Biarritz to Andalucia and Santander - Finalising route

HTB

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ahh... the struggle with Basecamp continues as I try to plan a route for two bikes leaving the UK on the 23rd September and heading down, via the Autotrain from Paris to Biarritz. Then down for a few days in Andalucia (to see the flooding and the rain apparently..). I have been to Madrid and Santander a few times (and will be In Santander again for the Colombres event at the end of September/early October) but really, don't know Spain at all.

We are mixing it up with camping and then a decent hotel or two. Leaving Biarittz at about 14:00 on the 24th we are planning to head down to camp in the Rioja region, somewhere around Azofra because that's where we have found a campsite and I reckon we can be there by about 5 in the afternoon and get the Tent set up. Then we want to push on down to Andalucia quite quickly but not using the Autoroutes. One night camping again in a place called Las Villuercas, Guadalupe and then on to a place just beneath Seville for a few days to explore the area before heading back up to Santander and the Ferry on the 3rd Oct. I've tried to pick up some of the Ride routes that Wapping and others have recommended, but basterdised them a little to shorten the days into something more manageable for the Girlfriend on her F700GS. Basic day starts at about 09:00 and finishes at 16:00.

Heading back up to Santander for the Colombres Classic event at the beginning of October and plan to be back up in the Picos on the 1st or 2nd Oct. Don't want to go through Madrid - been there too often for work, so Have picked a route via Cuenca, Guadalajara, Soria, Burgos following some other advice here. I need to finalise the days on the way back up to Santander, East of Madrid, and try and get them a little more equal in terms of distance and time. Again, off the Autoroutes.

So, the question is, appreciate its a big country, but looking at the basic route, is there anything I should go out of our way to see, or anywhere I should avoid?

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Sounds like a great ride for sure. What are your prime interests and if we know that then can maybe advise of what places or events you might like to visit?

I live about 1.5 hrs inland from Biarritz and can advise on some great mountain routes over into Spain if you enjoy twistes.

All the best

:)

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Hi, I been to Extremadura, the area is very flat and uninteresting from a scenic point of view, but the City of Caceres is a gem, also the Roman amphitheatre at Merida is well worth a visit, and the small town of Trujillo is where most of the conquistadors left from to conquer Peru is nice and rustic. I posted a recommendation on page 4 title Extemadura of accommodation for Trujillo. I can't help you with Badajoz ( have a friend who was born there and she said not to bother ) If you like the mountains, try to see Ronda for the bridge and gorge, some lovely white villages round about, my favourite is Benalauria 1 mile of the Ronda to Algeciras road, it's like going back 100 years. There is a camp/ caravan site with a great restaurant, about 3 miles out side Ronda on the same road 10 Euros for menu of the day, excellent food. It's one of my favourite watering holes.

Hope this helps, have a good trip.

ps the area around Sevilla is also very flat, but Sevilla is worth a visit, big city though.
 
Sounds like a great ride for sure. What are your prime interests and if we know that then can maybe advise of what places or events you might like to visit?

I live about 1.5 hrs inland from Biarritz and can advise on some great mountain routes over into Spain if you enjoy twistes.

All the best

:)

.

Thank you - yes, enjoy the twisties so if you have anything that points us towards Rioja from Biarritz that would be great. As we don't pick the bikes up until about 14:00 from Biarritz we need to be careful we dont get too carried away and end up trying to pitch the tent for the first time of the trip in the dark!
 
Hi, I been to Extremadura, the area is very flat and uninteresting from a scenic point of view, but the City of Caceres is a gem, also the Roman amphitheatre at Merida is well worth a visit, and the small town of Trujillo is where most of the conquistadors left from to conquer Peru is nice and rustic. I posted a recommendation on page 4 title Extemadura of accommodation for Trujillo. I can't help you with Badajoz ( have a friend who was born there and she said not to bother ) If you like the mountains, try to see Ronda for the bridge and gorge, some lovely white villages round about, my favourite is Benalauria 1 mile of the Ronda to Algeciras road, it's like going back 100 years. There is a camp/ caravan site with a great restaurant, about 3 miles out side Ronda on the same road 10 Euros for menu of the day, excellent food. It's one of my favourite watering holes.

Hope this helps, have a good trip.

ps the area around Sevilla is also very flat, but Sevilla is worth a visit, big city though.

Perfect - thank you - will work on the route and see if we cant get a few of these squeezed in! Old and Rustic works a treat. Will post up the results!
 
Thank you - yes, enjoy the twisties so if you have anything that points us towards Rioja from Biarritz that would be great. As we don't pick the bikes up until about 14:00 from Biarritz we need to be careful we dont get too carried away and end up trying to pitch the tent for the first time of the trip in the dark!

If you need to get to that particular campsite then the route I would suggest would leave you too late to pitch the tent.

If you were to chose a campsite closer then I can give you a great route out of Biarritz along to Cambo les Bains to St Jean Pied de Port (walled town for a coffee stop)...from there on to Arnéguy and cross the border that way...or the parallel route via St Etienne-de-Baigorry. As an aside I just plan my rides in the GPS rather than Basecamp... I create a route and bunny hop that way with certain via points. You'll get an accurate ride time that way too.

Have a good ride!

:)


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