# On the road

> Tales of happy travelling . . .


## Posts

- [2025 Road Trip videos](https://www.xited.co.uk/2025-videos/): At last, finished editing the videos from the road trip in February 2025. Find the route map and statistics here, following on from all the individual daily posts. Part 1: Home to Royan, Gironde Estuary Part 2: Gironde Estuary to Cádiz, Spain Part 3: Cádiz to Doñana Natural Park Part 4: Doñana Natural Park to Coripe Part 5: Coripe to la Herradura Part 6: from la Herradura back to the UK
- [A long weekend in Norfolk](https://www.xited.co.uk/norfolk-broads/): Norfolk has beckoned for many years. Bev lived in Sidestrand 55 years ago and has never been back. An OGA event meant we had the excuse to go for a long weekend this month. After calling at Loughborough for an opportune eBay bike purchase we continued cross-country to meet up with the Gaffers at Bureside Holiday Park, Oby, near Thurne. We joined the circle of vans and walked down for welcome drinks and nibbles aboard the wherry, ‘Albion’. The oldest surviving wherry still working on the Broads, ‘Albion’ was built in 1898 and now carries a cargo of people enjoying… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Ullswater Rally: August 2025](https://www.xited.co.uk/ullswater-rally/): After an early start we retraced our steps from Loch Rannoch driving south where we joined the Gaffers who had already begun to gather at Ullswater Yacht Club for the North West OGA Rally, starting on Saturday 23 August. The weather forecast looked very promising and those in camper vans were directed to a large grassy field beside the lake. Having parked up and secured all the bunting, we joined our hosts in the Clubhouse for a buffet, quiz and briefing for the weekend ahead. Saturday morning dawned with very light airs and sunshine. The plan was for a gentle… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Dundee to Loch Rannoch](https://www.xited.co.uk/dundee-rannoch/): After an early rise on Tuesday to say cheerio to Ricarda, going to work on the 0710 train to Edinburgh, and breakfast with Simon & Esther, we left Dundee en route for Ullswater. The weather was forecast to continue sunny and warm in Scotland so we took the ‘Road to the Isles’, as Dad used to sing, stopping at a lay-by at Kinloch-Rannoch. After a 25-mile round trip on the bikes along flat, quiet roads we finished off with a dip in the still, peaty, chilly waters of the Loch right in front of the van. Lovely evening on the… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Limestone Pavements, Dundee & Glencoe](https://www.xited.co.uk/dundee-glencoe/): We’d decided to visit Simon before going to Ullswater for the OGA Rally on August Bank Holiday weekend. Our route there and back included several lovely days in the Lake District, Glencoe and Loch Rannoch. Our promised ‘early start’ from Grangemill on 14 August, 2025 was only an hour or so later than planned, at 1000 and we headed west for an overnight stop at Scales Campsite near Penrith. Steve found a fantastic spot to take a break, only about 3 miles off Junction 36 of the M6, Carnforth. The Newbiggom Crags Limestone Pavements are some of the best in… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Road trip to an Irish wedding](https://www.xited.co.uk/irish-wedding/): The invite to Jack and Catherine’s wedding in Galway clashed with the OGA Summer Cruise . . . Bev decided to drive across in the new little car using the Holyhead – Dublin ferry while Steve joined the Cruise with Tim as crew. Flying wasn’t going to be any cheaper than the car. Finding ‘solo traveller’ accommodation was a bit of a challenge but taking the campervan would have been almost as expensive. The resulting searches found some lovely overnight stays and driving the new little Fiat 500 was great fun.  Leaving home 0815, Thursday 24 July it was a… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Back to Longyearbyen and home . . .](https://www.xited.co.uk/longyearbyen-home/): After a careful recce of the beach where the polar bear had been the night before, Phil and Jonathan declared it safe for a shore party to walk along the terminal moraine of the glacier at Flintholmen. The terrain was very different from anything we’d been on before, soft mud and pointed hillocks where Jonathan positioned himself as lookout after carefully scouting our route. Returning to the boat for our last evening aboard it was time to pack and have a final review of the sketchbooks. Espen and the crew had prepared a great evening meal, salmon which had been… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Ny-London and a polar bear!](https://www.xited.co.uk/mansfield-polar-bear/): Yesterday morning we’d hoped to visit Ny-London but a cruise ship had arrived to take a  party of 95 ashore. There’s a limit of 100 people on site at any time. Expedition leader Phil suggested landing a small group who were prepared to take the short walk across the island. Once the cruise ship had cleared their groups an hour or so later we’d have walked across and those staying aboard could also come ashore to meet us at Ernest Mansfield’s derelict marble quarrying project, established in 1911. The walk across the island and wander round derelict remains of the… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Under the midnight sun](https://www.xited.co.uk/midnight-sun/): There isn’t ‘dawn’ of course as it never gets dark, but as we got up for breakfast the clouds were still hanging over the mountains above the Dahlbreen glacier. There was an interesting glow to the light as we headed ashore to explore the glacier from the safety of the moraine. No snowshoes needed today, just ski poles to make walking on the rocky surface a bit easier.  Plenty of interesting rocks to look at as well as sea ice from the glacier and a few tiny plants and flowers. After returning to the ship, we sailed on up Forlandsundet… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Setting sail on 'SV Noorderlicht'](https://www.xited.co.uk/leaving-longyearbyen/): Having arrived in Longyearbyen we had a day to explore before boarding the ship at 1600. It’s only a small town, built in 1906 by an American to exploit the coal. After visiting the excellent museum Steve found the Taubanesentrale (Coal Cableway Centre) was open to visit. After a climb up through the town and then up the spiral staircase it was a remarkable collection of cable tracks where trolleys of coal were brought from the mines. It was in use between 1957 and 1987. Taxis were booked at 1600 to take us down to the harbour where our ship… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Flying north, to the Arctic!](https://www.xited.co.uk/flying-arctic/): Left the campervan at home and had to take to the air for our next adventure! Lots of research led us to air travel being the only option for us to join the Art Safari sketching trip aboard ‘SV Noorderlicht’ in Svalbard. After a rather wet, long drive to the airport, with several holdups, spent the night at the Holiday Inn where the car will await our return. Early rise at 0630 to catch an Uber to Terminal 2 to save on waiting for a shuttle bus, then spent a couple of hours meeting fellow travellers before boarding SAS flight… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [2025 Road Trip: route map & statistics](https://www.xited.co.uk/2025-statistics/): Bev loves ‘crunching numbers’ and being stuck at home with a very painful hip she’s done a few statistics for the most recent road trip. There’s also the map tracing our route and overnight stopping places for future reference. This year was a shorter trip but worth it to get away from the dull English winter and see plenty of sunshine during February! We were in Schengen countries for only 33 days leaving plenty to spare for later in the year . . . Due to the storms, we forfeited the outward crossing, Portsmouth – St Malo (£260) and booked… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [The long road north: Bilbao to Caen](https://www.xited.co.uk/bilbao-caen/): With only two days to reach Caen, we still decided to do the coastal route to the French border, missed on the way down due to bad weather. Setting out from Bilbao for San Sebastián (which we sadly don’t have time to visit this time) on Wednesday morning, we finally managed to find the coast road across the Jaizkibel ridge winding along the GI-3440. What a great route with fantastic views over the ocean. Before crossing the border we dropped down to the last lighthouse on the Spanish coast, Faro de Higer and after a short stop continued to Irun.… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Segovia to Bilbao](https://www.xited.co.uk/segovia-bilbao/): Last year we discovered the Guggenheim, Bilbao is closed on Mondays, so we aim to arrive Monday evening, squeezing in an extra day on the long road north! 
