Belfast to south of Spain (Marbella) and back - July 2025

[fergie_mjf]

See edit notes in blue below.

Richard

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Hi all,
I'm planning on going to Spain (marbella) from Ireland (Belfast) at the start of July. The plan is to head off 3/4 days earlier than the family they will fly out we will spend 2 weeks together then I'll head back again take 3/4 days to return.

I'm taking my 11 year old son for the adventure, it will be nice and relaxed happy to spend plenty of time on the bike and then enjoy the evenings .

My question is what's the best route to take?? (France through Spain) so I'm not missing out on anything, Any advice or if anyone has a planned route that they can share?.

I've read so many tours people have completed and they all look amazing, obviously I can set one route for the way there and a different one on the way back to cover 2 routes.
I definitely don't want to be covering Miles of motorway or toll roads.
Let me know your thoughts and hints or tips will be much appreciated.

Thanks Mark.

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I’ve moved the post and thread from Trip Reports into the French section, as it sort of starts at Cherbourg. Though it could just as easily go into the Spanish section.

It is now moved into the Spanish section, as the OP has decided on a sea crossing from Ireland to Spain, followed by a loop of Spain. See post #24 onwards.

Richard

 

[wessie]

Give us a clue on where you will enter mainland Europe. Will you use England as a land bridge and head for the tunnel or sail from Dublin/Rosslare to Cherbourg?

 

[Flintlock]

You will be loosing one day getting to France so 3 days to get to Marbella - that would be a big distance to cover in 3 days with your son.
Maybe Rosslare to Bilbao would be a better option & ride down through Spain - downside it's a longer crossing.
Going to be very hot in July too, so you would need to prepare for that.
Whatever you choose, if you can I would give yourself at least one more day each way, it would give you more time to seek out areas to explore & enjoy.

 

[fergie_mjf]

Give us a clue on where you will enter mainland Europe. Will you use England as a land bridge and head for the tunnel or sail from Dublin/Rosslare to Cherbourg?

Sorry Rosslare to Cherbourg will be the crossing

 

[fergie_mjf]

You will be loosing one day getting to France so 3 days to get to Marbella - that would be a big distance to cover in 3 days with your son.
Maybe Rosslare to Bilbao would be a better option & ride down through Spain - downside it's a longer crossing.
Going to be very hot in July too, so you would need to prepare for that.
Whatever you choose, if you can I would give yourself at least one more day each way, it would give you more time to seek out areas to explore & enjoy.

Cheers , I've looked at both entering from Cherbourg and Bilbao. I was thinking the extra time on the boat I'd rather spend it on the bike so just get off in Cherbourg and travelling France as well. But as you say its a long trip plus heat, that's why I'm on asking I was hoping to get the advice and be pointed in the right direction from this with other people's experiences.

 

[crumbles]

Set your sat nav too no tolls& motorways and away you go..1182 mls google says

One problem we don't know,,,is how fast or slow you ride..?
do you smoke..? ( fag breaks)
do you need too pee often.?..(pee stop range)
Fuel range..?
Keen photographer.?
Has your son ridden with you before..?
So many umms

 

[wessie]

Has your son ridden with you before..?

This is key as 11 years olds vary so much in size, stamina and ability to sit still for long periods. I would hope there are many rides planned between now and next summer to work out the answers to some of the variables you mention.

 

[Wapping]

Best route ? I'm planning on going to Spain (marbella) from Ireland (Belfast) at the start of July. The plan is to head off 3/4 days earlier​

There’s your ‘best’ route (ie. best, as in most direct).

Leave it to you to decide if you can / want to do it in three to four days.

To put it into some other perspective:

Belfast to Rosslare is 210 miles.

Rosslare to Cherbourg is about 18 hours

Cherbourg to Marbella is 1,220 miles

Belfast to Marbella, total road miles 1,430 (give or take) giving a daily average mileage of 475 miles over three days or 357 miles over four days. It’ll be near enough the same coming back, obviously.

