Camping Lake Caspe, Zaragoza
This campsite may not be on the main routes for those heading down to the costas in Spain, but it is definitely worth a detour. A short, wide, wellmaintained track leads from the main road down to this peaceful spot, right on the shores of Lake Caspe. The lake is also known as the Aragón Sea and the Resevoir of Mequinenza, and was formed when the Ebro was dammed to the east.
There is a well-stocked small shop, a pretty bar area with shaded terrace, and a restaurant that served a very reasonable menu del dia for €12 (£10.97) including wine! It even managed to rustle something up for a vegetarian – the chef was a character!
There is plentiful green landscaping across the whole site and most pitches enjoy dappled shade from the trees. The wash block, washing up, and laundry areas were well maintained with a pleasant barbecue area and shaded terrace predominantly used by tents and campervanners.
The swimming pool opened whilst we were there and we were first to brave the unheated water! It is large and in a very pleasant lawned area with sunbeds, but the star of the show is the location, right on the lakeside. There is a ‘beach’ with a swimming platform, a slipway for boat launching and, a little further around the shore, pedalos and canoes can be hired. If all you want to do is sit and watch the activities, there is a lovely raised terrace with seats; a perfect spot to watch the sun setting over the water.
Reception provided maps for walking and cycling trails from the site. We enjoyed a very scenic (but bumpy in places) circular ride, hugging the lake, with a few miles of paved surface for the return leg.
To the northeast, a few miles away, Mequinenza is worth a visit, with motorhome parking at the Mining Museum. Caspe, to the southwest, is, like many old Spanish settlements, perched on a hill with obligatory castle – this can be visited for the princely sum of €2 (£1.83). Here there are food shops, a weekly market and a very pretty town square.