Review - CoolCamping Cookbook 2nd Edition

I didn´t see the first edition of this book but the 2nd edition is fab. I read the introduction and preparation pages which mentioned tasty treats to prepare at home, so dove to that section at back of the book and was hooked.

Chocolate Cement, Orange-baked Muffins (that´s choccy cake baked inside whole oranges) and Grand Marnier marinated oranges, a far cry from my normal camping offerings. I was already imagining summer BBQs with these delicious puds, let alone campfire fare.

This is the first book I´ve read backwards and from its initial impact it didn´t dissapoint. If you´re campsite offerings, like mine, are pretty basic take up the CoolCamper challenge and you´ll be preparing a Sunday joint, Risotto and Salt-baked fish among other foodie delights. Never again will I set my sights so low when relegated to my camp cooker.

Far from the normal campsite grub this book will fight for a place on my packed cookbook shelf, not the camping accessory trunk, and I know will see daylight frequently this summer, camping or not.

My other half picked up this book and amazingly poured through every page, he´s never looked at more than one page in my other cookbooks. Probably the BBQ grill and real-fire cooking that lit him! Even with so many flames it is a cool book.

So superb - I want to go camping now, may a bbq would suffice for now.

If you buy though this link I get a miniscule commision

This book was sent to me as a complimentary copy for review purposes, thanks CoolCamping team, it´s gonna be a dog-eared copy soon.

Camping in Cordoba

There are only nine campsites officically registered in the whole of Cordoba province, which is really surprising as it has a huge natural area to the north, the Sierra Morena with fabulous walking country.

Here´s a list of Campsites in Cordoba along with the Spanish category, 1º being the highest standard and 3º the most basic allowed, which still includes a bar and food provision.


Carlos III - 2º

Ciudad del Ocio - 2º

El Brilliante - 1º

La Alboafia - 2º

La Breña - 2º

La Campiña - 2º

La Isla - 3º

Puente Nuevo - 2º

Camping Los Villares - 3º



I´m planning to check out some of these sites during June or July, but haven´t decided which yet. Check back for route plans or campsite reviews later on.

Guiness Book of Records Motorhome Gathering in Spain

If you happen to be in Southern Spain in September or you fancy coming anyway to take part in what´s hoped will be the largest get together of motohomes for the Guiness Book of Records, it is time to make plans.

The first phase of this ambitious concentration of Motorhomes or concentración de Autocaravanas is to take place in the center of Andalucia in the town of Cabra, which is about an hour from where I live. The meeting is from 12-16 September and the official checking by the Guiness Book of Records will be on the 15th.


Cabra is one of the few cities with two áreas de autocaravanas or parking spots and so is known as the friend of motorhomes.

So if you fancy a meet-up with fellow ´tortugas´ or tortoises they´ll be a few around Cabra during Septmeber.

How to Get to Cabra

Cabra is the geographical heart of Andalucia and the choice of the meet-up with two service areas to stay in. The GPS co-ordinates for Cabra are:


Latitude: 37.47° (37° 28')

Longitude: -4.45° (-4° -27'

Buying a Hammock

I´m cheating a little here because I want some advice from you. I want to buy a hammock, over the years I´ve used several, the best my son made, but sadly all have died an overuse death.

So can anyone recommend a good one? I´ve been looking at Amazon and the choice is overwhelming. What should I look for?

I put together an Amazon store of hammocks should you wish to flick through and give me some advice (of course if you buy one through this link then I get a miniscule commission that helps to keep this blog going).

What type is best?

What do you look for in a hammock?

Any recommendations or reviews? Please?

What I want is comfort with that secure feeling and no lumps. Is that asking too much?

Best Spanish Campsite Awards

Image from Torre Sal Campsite


Kiko Park Campsite in Valencia was presented with an award for the best campsite in Europe in Ultrech, Holland. Several campsites from Valencia were present in a bid to attract Dutch campers to the area in 2012.

Kiko Park received the best Spanish camping award in the category for active holidays. Torre La Sal II Campsite in Castellón, also received an award for the best Spanish Campsite given by the German Camping Club DCC. There were 6.000 campsites put forward for these awards from all across Europe. The awards were presented on 24th February at the Feria de Essen in Germany.

Torre La Sal II Campsite is open all year round and receives mainly German and French campers. The local government in Castellón has promised to work with the campsites to improve the conditions of La Ribera beach that is used by campers from Torre La Sal II, Torre La Sal I, Torre La Sal María and Riberamar Campsite.

Wifi on Spanish Campsites

A Wifi connection is a growing demand for campers within Spain and many campsites are fulfulling their clients requests. Many have already installed Wifi which is available around the reception area and some are going that little bit further.

One example is Camping La Marina that has announced in 2012 in will offer free Wifi throughout the entire site usuing WIMAX technology for which some users may need a special adaptor. For a site of 60.000 m2 with 345 pitches and 36 bungalows/mobile homes that´s quite a feat.

It is really encouraging to see so many campsites adapting to what today´s client wants. I know around 80% of the 21 sites I inspected in 2011 had Wifi available and mostly for free. Small sites, large sites including very rural sites realise it´s necessity these days.

Campsite near Nerja, Malaga

If you´re looking for a campsite near Nerja but away from the hustle and bustle of the beach then the smallish site Nerja Camping just five minutes from the main Beach, Burriana could be for you.

One of Nerja´s small coves from Balcon de Europa

The sloping site on the edge of the Sierra de La Almijara has 51 pitches for both motorhomes and tents with a fenced-in swimming pool that´s open all-year. From this elevated postition you´ve the best of both world´s, sea,sand and nature.

This is a 2º Categoria campsite and one of our favourite small-mid sites from our 2011 inspection trip of 20 sites.

Motorhome Trip Ronda

One of my favourite memories is the weekend we hired a motorhome and all five of us, large late-teen sons and youngest, 12, went off on a trip crossing Iznajar reservoir a beautiful aqua-marine expanse of water.

We headed to El Torcal de Antequera for the night hoping to wild camp as it was late and there were no campsites very close to El Torcal.

Driving up to the parking area and visitors centre we noticed ´no ovenight camping´ signs everywhere. After a run, play and climbing session with darkness fast approaching we headed out of the area before the barriers closed.

El Torcal

We found ourselves a nice big lay-by on a country lane and decided that was where we´d stay. Wild camping in full nature with no signs of life around, great, then a guy came along on a gorgeous looking ´dancey-prancey´ horse (my wording for Spanish horses in training) we asked if it was OK to sleep there, he shrugged and acknowledged that it was but no fires. As if? In summer outdoor fires and bbqs are banned in all National Park and Natural reserve areas and even if they weren´t it wouldn´t be wise to have one when it´s so dry everywhere.

The guys didn´t fancy putting up their tents so we spent a very hot and humid night with five of us trying to sleep in the van. The following night was better, we headed to Ronda and checked into the a campsite. I won´t name it because it doesn´t seem to be in my guides or on google anymore. If you are heading to Ronda El Sur is a great campsite 1º category that we inspected last year. It´s a km or two out of the town.

The guys put up their tents in our parking bay which meant a cooler and better nights sleep for us all.