- [Segovia](https://www.xited.co.uk/segovia/): Having stopped overnight on our drive down, we decided to spend a day exploring the city on our return.
- [Heading north: la Herradura to Segovia](https://www.xited.co.uk/la-herradura-segovia/): It’s time to start our journey back north for the ferry, so a last day in la Herradura before driving to Segovia.
- [Arcos de la Frontera & back to la Herradura](https://www.xited.co.uk/arcos-frontera-herradura/): On Tuesday we headed back for Arcos de la Frontera and have now returned to la Herradura.
- [Via Verde de la Sierra](https://www.xited.co.uk/via-verde-sierra/): The parking area below the small town of Coripe was so idyllic, with the option or riding the Via Verde, that we decided to stay until today.
- [from Doñana to Coripe](https://www.xited.co.uk/donana-coripe/): After a day in Doñana National Park we moved on to the Via Verde de la Sierra for a long weekend.
- [Heading west in the rain](https://www.xited.co.uk/heading-west/): It’s forecast to rain later, so we decide to move on . . . 
- [Chipiona and Sanlúcar de Barrameda](https://www.xited.co.uk/chipiona-and-sanlucar/): With the weather looking fair, we decided to stay in the area for a few more days.
- [Puerta de Santa Maria, Cadiz](https://www.xited.co.uk/puerta-santa-maria-cadiz/): Staying at a site with full facilities means we have to make use of them all!
- [Cadiz](https://www.xited.co.uk/cadiz/): The weather looks fair for a few days in Cadiz – first time we’ve been here . . .
- [South to Cadiz via Segovia](https://www.xited.co.uk/segovia-cadiz/): We hadn’t really decided when to head south, but on Monday afternoon it clouded over. We abandoned our planned scenic route from Irun to San Sebastian and set our sights on Cadiz.
- [Ile d’Oléron and Gironde Estuary en route south](https://www.xited.co.uk/gironde-estuary/): We decided to explore Château d’Oleron before driving down to Royan for our next stop along the route ‘Cachalot’ took in 1955.
- [les Sables d’Olonne & Storm Herminia](https://www.xited.co.uk/les-sables-dolonne-cachalot-storm-herminia/): Why did we visit les Sables d’Olonne? To find where ‘Cachalot’ made passage in 1955 and watch Vendee Globe arrivals.
- [to France in stormy weather: 2025](https://www.xited.co.uk/france-stormy-weather/): After an enjoyable weekend in Suffolk with the OGA, we set off for France on Sunday 26 January, 2025.
- [2024 Road Trip videos](https://www.xited.co.uk/2024-videos/): Just managed to finish last year’s road trip videos, as we start to pack for this year’s trip!
- [2023 Road Trip videos](https://www.xited.co.uk/2023-videos/): Having done a couple of videos from last year before leaving for Spain in February 2024, Bev has finally sorted out the videos from our 2023 trip! Here they all are, more than a year on! Part 1: home to la Herradura and Granada, Andalucia, February 2023 Part 2: from la Herradura and Almeria to Valencia Part 3: Parque Natural d’Albufera, mainly by bike Part 4: Dénia to Carcassonne Part 5: Carcassonne to Mürren Part 6: from Mürren to home
- [A few days in Scotland](https://www.xited.co.uk/scotland-june2024/): In search of some summer sun we set off for a few days in Scotland – chasing the most favourable weather forecasts! The plan was to meet with Simon, Ricarda and Esther for Steve to do some climbing in Torridon. The weather had turned by the time we arrived so climbing plans were changed and we drove south east to the Cairngorms. The drive up from Derbyshire was long and tedious with traffic jams, rain and diversions. We only got as far as Callandar where we decided to stop at The Lade Inn offering free overnight parking if we ate… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Route maps & spreadsheets: road trip Spring 2024](https://www.xited.co.uk/maps-data-spring2024/): Bev loves to crunch numbers and play with maps. The chilly weather since returning to the UK keeps us indoors in the warm so here’s some stats. and maps. There’s a summary of our spending in various categories, miles travelled and a couple of annotated Google maps to show where we drove the (nearly) 5,000 miles in 66 days travelling through France, Spain & Portugal this Spring. Diesel and distancesTotal distance travelled was 4,486 miles, a bit less than last year but the whole trip was quite different, staying in one place for more than a month. For our 66… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Back home: Bilbao - Portsmouth ferry](https://www.xited.co.uk/bilbao-portsmouth/): We depart our beach lay-by at Barrio Oriñón on Tuesday 23 April at 1000 in cold drizzly rain and drive the 37 km to the ferry at Zierbena, west of Bilbao, arriving at 1030. The roadsigns aren’t very clear, particularly in the spray and rain. We take at least one wrong turn to find the correct dock but finally reach the Brittany Ferry departure quay, have a quick visit from the Guardia Civil (apparently looking for illegal migrants, but very polite and friendly) and take our place in the queue of motorbikes, cars and camper vans. Once on board, we… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Picos de Europa #2: last day on the road](https://www.xited.co.uk/picos-2/): We depart the excellent campsite ‘la Era’ at 1115, Monday 22 April, intending to head for the ferry port at Bilbao as an overnight stop but using the day to take the alternative route along the N-621 after the Raiña dam to Puerto de San Glorio. At first, we’re a bit disappointed, the scenery is less dramatic, being conglomerate with planted forestry rather than limestone. The weather is also deteriorating as we look north to cloudy mountains and the sea in the distance. Continuing up the winding road to the summit we stop for lunch just above the Mirador del Corzo… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [From Portugal to the Picos de Europa](https://www.xited.co.uk/picos/): Leaving at 1100 on Saturday 20 April en route for the Picos we’ll lose a hour as we cross back into Spain, so it’a already midday! Looking for a main road across the border to speed us into the mountains we drive along the N-75 passing austere buildings of large granite blocks, with modern ones in the same style but built from faced breezeblocks. Before leaving Portugal, we make a food shop stop and stock up on Douro wines as well as port at the Chaves l’Eclerc. Hoping fuel is cheaper in Spain, we still have plenty to get us… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Port wine tasting, then north towards Spain](https://www.xited.co.uk/ferreria-port/): Bev did some research of the port lodges and booked tickets for Friday at Ferreira, the oldest lodge and still owned by the Portuguese. We set off in search of an early breakfast at the Vinte Vinte Café then joined our tour at 11am. The English-speaking guide was informative and interesting, taking us from the original house belonging to the Ferreira family through the extensive storage areas and out into the tasting room. Fourth generation Dona Antónia Ferreira, already a widow by the age of 33, inherited the fortune of the well-established wine business and successfully developed it further during… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Heading north: Lisbon to Porto](https://www.xited.co.uk/lisbon-porto/): Departing 1000 on Wednesday 17 April we’re heading for Lisbon, Porto and on to Bragança to make our way north in one long drive. Decided to use some motorways to speed it