Hola! Every 90 days, the Schengen clock runs down and we need to pack up the farm, load up Dave, and hit the road. It’s bittersweet every time — but it also means an adventure, and this one did not disappoint.
This is our journey from sunny (read: 40°C and absolutely roasting) Andalusia all the way north to Calais — taking in a Spanish castle, the Basque Country, a French farmhouse, and a pizza vending machine we still can’t quite get over. Stick around to the end for the full trip cost breakdown — because this one might surprise you.
🌡️ Escaping the Heat — From 43°C to Thick Jumpers
We left the farm on a day when the temperature was sitting at 40° and climbing — with a forecast of 43° the following day and barely dropping below 38° overnight. The plan was simple: drive as far north as possible, as fast as possible.
By the time we reached Calais, we had the heating on in Dave and were buried in thick jumpers. The contrast was unreal. We went from genuinely considering building a swimming pool in the kitchen to wondering where we’d packed the gloves.
Worth it? Every degree of it.
🏕️ How We Find Places to Stay — Park4Night
Our go-to app for the whole trip was Park4Night. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a brilliant resource that shows you overnight parking spots across Europe — both free and paid, all reviewed by the community. It’s completely changed how we travel in Dave and means we find places we’d never have discovered otherwise.
🏰 Stop 1 — Castillo de Garcimuñoz, Spain (Free)
Our first overnight stop was right beside the Castillo de Garcimuñoz — a beautiful village with a castle looming over it and locals who were genuinely, warmly happy to see visitors.
We stopped at a local bar for dinner (which was amazing), and when the owners found out we were staying by the castle, they brought out a complimentary dish just to say thank you for visiting. That’s the kind of moment that makes you fall in love with slow travel. No rushing past in a hire car to the next tourist hotspot — just sitting with the locals, eating good food, and being made to feel welcome in someone’s corner of the world.
The site also had free bins and waste disposal — a bonus we always appreciate. And we had a few very cute cat visitors to round off the evening.
⛰️ The Drive North — Fog, Rain & a Road Through a Mountain
The drive from there northwards was one of the most dramatic we’ve done in Dave. Cloud-covered mountains, a road that looked like it had been carved straight through solid rock, and then — the fog. Thick, moody, beautiful fog rolling in across the hills.
And then came the rain. After months of relentless Andalusian sun, the temperature dropped about 10° in one go and suddenly wearing a jacket felt like an option again. Callum noted I always end up driving in the rain. I have no comment on that.
We also made a brief detour to Jem’s favourite shop along the way. Some things are non-negotiable on a road trip.
🎨 Stop 2 — Berastegi, Basque Country, Spain (Free)
Our next Park4Night stop was a free spot in Berastegi, a little town in the Basque Country that honestly felt like it belonged in Wales — green, lush, completely different from the dry landscape we’d left behind.
As we arrived, we spotted an enormous striking mural on the side of a building. We have no idea what the story behind it is — if you know, please tell us in the comments, because it’s been on our minds ever since.
The site had free waste disposal and bins again, plus access to some lovely walking trails. One note if you’re planning a visit: the cafes and convenience stores were closed when we arrived, so bring your own supplies to be safe. Even with that, it’s a stop we’ll absolutely come back to.
🇫🇷 Into France — Supermarkets & Croissant Strategy
Crossing into France, we made our obligatory supermarket stop to restock the van. There may have been a few extra treats that snuck into the basket. No regrets.
Not long after that, the rain really set in and we took back every word we’d said about wanting to be cold. Turns out 43° with a pool option sounds better in hindsight.
🐖 Stop 3 — French Farmhouse (Paid — Worth Every Cent)
For our third stop, we did something we don’t usually do — we paid to stay somewhere nice. The grandparents were with us for this stretch of the trip, so we thought a little luxury was in order.
We chose a gorgeous French farmhouse campsite, and it was wonderful. The kids got to swim, we had a chilled evening, and the whole place had this beautiful rustic character. There was even an adorable pet pig wandering the grounds. The shower room gave us some serious inspiration for what we want to create back at the cortijo in Andalusia.
And breakfast. Freshly baked croissants. We don’t need to say anything more.
🍕 Stop 4 — Mesnières-en-Bray, France (Free + Pizza Vending Machine)
Our final stop before the ferry was another free Park4Night spot in Mesnières-en-Bray in Normandy — complete with free waste facilities and bins. But the real discovery was just down the road: a pizza vending machine.
Friends had told us these existed in France. We’d smiled politely and assumed they were exaggerating. They were not. The pizzas were good. Actually properly good. We still can’t fully explain it, but we’re very glad we found it.
🚜 Harvest Season Tractors & the Ferry
The final stretch into Calais meant navigating harvest season — tractor after tractor on the country roads, which added some time but was a lovely reminder of where we were. Eventually we made it to Calais and onto the ferry. And just like that, the adventure was over.
(For the record: Jem drove the entire length of France. Callum drove the last two hours. He will probably tell this story differently.)
💶 What Did the Whole Trip Cost?
Here’s the full breakdown for the journey from Andalusia to Calais:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Fuel | €359 |
| Stays | €51 |
| Tolls | €0 (free roads all the way) |
| Ferry | €193.49 |
| Total | €603 (~£525) |
We could have brought the stays down to €0 if we’d skipped the farmhouse splurge — in that case the total would have been around €552 (~£480). But honestly, with the grandparents along, it was absolutely worth it.
Taking the toll-free route instead of the motorways also saved us a significant chunk — and we got to see so much more of the countryside for it.
Not bad for a family trip across two countries in a motorhome.
📺 Watch the Full Road Trip
👉 Watch the full Andalusia to Calais journey on YouTube
📲 Follow Along
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- 🛠️ YouTube: Renacer McGlynn Channel
Have you tried Park4Night, or stumbled on any quirky surprises while travelling in Europe? Tell us in the comments — we love hearing your stories. ¡Hasta la próxima! 🌻