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

Smartbazza said:
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
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Cheers appreciate that it's obviously my choice what route to take and the thought of spending it on the bike with my son will be something we can enjoy together and I doubt he'll forget a trip like this. All the different ideas are great I'll get the maps open get a good look and plan 👍
 
Come back to us when you’ve decided whether you’ll go through France or go direct to Spain and / or what you’ve decided for your return journey. Not least, when you’ve decided how long you’ve set aside to complete each leg and / or whether you intend to ‘Do the Pyrenees’ along the way.

:beerjug:
 
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Wapping said:
Come back to us when you’ve decided whether you’ll go through France or go direct to Spain and / or what you’ve decided for your return journey. Not least, when you’ve decided how long you’ve set aside to complete each leg and / or whether you intend to ‘Do the Pyrenees’ along the way.

:beerjug:
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I've decided to go anti clock wise loop , boat into Spain then something like this link.
.
Time isn't a big problem.
Pyrenees on the way back.
 
OK, thanks for clarifying.

I’ll move it all into the Spanish section, along with a note to bods to ignore France per-se.

Richard
 
Three days from Cherbourg to Marbella is going to involve a lot of motorway miles or some very long days in the saddle. And long days in the saddle and high temperatures are not happy bedfellows. 28 hrs riding (avoiding motorways) according to Google maps. Add in food, petrol and wee stops and you're looking at maybe 12 hours a day.

I can see how an 11-yr-old might enjoy a long day on the bike being a grown-up with Dad. But three on the trot?

It's supposed to be a holiday, not an endurance test. If you don't have more time available (and many people are limited by leave from work etc) I'd seriously consider the ferry to Spain as an option (though that's not cheap, and the England-Spain crossings get fully booked fairly early - no idea if the Irish crossing is the same).
 
fergie_mjf said:
I've decided to go anti clock wise loop , boat into Spain then something like this link.
.
Time isn't a big problem.
Pyrenees on the way back.
Click to expand...
That still looks very ambitious for two or three days from Bilbao to Marbella.
 
fergie_mjf said:
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.
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why not mix it up ? if son gets irritable on the way down he can fly back with the rest of the party and you ride back.
on the way down boat to Bilbao and on the way back ride through Spain / France.

I have a house down on the coast del sol , Mijas, we are 20 mins from Marbella, it gets very very hot in July ,last year we had quite a few 40 degree plus days. safe travels
 
We did Roslare to Bilbao and set Google maps to "avoid motorways". It was a lovely trip to Estepona. Stopped overnight in Madrid.
 
luke scott said:
We did Roslare to Bilbao and set Google maps to "avoid motorways". It was a lovely trip to Estepona. Stopped overnight in Madrid.
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Thanks for the reply how long roughly did it take you ?? Did you just take first Google route through the centre of Spain??
 
Arrived in Bilbao early morning, drove nice and easy to Madrid. Arrived late afternoon after a relaxing lunch along the way. Left next morning around 10 am and arrived in San Pedro around 4pm. And yes we literally followed Google maps having selected "avoid motorways".
 
Ectopic said:
I didn't read to the end of the thread before posting! Schoolboy error. Mea maxima culpa.
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10 Hale Mary, as penance.

Ectopic said:
That still looks very ambitious for two or three days from Bilbao to Marbella.
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Depends on what time the fellow gets up and mounts his awesome steed. It also depends (to some degree or another) on what time he goes to bed. Mixed in, along the way, how often and for how long he might stop to take in all the “Mate, you must do” sights and sites along the way and, not least, the need for a brew * and wee **.

* Without which no true bikermate’s trip to anywhere is complete

** Age dependent
 
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luke scott said:
Arrived in Bilbao early morning, drove nice and easy to Madrid. Arrived late afternoon after a relaxing lunch along the way. Left next morning around 10 am and arrived in San Pedro around 4pm. And yes we literally followed Google maps having selected "avoid motorways".
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Brilliant thanks this is a great help!! I think no matter what way you go if you stay off the motorways you will get great roads most of the way 👍
 
Okay, call me stupid, but.... Why not fly cheaply out with your son, rent a bike for 3-5 days and perhaps, eastern Spain and then you both stay the extra days at the end with another rental and a different part of (western?) Spain. Then fly home.

The ferry fares, dead time and the fuel costs will be substantial - and quite possibly more than airfares/bike rental. I assume accommodation costs will even out.

This gives time for 'discovery without endurance' - plus, would make it less structured and more time for exploration/sense of the culture and regions.

The current plan seems to ask an awful lot of each of you - not least the stress of "having to make the deadline".

And as you say, your lad has already shown an adaptability to this on previous runs.

I just think this approach is altogether more manageable and has much less apportunity to go horribly wrong.

Hope you don't mind me saying....
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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