up and the Vasco da Gama bridge has tolls anyway – it’s an another amazing piece of bridge engineering and design! Stopping for lunch we continue on the autoroute A1 but in the afternoon, stopping for an ice cream, we decide to head for the centre of Porto. Further research and we’d found a possible overnight carpark under the Ponte de Dom Luis 1 bridge! Driving into Porto… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [from Comporta to the Parque Natural da Arrábida](https://www.xited.co.uk/arrabida/): On Sunday morning we set out in search of the beach at 0900 as it was going to be hot. Parking up we had breakfast in the van and spent a lovely morning swimming in the Atlantic breakers. It was too hot for a bike ride in the noonday sunshine so we drove up the 11-mile peninsula to Troia and had lunch at a Cuban bar in the marina looking across the Sado Estuary. For €25 we took the car ferry operated by Atlantic Ferries to Setúbal, saving the 70 mile drive round (with motorway tolls). We’d decided to stay… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [West to Portugal: Comporta](https://www.xited.co.uk/comporta/): Noisy dogs and some sort of industrial clatter disturbed the peace on occasions beside the disused railway at Espiel, but it was OK as an interesting, free, overnight stop. Leaving mid-morning we explored the town to find a panaderia, fuel and the road out again! It seems that Espiel is the centre of an old coal mining area and there’s still some industry. We finally find the old N-432, a deserted, fairly rutted road winding through a wide dry valley with olives, wild flowers, huge swathes of red poppies and umbrella pine. Passing the hilltop castle at Bélmez we lose… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Madinat al-Zahra](https://www.xited.co.uk/madinat/): We manage to extract ourselves from the Córdoba city parking lot by pressing the ‘info’ button on the challenging carpark machine. This still seems to be quite erratic in its operation since last year. It’s a short drive out of the city centre as we head for Madinat al-Zahra. We’re not sure what to expect but find it’s well worth a visit! The Museum and archaeological site ticket for two is only €3 with another €3 for a return bus ride up the hill to walk amongst the reconstructed city! We spent nearly three hours exploring the fascinating, extensive site… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [la Herradura to Córdoba](https://www.xited.co.uk/cordoba-2/): After a most enjoyable five weeks, we finally depart la Herradura on Tuesday 9 April. After a stop in Salobrena for food, diesel, lpg & AdBlu we set off on our favourite route up Cabra de Montes, heading for Cordoba on the A-4050 stopping for lunch in a layby and passing west of Granada on the N-432. There’s olive groves as far as you can see with plenty of processing plants then gradually, the olives give way to wheat or barley, large arable meadows and an abundance of poppies, splashing the roadsides with red. After 264 km driving in lovely… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Last few days in la Herradura](https://www.xited.co.uk/last-few-days-in-la-herradura/): Steve spent most of Friday at the workshop tidying up, getting the guitar ready to take home and making notes for future reference. Bev did the weekend shopping and went to another great flamenco class. The weekend weather looks hot but we decided to get bus tickets for Malaga on Sunday to use the second part of our excellent value x4 journey passes. Steve went for a dip in the sea but Bev reckoned it’s still too cold. She cooked the rosada for supper, bought earlier from the fresh fish stall, which was delicious while Steve practised some of Albert’s… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Bike ride and a guitar lesson](https://www.xited.co.uk/almunecar/): Giving up on a hike or ride in the mountains, we rode to Almuñécar from the campsite on Wednesday 3 April. After a more successful morning French polishing at the workshop for Steve, we took the steep Calle Real out of la Herradura then raced down the bends of the ‘Urbanisation de Cotobro’ to Playa Cotobro. This is the next bay round from Marina del Este which we decided not to visit as it would involve two more steep climbs, since there’s no route along the shoreline. Found an excellent restaurant, la Caña on the beach for an early lunch.… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [After the rains: Sierras de Tejeda](https://www.xited.co.uk/sierras-tejeda/): We’ve decided to stay at la Herradura for another week so Steve can continue to French polish the guitar before taking it home, another reason for not wishing to move on in search of better weather. Easter weekend, as promised, proved to be wet, windy and cold. On Sunday, we went in search of a meal at the curry house with camper van neighbour Bernd, only to find it’s closed, but ended up at an excellent Spanish bar/restaurant instead. Monday 1 April dawned with the clouds gone, sunshine and a bit more warmth so we took a trip in the… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [la Herradura week #4](https://www.xited.co.uk/la-herradura-4/): This week the weather has certainly been unseasonably wet and cold for the Costa Tropical! As forecast, it became dull, drizzly, chilly and very windy. By Friday evening the rain became incessant with huge puddles forming around the campsite into Saturday. The rain is set to continue for the rest of Easter weekend. Several fellow-travellers have left for a few days, moving east in the hope of less rain in the Desierto de Tabernas, loved by the film-makers of ‘Spaghetti Westerns’. With poor soil, low rainfall and temperatures that range from -5°C to 48°C, the landscape has been little changed… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Bus trips to Almuñécar and Málaga](https://www.xited.co.uk/malaga/): The local bus services are excellent and very reasonably priced. Bev went to the Friday market at Almuñécar for the princely sum of €2.70 return with a group of ‘girls’ from the campsite. Despite her usual reluctance about ‘shopping’ trips it was a good day out with some successful purchases: fresh asparagus, pots of herbs, avocados and strawberries from the local farms and a dress for Peter and Elaine’s wedding in May from one of the huge number of clothing market stalls. We finished off at a local bar for beer and tapas before catching the bus back in time… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Home to la Herradura: the route map](https://www.xited.co.uk/route-map/): Having left home just under six weeks ago, we’ve been in la Herradura for three weeks now – just one more week for Steve to finish his guitar! During the few dull days, including today, when it’s been quite chilly and raining, Bev’s spent some time crunching numbers and drawing an illustrated route map. From home to the Spanish border, just south of Perpignan, we drove 1860 km. with the next leg into Spain and south to la Herradura adding another 1429 km. Having got a stone chip that ‘grew’ into a long crack in the windscreen, we had to… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Flamenco, Fiesta and Fireworks](https://www.xited.co.uk/fiesta-st-jose/): March 19 is the feast of St José, patron saint of la Herradura and also Father’s Day in Spain. This is the most important festival in the town’s calendar with the streets cleared and traffic diversions put in place last week allowing for the fairground rides, pop up stalls and street lights to be set up. The official start was on Saturday, the day we went to Malaga for the new windscreen, but we returned in time to go to the flamenco show presented by Bev’s teacher Geno Rodriguez.  