Archez - a lovely village in the Axarquia

We were thinking about the windfarms in Tarifa recently, which were built on a lattice framework, not on a tower.  Tarifa is the windiest place in Spain and has a wide range of activities.  There are a lot of excellent bars and restaurant and is a favourite spot for surfers.

We remembered then a solar farm near Almeria, so must look that up again shortly.  Off grid is no doubt easier in the south of Spain than it is in the north of Scotland.  We wonder if photovoltaics have improved since the 1980s.

Meanwhile from the transport point of view, juggernauts and lorries are fitted with catalytic converters or have additives in the fuel. Electric cars in the cities are fine. The next job is to look at the electric vehicle charging points in the Malaga area, then compare them with around Asturias on the Caminos and see what is going on there.

The Caminos are great places to walk.  From Santander you can walk all across the north coast to La Coruna, and down the coast to Malaga, and from there along the coast of the Mediterranean. Walking in the north of Spain is great in the summer, as it is cooler than in the south, and with the climate in Spain changing rapidly, we have to adapt with it, and ensure that we have the right equipment and be well prepared.

Asturias is green and beautiful, La Coruna can be quite busy, but full of history and there is a lot to see. The Caminos are a network of routes. They all have their own particular charm and identity, and well worth a visit. 

It is March, and a glorious time to be out walking in Spain before the weather gets too hot.  However, the recent deluge of rain may put people off in some areas.  The weather is changing in Spain and of course, all over the world.  We remember when we could sit outside the finca on Christmas Day eating our paella in glorious sunshine.  On my last trip to Spain in November 2024, it rained and rained and rained, which left a lot to be desired.  However, there are many nice events you can go to.

Spain has been generating its own solar power for years, and of course it has the climate to do so. They were also generating wind in the windiest part of Spain, Tarifa, in the 1990s.  It is old technology now, and we wonder whether it has been decommissioned and how.  We are investigating this in the Causewaymire Windfarm in Scotland, with whom Spain has great heritage links, and will report in due course.

Meanwhile, the tourism sector in Scotland is already getting busy, and it is only March.  Some parts of Spain are suffering from overtourism, but the sector continues to grow. There is still an appetite for beach holidays in Spain.  Scotland is seen to be too cold for beach holidays, but in the summer the hotspots such as a Dunnet, the area is packed with local people enjoying the pristine environment of the north.