Spain and Portugal – Sanabria to Braganca, Portugal

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Sanabria to Braganca, Portugal

We awake on the aire de camping cars here at Sanabria, a large concrete area adjacent to the river but no facilities except for parking, that means you need a self-contained motorhome to make the most of staying here. The day is overcast and grey when we wake. Slow breakfast and spend the morning planning what to do in Portugal: Our intention was to walk the Paiva Walkways and cross the 516-metre-long suspension bridge, but the roads have been so narrow and tortuous that we have abandoned that idea. Our progress on the mountain roads has been slow and very difficult. So for us it will not be the Paiva walkways but perhaps the railway from Porto to Pocinho.

Leaving after lunch we take the ZA-925 south through the mountains, out of Spain into Portugal onto N103-7 to Bragança, the 21 miles takes us 1-hour 50mins. We park at Parque de Autocaravanas, a terraced (mostly) level pernoita area for motorhomes beneath the castle walls. It is free, we empty the grey and toilet cassette and fill with water (the facilities OK but not very clean) and park on the lower level around 4.30pm.

We later realise this is Spanish time and Portugal are an hour behind (as the UK) so everything at the castle is closed! We return to the camper to find most spaces filled, as it starts to rain we cook chicken stir fry and open Spanish wine. Later we see the news from England that Queen Elizabeth II has been taken by car to St Giles cathedral in Edinburgh and thousands have queued to pay their respects. It is a very solemn time and one we are unlikely to see again for any future monarch (especially the next). She was a much loved and respected Queen.

Gallery Sanabria to Braganca, Portugal

Click at image to enlarge