Although the schools and shops were closed on Monday and Tuesday… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [New windscreen, Montes de Malaga and a ride to the Torre](https://www.xited.co.uk/malaga-cerro-gordo/): Another early morning on Saturday is called for as we drive into Malaga for our appointment at 1000 with Carglass. On arrival, we’re waved into our allocated service bay with friendly  introductions to Carlos and Manuel. Our replacement windscreen will take about two hours, so we walk down to a suggested cafe and enjoy an excellent breakfast, cash only, at Cafetería Hermanos García. With a clear new windscreen and complimentary set of replacement wiper blades (all covered by our UK insurance with an excess of just £95) we set off to tour the Montes de Malaga (having found nowhere suitable… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [la Herradura week #2](https://www.xited.co.uk/la-herradura-2024-2/): It’s Friday night and Steve’s halfway through the guitar course. It seems to be going well and he’s enjoying the challenge. As the weather was so bad last weekend, he spent most of Saturday at the workshop. It wasn’t fit to go out anywhere, with stormy seas and torrential rain for 36 hours. The area certainly needs some rain though, there’s serious concerns over drought in southern Spain.   Last Sunday we decided to walk back up to the lighthouse and down into the Marina del Este. After a very steep descent into the deserted area, with a two-hour wait for… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [la Herradura week #1](https://www.xited.co.uk/la-herradura-2024-1/): We’re here for the whole of March as Steve’s booked onto a course with local guitar-maker, Stephen Hill to build a classic Spanish guitar. With the first class on Monday, 4 March we spent Sunday sorting out the van, moving to a better pitch (still under the avocado trees at the far end) and going for a first recce by bike of the hilly western headland. Some of the roads are pretty steep and Steve suggests using the N-340 tunnel – the traffic noise is very daunting, scary even, but we used it in both directions . . . apparently… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Arriving in la Herradura: our home for March](https://www.xited.co.uk/la-herradura-2024/): Saturday 2 March dawns very dull and chilly. We fill up with fuel and decide to clean the van, which has got very muddy with all the rain and a few diversions along dirt tracks. Setting off from Antequera, we stop at a fascinating restaurant/museum, Molina de Blanco, for coffee just outside the town. It’s full of a motley collection of farming and domestic implements from a bygone age and the coffee is very good. With tables set out for at least a couple of hundred we’re the only ones there to explore the exhibits and warm up by the… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [from Jaén to Antequera](https://www.xited.co.uk/jaen-antequera/): Having found a garage for diesel and lpg in Ubéda, we depart at 1115 Friday, 1 March on the Autovia del Olivar towards Jaén. Following a sign off the road to look for services, we ended up completely lost on a diversion through acres of olive groves, coming across Mancha Real and finally stopping at Martos, just past Jaén, for essential shopping at a DIA supermarket. We find an interesting bridge and water management system for a lunch stop along the Rio Vinabro, near the Vents da Pantalones and then continue across terraces of olives wondering where we’ll find a… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Heading south: Barcelona towards Jaén](https://www.xited.co.uk/barcelona-jaen/): After an enjoyable couple of ‘city days’ we need to start making our way south and decide to take the A7/AP-7 Autovía del Mediterráneo as there are no tolls. We leave the excellent Area Camper Barcelona Beach, Cabrera de Mar at 1130 on Wednesday 28 February having half-filled the fresh water tank and emptied the waste water. This site really does represent very good value at only €20 per 24 hours including all services and right on the train line to Barcelona. Just north of the Ebre Delta, where we spent some time last year, we stopped for lunch at… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Barcelona #2: Picasso Museum and the old city](https://www.xited.co.uk/barcelona-2/): We’d purchased afternoon tickets for the Picasso Museum, meaning we could catch a later, less busy train and have a more relaxing journey into Barcelona Arc de Triomf station on Tuesday 27 February. We planned to visit the old part of the city and had lunch in a courtyard cafe beside the Picasso Museum before going in. After visiting the museum we wandered the city for a while before finding a very good restaurant close to Arc de Triomf for supper. We were served an excellent selection of food and wines by a most engaging group of staff at Restaurant… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Barcelona #1: Sagrada Familia & Casa Mila](https://www.xited.co.uk/barcelona-1/): Having managed to secure tickets for the Sagrada Familia on Monday 26 February, we set out early to make sure we were at the queue in good time. Walked to the station and caught a very busy train into Barcelona Plaça de Catalunya. Thinking we had time for a leisurely coffee, we did leave it a bit tight to walk across the city. Arriving, somewhat stressed at the route-finding, with about 35 minutes spare, the queue wasn’t too bad. The system for entry and security was efficient and friendly. Once in the complex, we could relax and enjoy the fantastic… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Crossing the border, heading for Barcelona](https://www.xited.co.uk/cross-the-border/): It’s Saturday 24th and we’re still wondering about Barcelona as there’s lots more to see along the French coast road. After wandering among the somewhat derelict remains of the beach resort and saltpans at Sapins de la Palmas, we set off along the ‘Route des vins’ passing Leucate and St Nazaire. The excellent D914 dual carriageway south of Perpignan took us through the foothills of the Pyrenees and we spent a couple of hours in the delightful Catalan seaside village of Collioure. It’s clear to see why it was an inspiration for artists cush as Picasso, Matisse, Derain, Dufy, Chagall,… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Moving south: vultures, cheese and salt pans](https://www.xited.co.uk/moving-south/): After a very wet night, the morning dawned fair and we watched the vultures high above the cliffs above us, departing our quiet overnight pitch at 1030. We filled up with very reasonably priced fuel back in Millau and decided to visit Roquefort for a tour of the caves, as the weather was very dull and Bev loves the cheese!  