 

[Wapping]

Cheers , I've looked at both entering from Cherbourg and Bilbao. I was thinking the extra time on the boat I'd rather spend it on the bike so just get off in Cherbourg and travelling France as well. But as you say its a long trip plus heat, that's why I'm on asking I was hoping to get the advice and be pointed in the right direction from this with other people's experiences.

As post #8 tries to show (and as others have hinted) it’s all down to:

Total mileages

Time available

Your / your son’s appetite to cover the distance(s) in the time available…… and repeat it for the return journey.

Over to you.

 

[karlp]

I would seriously consider a ferry from Plymouth to Santander

 

[wessie]

I would seriously consider a ferry from Plymouth to Santander

for a Belfast resident? Wouldn't a ferry from Rosslare to Spain be better, as already suggested?

 

[Mzokk]

I wouldn't plan for more than 200 miles a day with an 11 year old on the bike. He will get bored and cranky without frequent stops. I'd also use the Ferry from Rosslare to Bilbao which will cut road mileage down to about 800 miles and look at 5-6 days realistically. Day to get down to Rosslare a day and a half on the boat and three days to do the trip from Bilbao to Marbella.

Not telling you how to deal with your son. But if it were me I'd wait for high pressure dry weather for a few days in May/June and take your son on a trip within Ireland or Scotland (if you want the adventure of a boat trip.) To see if he enjoys the experience for starters.

 

[karlp]

for a Belfast resident? Wouldn't a ferry from Rosslare to Spain be better, as already suggested?

yes - forgot that one

 

[fergie_mjf]

Thanks for all the comments.

My son has travelled with me plenty before, trips around Ireland were used to see if he'd be up for it and I wouldn't have just taken him on this as a first trip.
I don't smoke as was mentioned before, The bike I'm using is my 40th anniversary 1250gs.
I've seen the comments on getting the boat to Bilbao and agree it would be better, but I liked the thought of getting through France and Spain but in hindsight it might be biting to much off at once.

 

[fergie_mjf]

for a Belfast resident? Wouldn't a ferry from Rosslare to Spain be better, as already suggested?

Is it not 2 days on the boat I'd rather spend that extra day on the bike but all advice welcome

 

[wessie]

Is it not 2 days on the boat I'd rather spend that extra day on the bike but all advice welcome

I was commenting on the suggestion for you to go to Plymouth to catch a ferry when you are in Belfast ...

 

[Flintlock]

If you had a couple of extra days each way, you could dip in & out of France via the Pyrenees on the way down & maybe a couple of days in the Picos on the way back? Lots of routes here on this site for those two areas

 

[Wapping]

I've seen the comments on getting the boat to Bilbao and agree it would be better, but I liked the thought of getting through France and Spain but in hindsight it might be biting to much off at once.

Is that what you have now decided on? If so, I’ll move the thread to the Spanish section.

If you had a couple of extra days each way, you could dip in & out of France via the Pyrenees on the way down & maybe a couple of days in the Picos on the way back? Lots of routes here on this site for those two areas

If the fellow had six weeks extra, he could go via Berlin, Athens and Rome, too

 

[Mzokk]

Is it not 2 days on the boat I'd rather spend that extra day on the bike but all advice welcome

The boat journey is 30 hours ish. Going through Spain at that time of the year could be up to 40C in the middle near Madrid so plenty of hydration and ventilation. I'm sure you have a good comms system between the two of you which would help to relieve boredom/allow interesting features to be pointed out.

 

[Smartbazza]

Hi Fergie, I travelled Moira to the Pyrenees in July. I used Dublin Cherbourg then stopped in Nantes, Libourne and Pau over 3 days. Fantastic routes form there to Spain. If you’ve the time to travel. If I were you I’d travel down thru France then fastest route home on the Bilbao boat. I generally avoid the motorways unless I need to cover more than 250miles in a day.

This summer I’ll be boating to Spain then gradually heading north getting the Cherbourg boat.

Barry