Portugal

Portugal has emerged as one of Europe's most popular motorhome destinations, and it is easy to see why. This compact country on the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula offers an Atlantic coastline of extraordinary drama, historic cities of genuine beauty, a food and wine culture that punches far above its weight, and a warmth of welcome that keeps motorhome travellers returning year after year. From our Pontefract depot, Portugal is a journey of approximately 1,400 miles — a genuine continental expedition, but one that rewards the effort many times over.

The most practical route from Yorkshire to Portugal involves crossing the Channel and driving through France and Spain. The Hull to Rotterdam or Zeebrugge overnight ferry is the most convenient starting point for Yorkshire travellers, saving the long drive south to the Channel ports. From the continent, the drive through France and across Spain to the Portuguese border takes two to three days, depending on how many stops you make. Many motorhome travellers use French aires for overnight stops, breaking the journey comfortably along the way. Alternatively, the Brittany Ferries service from Portsmouth to Santander puts you in northern Spain after a 24-hour crossing, from where the drive south to Portugal takes a further day through Galicia.

The Algarve, Portugal's southern coast, is the destination that draws the greatest number of motorhome visitors. Its climate — with over 300 days of sunshine per year and mild winters that rarely drop below 15 degrees — makes it a year-round destination, and a growing number of British motorhome travellers spend the winter months here. The coastline alternates between dramatic ochre cliffs, sheltered sandy coves, and long, open beaches backed by dunes. Lagos, with its historic walled old town and spectacular sea caves accessible by boat from Ponta da Piedade, is one of the most attractive towns on the coast.

Sagres, at the far south-western tip of Portugal, has a wild, windswept grandeur. The fortress, perched on a headland above crashing Atlantic waves, feels like the end of the world — and for centuries, this was precisely what it was believed to be. Cape St Vincent, just to the north, is the south-westernmost point of mainland Europe, and the sunsets from the lighthouse here are genuinely extraordinary. The surfing beaches around Sagres — Praia do Tonel and Praia do Beliche — attract surfers from across Europe.

The Alentejo, the vast region between the Algarve and Lisbon, is Portugal's undiscovered heartland. Rolling cork oak plains, whitewashed hilltop towns, and a cuisine built on bread, olive oil, pork, and wine characterise this sparsely populated region. Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a Roman temple, a medieval cathedral, and the macabre Chapel of Bones — a chapel lined with the skulls and femurs of 5,000 monks. The Alentejo coast, largely undeveloped, offers empty beaches and cliff-top walking that feel a world away from the busier Algarve.

Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, is one of Europe's most captivating cities. Built across seven hills overlooking the Tagus estuary, Lisbon offers a combination of faded grandeur, contemporary creativity, and a food scene that has exploded in recent years. The Alfama district, a maze of narrow streets and stairways beneath the Moorish castle, echoes with the sound of fado — Portugal's melancholic folk music. The Belem district, on the waterfront, contains the Tower of Belem and the Jeronimos Monastery, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites that celebrate Portugal's Age of Discovery. Motorhome parking in Lisbon requires planning, but the Lisboa Camping and Bungalows site in the Monsanto Forest Park provides a green base with bus connections to the centre.

Porto, the country's second city, straddles the River Douro in the north and has a very different character to Lisbon. Its Ribeira district, a jumble of colourful buildings tumbling down to the river, is a World Heritage Site. The port wine lodges across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia offer tours and tastings that are an essential Portuguese experience. The Livraria Lello, a stunning neo-Gothic bookshop with a crimson staircase, is frequently cited as one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world. The Douro Valley, stretching eastward from Porto, is a landscape of terraced vineyards, riverside quintas, and outstanding wine — a magnificent motorhome touring route.

Portugal's motorhome infrastructure has developed rapidly. The country has an extensive network of aires — known as areas de servico para autocaravanas — providing water, waste disposal, and often electricity at modest prices. Many are municipally operated and entirely free. The Portuguese attitude toward motorhome travellers is generally very welcoming, and the cost of living — fuel, food, campsites, and dining out — is significantly lower than in the UK, France, or Spain.

Portuguese food is one of Europe's great underrated cuisines. Bacalhau — salt cod, prepared in supposedly 365 different ways — is the national dish. Grilled sardines, cataplana (a seafood stew cooked in a clam-shaped copper pot), and pasteis de nata (custard tarts) are ubiquitous and universally excellent. Portuguese wines, from the robust reds of the Douro to the crisp vinhos verdes of the Minho, represent some of the best value in Europe. A three-course meal with wine in a local tasca rarely exceeds fifteen euros per person.

The journey to Portugal is longer than to France or the Netherlands, but the rewards are proportional. The combination of reliable sunshine, dramatic coastline, rich culture, excellent food, and genuine affordability makes Portugal one of the most satisfying motorhome destinations in Europe. Collect from our Pontefract depot, cross the Channel, and head south — Portugal awaits at the end of one of the great European driving journeys.