We arrived in Roquefort at 1230 to find the caves weren’t open until 2pm, so enjoyed lunch in a local cafe. After the excellent tour which included tasting a variety of award-winning cheeses, we headed south on the pèage towards… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Gorges du Trèvesel and de la Jonte](https://www.xited.co.uk/gorges-trevesel-jonte/): Luckily, the quiet, small village of Nant had a fuel station and we spent a comfortable night in the deserted, free, community carpark. We had coffee at the local cafe, also serving as the boulangerie since the baker is on holiday. We refilled with diesel, put some air in the tyres and visited the tourist office to pick up a local map showing the best local scenic road routes. Although a bit overcast, the area looked interesting enough to stay a little longer. Leaving Nant at 1200 we drove up a steep winding road to the mediaeval village of Cantobré,… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Viaduc de Millau](https://www.xited.co.uk/viaduc-millau/): Having ridden under the viaduct, we decided to spend €16 for the péage and drive over the top. First, we needed to post a necklace to Roberta, inadvertently left in Bev’s purse . . . not so easy as we expected! After trying to buy a little card with envelope and stamp we discover there’s yet another disadvantage of Brexit! A Tabac no longer sells postage stamps to the UK, you have to visit la Poste (fewer in number and more limited opening hours). OK, so we find la Poste in Millau. A very helpful receptionist advised us how to… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A ride under the Viaduc de Millau to Peyre](https://www.xited.co.uk/viaduc-millau-peyre/): After finding the sunshine and a good place to park, we decided to explore the area by bike. Steve planned a route taking us up to look at the viaduct from a good vantage point above Millau, then on to the old village of Peyre. There is an excellent cycle path by the River Tarn from Millau. We then rode on the D41, a very quiet road passing under the viaduct. This took us to Peyre, classified as one of the ‘most beautiful villages in France’. The 11th century St. Christophe church and stone houses cling onto the cliffside where… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [The road south to Millau](https://www.xited.co.uk/orleans-millau/): As usual, when deciding where to go, the weather forecast is an important factor. Looked like it’s going to be raining and dull at least as far south as Clermont Ferrand so we leave Saran at 0930 and take the A71 péage from Orléans. Hopefully, speeding down the autoroute, we’ll find the sunshine today! By mid morning, the sky began to brighten as the landscape changed to the vast area of volcanic plugs of the Auvergne and Massif Central. Leaving the A71 at Clermont Ferrand (the cost of €49 toll fees just about deserved by the improved weather), we joined… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [2024 roadtrip starts: Newhaven - Dieppe](https://www.xited.co.uk/newhaven-dieppe/): This DFDS crossing is almost certainly best value on cost and convenience for us when driving south. Leaving home on Thursday, 15 February 2024 we spent a few days with family in Southampton and the Hamble before driving to Brighton . . . finding a Pizza Express in the rain and arriving at Newhaven DFDS ferry port 2100, 3rd in the queue for the morning crossing. It poured with rain all night and was quite windy so going out on deck was hardly enticing. After coffee and pains au chocolats in the very quiet bar we decided on booking a cabin… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Investing in a new van!](https://www.xited.co.uk/new-van/): Although we loved the Fiat Adria and it had served us well over many trips, it had done more than 30,000 miles, needed some possibly expensive work, was seven years old and seemed to have held its value. We’d been idly casting around looking at different vans to try and decide whether to ‘trade up’ when Steve found a Hymer 600S Free, based on a Mercedes Sprinter. Fully automatic with a much more comfortable drive, it’s a tiny bit smaller, but only three years old with just under 1,000 miles on the clock. Being Mercedes and Hymer, it wasn’t cheap,… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Short trip to Scotland](https://www.xited.co.uk/oban-dundee/): Decided to take a quick trip to join the OGA60 Round Britain Cruise fleet in Oban, then go to Dundee to visit family. Arriving in Oban, it’s very difficult to find anywhere to park a camper van and actually sleep in it overnight! When offered a berth on ‘Letty’, the issue of sleeping in the van was solved and we parked just beside the Kerrera ferry for a week. Buying the tickets is less than simple, but that’s another story! The OGA60 fleet had gathered in Oban, moored at the lovely Kerrera Marina a short water taxi ride across the… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Mürren: a little bit of history](https://www.xited.co.uk/murren-history/): We both enjoyed an excellent value week at the high profile (and high up in the mountains) historic Swiss ski resort. Situated 1,638m above sea level the only access is by rail from Lauterbrunnen or the Schilthorbahn cablecar from Stechelberg in the valley via Gimmelwald. Thankyou, John, for the invitation to join you and Tim and for getting it all organised. Given the poor snow conditions, the resort is an excellent choice providing ski-ing for those who want it along with all sorts of other activities not dependent on the snow. The four of us enjoyed some ski-ing, albeit a… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A map and some statistics for the 'big roadtrip' 2023](https://www.xited.co.uk/statistics-map/): Bev loves maps and to ‘crunch numbers’. She’s spent the last few days doing just that, as it’s been raining (and very cold) now we’re back home in Derbyshire! Here’s a few statistics and a Google map with some selected photos from the blog. Diesel and distancesTotal distance we travelled was 5,274 miles. The longest day driving was 367 miles and the shortest only 15 miles. Looking back, there are some places we could maybe have stayed longer. There weren’t many rest days from some driving, but we both enjoyed ‘moving on’ quite often. With fuel consumption at 39mpg and… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Homeward bound](https://www.xited.co.uk/homeward-bound/): Lulled to sleep on the dockside at Dunkirk by the drone of generators and occasional clank of machinery, we set the alarm for 0430 on Sunday morning. We boarded the ferry at 0530, having had coffee in the van, tucking in beside all the big trucks. The car decks were deserted. It’s only a two hour crossing, and we skipped breakfast onboard, and coffee, which was all overpriced and not very appetising so early in the morning. Driving off with the lorries, we were out of Dover by 0730, with only a cursory check by the Border Force officers, after… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [The road to Dunkirk](https://www.xited.co.uk/dunkirk/): Departing the lovely campsite on the banks of the Mosel, with wispy cloud hanging over the river, we took the road suggested by a German guy in the next door campervan. Driving high up above the vineyards from Kinheim there were some great views with what could be some good, quiet  overnight camping spots for a future trip? Conscious of the distance to Dunkirk, we wound our way down among the vineyards reaching Wittlich at 1130 where we filled up with very cheap diesel at only €1.61 a litre. It was then a motorway route all the way in lovely… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Schwarzwald to the Mosel](https://www.xited.co.uk/schwarzwald-mosel/): After our most enjoyable sojourn in Baden Baden, we