin while we enjoyed everything the boat had to offer: the great cuisine in the smart restaurant, a selection of the latest films in the onboard cinema, a drink in the bar, duty free shopping and the open air pool.

Once in Santander, we headed West looking for our first campsite. Many Spanish campsites allow dogs but it is best to ring first and check as some don't.

Our first stop was the really delightful and little known Las Arenas campsite at Pechon. If you're looking for a quiet, get-away-from-it-all spot, this is the place for you.

Perched on a hill, it has beautiful views of the mountains and grassy, terraced plots running down to an attractive little beach. There is also a large pool and children's play area – so plenty to keep the kids busy.

By this time, Daisy had really settled in to life in the motorhome. She liked nothing better than sitting outside the door on guard and watching the world go by. There were some fabulous walks through woods and along cliff tops and she even enjoyed swimming in the surf.

Back in the motorhome, she quickly found her favourite sofa and would retreat for naps when it all got a bit much. (Note: remember to bring towels or other coverings for the seats – a mucky hound can wreak havoc with a motorhome's upholstery!)

After a few days, we headed into the stunning Picos De Europa mountain region and our first stop was Potes – a lovely medieval town full of stunning old buildings, cobbled streets and squares where you can have a leisurely drink or a meal while watching the world go by. Monday is market day where you can buy delicious locally-produced sausage and Picon cheese.

We visited the nearby monastery of Santo Toribio de Liebana which claims to have a piece of the true cross and has attracted pilgrims for centuries.

We also took a breathtaking – if rather terrifying – ride on the Fuente De Cable Car which hurtles up 750 metres in four minutes, taking you to stunning mountain-top alpine meadows carpeted with wild flowers. The restaurant at the top is so close to the edge you could be forgiven for thinking you are in an aeroplane when you look out of the window at the toytown villages in the distance below. (No dogs allowed in the cable car though – we had to leave Daisy in the camper in the car park.)

A motorhome gives you a lot of freedom. Ours was a five berth beauty that was amazingly easy to drive and packed with all mod cons, including satellite tv, dvd player, shower room, loo and a well-equipped kitchen. No packing and unpacking either – all our clothes were hanging up uncrumpled in the wardrobe.

The variety of landscapes on offer in Northern Spain is perfectly suited to touring. We were sunbathing on the beach one day and then having a picnic by a cool mountain stream the next.

But beware if you are a sun-worshipper, the area is known as 'Green Spain' for a reason. While it is hot when the sun shines and there is plenty of opportunity to take in the rays – it also rains a fair bit too.

Mind you, when it did rain, we just closed the door of the motorhome and snuggled up on the sofa with the dog to watch a dvd. Perfect.

Ends.

FACTS:

BRITTANY FERRIES:
Brittany Ferries operate up to 5 sailings a week from Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander and Bilbao in northern Spain.

Return fares start from £129 per person based on a family of four travelling with their car and sharing an en suite cabin.

For a family of four travelling with their dog and campervan, prices start from £166 per person.

For more information or to book, please visit www.brittanyferries.com or call 0871 244 1400

HORIZON MOTORHOMES
A 4/5 berth motorhome costs £600 per week or from £100 per night (minimum hire three nights).
For more information or to book, telephone 01691 770 770 or visit www.horizon-motorhomes.com.

CAMPSITES:
Prices vary but expect to pay around £25 per night for a family of four with a motorhome using mains electricity.

FUENTE DE CABLE CAR
Adults e15.50 Child e5.20