For some, the year of the Jubilee and the Olympics will leave rather soggy memories – especially for those who have already had their ‘staycation’ here in the UK. Summer isn’t over yet, of course, but there are those who prefer not to put the success of their precious holiday in the hands of British weather.

For those who love the freedom of their cars but also want some sunny weather, the choice is clear: a driving holiday on mainland Europe. And where better to go than Spain? A country with the second highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, beautiful countryside as well as beaches and perhaps most importantly, very warm, reliable weather.

There are many routes you can use to take your car to Spain. For those based in the south west of England, the Plymouth to Bilbao ferry is a great way to hit the Spanish mainland directly. For those in the south east, Portsmouth offers various routes to either France or Spain. Choose a voyage to the former if you want to enjoy some Gallic countryside before you reach the heat of Spain.

The best served northern Spanish ports – from a UK perspective – are indeed Bilbao and Santander, which are in the Basque and Cantabria regions respectively. These are both beautiful areas in their own right, but are also well connected to Spain’s fantastic motorway system, which could have you in Madrid or Barcelona or by the beaches of Andalucia in just a few hours. Don’t forget your short term European cover if you don’t already have Europe-wide cover!

Below are some of the key UK-Spain/France ferry operators:

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk

http://www.condorferries.co.uk/

http://www.poferries.com/