needed to get some miles covered in order to reach Dunkirk by Saturday night. There was time for a short detour south to explore some more of the Black Forest and we decided to stay in Germany to avoid French motorway tolls, heading for the banks of the River Mosel. Leaving Baden Baden at 0900 we took the scenic route suggested by the most helpful lady in the Baden Baden Tourist Office, passing several deserted ski areas without any sign of snow at over 1,000m. The famously scenic route wound up… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [The road to Baden Baden](https://www.xited.co.uk/baden-baden/): After chatting with Herbert about possible good routes back to Dunkirk, we decided to spend some time exploring the Black Forest. The first stop after leaving Radolfzell on Wednesday, 15 March was St. Georgen, where we found, quite by chance, the Deutsche Phonomuseum. This museum holds a fascinating collection showing the history of the music industry starting with a phonograph invented by Thomas A Edison in 1877. There’s also a wonderful collection of clocks made in the Black Forest. Having headed for Offenburg, we were struggling to find any camping grounds for the night. It seems that, out of season,… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Visiting friends: Zurich and Radolfzell](https://www.xited.co.uk/zurich-radolfzell/): We’d arranged to visit friends before travelling back to the UK from Switzerland, so the van didn’t become our ‘home’ again for a few more days after the week in the chalet at Murren. On Sunday morning, 12 March, we bade our farewells to Tim and John. Steve managed to hire a trolley to help take our luggage back to the cablecar and we set off back down to the valley, in beautiful sunshine but leaving some fresh snow on the mountain. Departing the carpark at 12 noon, after repacking everything into the van, the 90 miles to Zurich didn’t… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A week in Mürren #3](https://www.xited.co.uk/a-week-in-murren-3/): It had snowed overnight, but was quite overcast and still too warm. Steve, Tim and John were keen to ski again for the afternoon though but Bev didn’t fancy it, preferring to walk beside the railway track from Mürren to Winteregg, a lovely trail with glimpses of the mountains through the trees as the sun tried to break through the clouds. We all met up for delicious homemade kuchen and coffee at the Winteregg chairlift restaurant. Once again, an excellent, enjoyable day for everyone! As she hadn’t been ski-ing, Bev offered to do the shop at the Co-op and cook… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A week in Mürren #2](https://www.xited.co.uk/murren-2/): After going for a walk on Wednesday, the weather forecast seemed to look like Thursday might be the last chance to ski. Although snow was forecast, the warm temperatures indicated it would likely turn to rain! Steve set out with Tim and John in somewhat dull and drizzly conditions, but Bev decided to take the cablecar down to the carpark and go for a bike ride in the valley. Everyone had a great day, the sun came out and the snow on the higher slopes was good. Bike-riding in the valley was also extremely enjoyable, mostly on good trails although… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A week in Mürren #1](https://www.xited.co.uk/murren-1/): After parking the van in the Schilthornbahn carpark at Stechelberg, we get in the queue for the cablecar up to Mürren, perched at 1650m atop the huge cliff in the Lauterbrunnen valley. There’s a massive engineering project going on to create a new station at Mürren, as well as in the valley. The ‘modern loading and unloading area’ is still under construction and it was a bit confusing where to go as we disembarked in the village. After a quick drink in the bar and confirmation about where the ‘Chalet Fontana’ is, we set off, lugging our rather heavy bags… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Avignon to Mürren: the scenic route](https://www.xited.co.uk/avignon-murren/): Having stopped overnight in Remoulins, Friday 3 March, it’s only a few minutes’ drive to the carefully guarded Visitor Centre from which it’s possible to see Pont du Gard. At €9 flat rate a day to park, we did think twice, but decided it was silly to miss seeing (and photographing) the aqueduct. We arrived at 0900 as it opened and left before 1000 to head for Grenoble on the motorway. Stopping for breakfast at a service station, we found an excellent Michelin atlas of France (ready for the next trip) and continued in lovely sunshine up the Rhone Valley.… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Barcelona to Avignon: with two diversions](https://www.xited.co.uk/barcelona-avignon/): It’s Thursday 2 March and we really MUST head north if we’re to reach Murren, Switzerland, by Sunday lunchtime, so we agree to take the hit with French motorway tolls and head off from the campsite with some of the washing still hanging up in the van, at 1130. We skirt round Barcelona making for the border and Perpignan. A trip to Barcelona will have to wait for another time, and the weather’s been much better by staying further south in Spain. After making excellent progress on the fast roads, Steve makes an error of judgement at the French border.… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Heading north: Morella to Barcelona](https://www.xited.co.uk/morella-barcelona/): We awake to look across to Morella on Tuesday, 28 February and decide to drive over to park in the town for breakfast and a brief wander around, given it’s still sub-zero and extremely windy! The streets of the walled town wind up towards the castle, a fortification since the time of the Greeks and Carthaginians to the Romans and Moors. There’s so much more to discover, but it was too cold and we took refuge in a busy cafe for breakfast and visited the Church of Santa Maria de la Major with a remarkable spiral staircase to the choir… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A day out in Dénia and chilly night at Morella](https://www.xited.co.uk/denia-morella/): Having returned south, we found better weather, although it was very windy. We spent Sunday 26 February exploring Dénia by cycling along the coast path into town. The wind made for a chilly but enjoyable day with a visit to the castle which has an impressive history. The campsite at Los Pinos was excellent value for money with friendly staff and a sense of ‘community’, we were invited to join a session on the Monday night but had already decided to leave as we’re due in Switzerland next Sunday! Our attempt to make progress north was once again cut short… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Change of plan: lots of birds then south to Dénia](https://www.xited.co.uk/albufera-denia/): After visiting the Parque Natural d’Albuferia da Valencia we’d intended to continue north and visit Barcelona on our way to Switzerland. However, the weather looks very poor for the weekend, so we head back south! We enjoy a final few hours driving around the rice fields admiring the birds following the farmers as they plough the mud in glorious sunshine: cattle egret, little egret, glossy ibis, gulls, storks, heron, cormorants, marsh harrier, booted eagle, pigeons and more . . . Let the pictures tell the story, and there will be more to come once Steve’s edited his collection. So, where… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Pedalling