Vanlife Spain: Steak, Shade and Sanity in the Sierra de Gredos
We’ve made our escape — 175km from Hermoso Campo up into the Sierra de Gredos, chasing cooler air and sanity. The forecast said this spot would be 5–10°C lower than the scorched Sierra de Gata, and it’s delivered. Right now it’s a very liveable 30°C up here, while it’s pushing 40°C back down the valley. Vanlife Spain suddenly feels like a very sensible lifestyle choice.
This is vanlife Spain at its most rewarding — cool mountain air, real food, and space to breathe.
After the drive, we parked up at Pico Cervero, nestled beneath a patch of welcome shade and surrounded by jagged peaks and birdsong. Best of all, there are actual picnic tables here — the kind of little luxury that feels massive when you live in a van. That’s where I’ll be eating tonight: steak, sautéed spuds and a glass of chilled red, enjoying the mountain breeze and watching the dogs stretch out and decompress.
Vanlife Spain — One Pan, Zero Stress
Dinner was a bit of a triumph, even if I say so myself. One pan, zero stress. Some pre-boiled new potatoes got the crisp-up treatment in the pan juices left behind from a decent little steak. A quick splash of chicken stock and a dollop of Dijon mustard turned it all into something that felt more “restaurant in the hills” than “tin can with wheels.” If you’re into one pan camping meals, this one’s a keeper.
There’s something grounding about Sierra de Gredos camping — the air’s cleaner, the heat’s bearable, and you can actually hear your own thoughts. Or, in my case, the gentle snoring of two well-walked greyhounds.
Vanlife Spain isn't always glamorous, but today it definitely earned its stars: mountain air, real food, happy dogs, and a picnic table with a view. What more could you ask for?
The above link takes you to my plot of meadow land in the beautiful Sierra de Gata in Cáceres province.
Vanlife Spain — campervan parked in the shade at Pico Cervero, Sierra de Gredos
This recipe is also part of my growing Campervan Cooking Recipes collection — real van life meals cooked on a two-ring hob, no proper kitchen required.
This recipe is part of my Beef and Veal Recipes — a growing archive of beef and veal dishes from Casa Adora and the van's kitchen. Browse the full collection at Beef and Veal Recipes — The Flexible Chef. For more one-pan recipes, travel tips, and dog-friendly routes, explore my comprehensive guide, Vanlife in Spain: A Guide to Cooking and Travelling with Dogs.
Wonky photos, proper food, genuine adventures — The Flexible Chef
Hi, so glad I found your website. There's several recipes I'm going to try for my husband and I. He said if you can knock up these meals in your campervan then I should be able to produce something special in my fifteen grand kitchen (his actual words). Anyway, I'm going to try some of your recipes. I'll let you know how I get on. By the way I love your doggies! Best wishes, DB.
P.S. It’s not that I cannot cook but I'm a bit of a bung everything into my slow cooker then forget about it.
Thanks for the words - I hope my recipes do not disappoint your other half.
The dogs say 'woof' 🐾🐾🐾
It looks like a great life you have there with your dogs.
The steak looks great too.
All the best from rainy Lancashire. xxx