Southern hits and misses

           Vilanova Park was the first Spanish site of our trip. I first went there 30 years ago when it was the height of campsite luxury, and while not so cutting edge now, it is still a great place to stay, with a good restaurant and bar, a small supermarket and a swimming pool. Furthermore, plenty of trees provide well-shaded pitches when the Catalunyan sun really lights up. 

               After three nights there, during which time we visited Barcelona by bus (campsite to city centre), we headed south, first taking a short diversion to El Priorat, a wine producing area in the Sierra Montsant. Beautiful scenery, delicious wine.

               We didn’t plan stopping long around Valencia and Alicante, where extensive development has spoiled much of the coast. We stayed in Benicàssim, itself pleasant enough, at Bonterra Park, full of northern Europeans. We had a lovely evening cycle ride along the seafront.

               The terraced Camping Florantilles, near Torrevieja, is largely occupied by long-stay Brits. The site overlooks a salt lake and is surrounded by orange and lemon groves, but we were glad to be on our way, heading for more cultural destinations.

               Granada, Cordoba and Seville, fairly close to each other, are among Andalucia’s top attractions. For us, Granada was the best - we found a great site, Las Lomas at Guejar Sierra, a half-hour bus ride away - with its Moorish palaces and gardens of the Alhambra and Generalife. It can be crowded, but you scarcely notice wandering amid such beauty and you can easily spend several hours there. Afterwards, we wandered up through the alleyways of the Albaicin, the old Moorish quarter that spreads up the hillside opposite, to the mirador by San Nicolás church for a fabulous view of the Alhambra with the snow-topped Sierra Nevada beyond.

               For Cordoba, we stayed at another lovely site, Camping La Campiña at La Guijarrosa, a 50-minute bus trip away. Surrounded by olive groves, the site has an outdoor pool where Gillian enjoyed her first swim of the trip.

               Cordoba’s highlight is its two churches in one, the Mezquita, with the Catholic cathedral inside the Moorish mosque. It is an incredible space and, again, it is easy to spend much time there. Other sights include a much modernised Roman bridge, the alcazar, and captivating former Jewish and Arab quarters.

               Camping Villsom at Dos Hermanas is handy for Seville, again an easy bus ride away. The bus stops close to the amazing Plaza de España, centrepiece for the 1929 Spanish Americas Fair, and it’s a short walk from there to the cathedral and alcazar, both unquestionably worth visiting. And then there are Seville’s famous tapas bars - reputedly the best in Spain.