round the rice fields of Albufera](https://www.xited.co.uk/rice-albufera/): We’re running low on provisions, so Friday 24 February has to be a shopping day. We found a small supermarket in Sollana and decided to make the most of the good weather with a bike riding afternoon, starting at the Muntanyeta dels Sants, a limestone outcrop visible for miles around as it stands just 27m above the flat expanse of rice fields beyond the Albufera lake. A 14th century chapel was built on the top and there’s a picnic area below the rocks. Two huge motorhomes were parked up when we arrived and, on enquiry, the German occupants said they’d… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Paella and flamingoes](https://www.xited.co.uk/paella-flamingoes/): We left Coll Vert Camping, Pinedo, Valencia at noon, heading for El Palmar to find the best paella restaurant for lunch and calling at the Albufera Visitor Centre en route. The 90 minutes spent at the visitor centre were well worth it, with flamingoes up close and a tall observation tower to look out across the lake. Arriving in El Palmar just after 1400 we chose Arrocería Maribel, tucked away in a street beside one of the canals, and were lucky to find a table available. It’s recommended in the Michelin Red Guide for Valencia and certainly deserves its reputation.… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Bike ride in the Parque Natural de l’Albufera de Valencia](https://www.xited.co.uk/albufera-valencia/): Today the weather’s sunny and much warmer, so we put swimming gear into the bag, just in case. Having failed to find much information about how or where to visit the dunes and lake, we set off with a photocopied map provided by the campsite and Strava as our guide. We rode south through the forested dunes which divide the sea from the freshwater lagoon forming the major part of the Natural Park. The infrastructure seems to have suffered from the same lack of investment we’ve encountered elsewhere, but the tracks and trails are fine for bikes and we ride… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Mercat Central, Valencia and another lost phone!](https://www.xited.co.uk/mercat-central-valencia/): After finding a tapas bar for lunch in Valencia, our next stop was the Mercat Central, opened in 1928, an Art Nouveau masterpiece by architects Alejandro Soler March and Francisco Guardia Vial. It covers 8,000 square metres housing over 1200 stalls. We just had time to wander round before it all closed (including the churros stall) and went round the back to take some photos as the sun had started to shine. Continuing on our cycle tour, we admired the Estación del Norte, opened in 1917, standing next to the Bull Ring. We set off back late afternoon to allow… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A ride to Valencia on repaired bikes](https://www.xited.co.uk/valencia/): Awoke to a dull and chilly morning, for our city day by bike in Valencia. Now the bikes have both been mended, it’s the first chance to test them out and there’s a cycle track along the coast to the Port, and throughout the city. Having donned warm clothes, we set off to find the track through the dunes from our campsite, which we’ll stay at a little longer since it’s actually pretty good. The Port of Valencia is a major trading port in the western Mediterranean handling container traffic, cruise ships and ferries to the Balearics and Italy. As… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Aguilas to Valencia](https://www.xited.co.uk/aguilas-valencia/): Decided on a long driving day, heading north for Valencia. Departed the beach camping area at 1030 and took the coast road, hugging the cliffs with the sea just below. It’s great to have a proper road atlas, purchased in Almeria (but published by Michelin), which shows all the smaller roads and contours! We won’t need TomTom much today hopefully. The coast road seems to be very popular with cyclists but at El Pozo we head for the Autovia and a change of landscape. We drive through an area of mixed cultivation with quite a bit of plastic tunnels and… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A chance meeting and moving on](https://www.xited.co.uk/la-garrofa/): We found Camping La Garrofa quite by chance and what a wonderful site it is! Claiming to be the oldest camping site in Spain, it dates back to 1957. The shady pitches nestle beneath the Puente Romano de la Garrofa and the Roman Road with the modern motorway visible high above on a viaduct. Walking down under the bridge, you reach a private beach in a lovely cove. On the eastern slope there is the Torre Garía de la Garrofa, a typical Mediterranean defensive construction. This is certainly a place to return to. Having decided to move on today, we’re… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A day in Almería](https://www.xited.co.uk/almeria/): Saturday, 18 February we decided to spend the day in Almería, only 4km away from the campsite at La Garrofa. Considering it’s a busy main road with two tunnels, a bike ride seemed pretty fearsome (although we’d seen cyclists on the road). As an alternative, the campsite manager told us there’s a bus, no timetable at the weekends, just wait and hail any bus that passes . . . sure enough, this worked well and we were in the city within half an hour. We passed the port and got off the bus at the new bus and railway station.… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Over the Sierra de Baza and down to Almeria](https://www.xited.co.uk/sierra-de-baza/): Our route south from Guadix takes us over the Sierra de Baza, marked on our road atlas with a green ‘scenic route’ line. The highest mountain in the range is shown as 2271m, but we’re not sure how high the pass is since the map is not sufficiently detailed. We’ve been trying to find some better maps ever since we arrived in Spain! As almond orchards gave way to scrubland, we gradually climbed, winding our way up through pine woods. There’s snow beside the road, and posts for the snow ploughs and we’re glad of our new all season tyres… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [The cave-dwellings of Guadix](https://www.xited.co.uk/guadix/): We decided to head back towards the coast to make use of the newly repaired bikes and maybe have a swim. The weather forecast is also better down from the mountains. After patronising the local panadera in La Peza, we set off to have breakfast at the Francisco Abellan dam before heading on to see the famous Barrio of cave dwellings at Guadix. Having taken a wrong turn in the town, we asked the way from a group of Guardia Civil who seemed to have set up some sort of roadblock. After some discussion amongst themselves, two jumped into one… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A drive over the Sierra de Huétor](https://www.xited.co.uk/sierra-huetor/): As we’re  in the suburbs of Granada after collecting Steve’s bike from Ivan, and the weather’s fine, we decide to visit the Alhambra again. Last time was about 20 years ago, in November. It was wet, chilly and very crowded with tourists, so perhaps it will be better today as it’s early February and the sun’s shining. We find a parking area set aside for campervans, where we can sleep overnight (for quite a high fee, but it’s close by) and set out to buy tickets for the Alhambra . . . no such luck! The system is now very… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [More scenic routes south of Granada](https://www.xited.co.uk/orjiva-granada/): We depart La Herradura Wednesday 15 February 1130 and look forward to returning next year. We’re calling on friends from Derbyshire, who now live in Orjiva, and take the scenic route as it’s only about 50 miles. Leaving the main road at Salobreña, we stop to marvel at a huge irrigation aqueduct Cañón del rio Guadalfeo bringing water to the coastal towns. As we wind our way further up the very verdant, steep-sided gorge, it’s clearly popular with both climbers and cyclists. The huge dam at Embalse de Rules, a little further up the river was opened in 2004 but… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A scramble down to Playa Calaiza](https://www.xited.co.uk/playa-calaiza/): The sun didn’t shine today, but it was warm with a light breeze. Steve had arranged a visit to Stephen Hill’s workshop, to discuss options for joining a guitar making course. We met Alessandro, his assistant (Stephen is currently in Switzerland), and Steve will hopefully be able to return to La Herradura to join a month-long masterclass in guitar-making next year. We decided to explore the western end of the bay and find the Playa Calaiza which is apparently easier to reach by kayak than by land! The route took us through some rather sad remains of expensive villas built… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Granada to Almuñécar: Carretera de la Cabra](https://www.xited.co.uk/carretera-cabra/): Needing about an hour to do the 50 miles into the suburb of Granada where we have to take Steve’s bike, we make an early start to get the van ready and drive there for 1000. After leaving the bike with a promise from Ivan it will be a ‘very strong’ repair, we decide to take the scenic mountain route back along the Carretera de la Cabra (Road of the Goat). The weather is glorious and we saw several cyclists tackling this classic. The route is a 36 km climb with the highest point 1,358m above sea level, looks pretty… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A lazy Sunday beside the sea](https://www.xited.co.uk/la-herradura-2/): Steve’s been in touch with Ivan, the bike repair specialist in Granada, who says we can bring the bike in on Monday morning, so we decide on a lazy Sunday in La Herradura. The best bar on the beach seems to be El Bambú, where we take a late Sunday lunch and return to watch the sun go down. There’s a recently reconstructed castle at the end of the town which includes a very interesting museum commemorating the 1562 naval disaster. On 19 October, 1562, 28 galleys of the Spanish fleet, loaded with supplies, soldiers and their families set sail.… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [The road to La Herradura](https://www.xited.co.uk/la-herradura/): Still trying to decide what to do about Steve’s bike, it was disappointing to find the campsite we’d chosen as a quiet refuge for a couple of days didn’t really fit the bill. Leaving at 1130 on Saturday, 11 February Bev had found what turned out to be an excellent campsite in La Herradura, a drive of just over 100 miles.  We decided to avoid Málaga and managed to find the scenic route up over the Puerto del Leon (960m) in the Montes de Málaga to Colmenar, then drove back down towards the coast past the Viñuela Reservoir. Built across… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A day out in Ronda and poor choice of campsite](https://www.xited.co.uk/ronda/): We collected both bikes from the bike shop in Ronda in the morning of Friday, 10 February. We’d hoped the stormy weather hadn’t followed us inland, but the wind blew up really strongly as we wandered around Ronda to see the sights. Taking refuge in the Parador, we enjoyed a very expensive coffee and pastries before setting out to look over the renowned bridge into the gorge of the River Tajo, over 300 feet below. Taking 42 years to build, the Puente Nuevo was finally opened in 1793. We wandered down into the old city, but decided against going right… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [The sad tale of the bikes #1](https://www.xited.co.uk/bike-damage-1/): Having arrived in Ronda at about 1700 on Thursday, 9 February, we decided to check out what had happened to the bike cover we’d noticed had a tear following the windy night beside the sea in Bolina. As Steve brought Bev’s bike down from the rack, we were both horrified to see the state of the handlebars. Clearly, it was not just a tear in the cover, someone must have hit the rack whilst we were parked up . . . as Bev calmed down and began searching for a bike shop locally, Steve looked at his own bike. The… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [Tarifa to Ronda](https://www.xited.co.uk/tarifa-ronda/): After visiting the Baelo Claudia in the morning, Thursday, 9 February, we set off for Tarifa in search of shops and a quick visit to the most southerly point in Europe. Tarifa’s a bigger place than we’d anticipated and there was nowhere to park, or even stop so we moved on taking the coast road past Algeciras. The last time we were here was 2011 en route to Morocco. Escaping the main coast road to Marbella, we took the scenic route up into the Serrania de Ronda hoping there would be a town with some shops still open. At Castellar… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A change in the weather](https://www.xited.co.uk/bolonia/): On Tuesday, 7 February the weather took a turn for the worse, with rain and thunder in the forecast by late afternoon so we decided to head out towards Seville. Driving along some unmarked but mostly tarmac roads and stopping on several occasions as we left the National Park to watch the antics of storks, amongst other birds and beasts, we found a place to stop overnight just as the rainstorms arrived. We parked up at Puerto Gelves, a Marina on the Guadalquivir River, just a few miles from the centre of Seville. There were just two places available, at… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos
- [A ride to the Atlantic coast and back](https://www.xited.co.uk/atlantic-coast/): The ocean beckons today and we ride the 25 miles ‘there and back’ route to Matalascañas on the Atlantic coast. It’s a good tarmac road with cycle lanes and the weather’s ideal for a bike ride – cloudless skies, sunshine but not too warm. We called at a Visitor Centre and saw the Iberian or azure winged magpies, they were tempted to come close as we dropped small crumbs from our sandwiches. At Matalascañas there’s the Torre de la Higuera, one of many defensive towers built in the 16th century by King Felipe II as protection against attacks by corsairs and… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos

## Pages

- [About us](https://www.xited.co.uk/about/): In 2018 we ‘upgraded’ from our trusty Mazda Bongo to a fully self-sufficient van. This blog records our adventures, starting in January 2023 with a quick look back to 2019, the last time we left the UK pre-Covid19 lockdowns. Until September, 2023,our van was an Adria 600 Twin, based on a Fiat Ducato. Nearing the 30,000 mile mark on a 2017 plate, we replaced it with a Hymer 600S, based on a Mercedes Sprinter, first registered in 2020. It’s a bit smaller but with automatic transmission and significantly better seats, the drive is more comfortable. We’ve worked out how to… Read More »2025 Road Trip videos


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