GPX - Figure of 8 in Spain

[wessie]

A sketch of a trip in May/June https://maps.app.goo.gl/bnjsUJePsrfepseE6
Nothing fixed as yet, except for the Posada in Ormas for 2 nights as the first base not too far from arriving on a ferry in Santander at 2pm. Some other places might be for 2 night stopovers with the odd day not riding. Heading SE to begin with as I want to see the Bardenas Reales area.
The waypoints are a string of interesting looking places I have seen mentioned in reports here and elsewhere. Some of the places have Paradors and I like to fit a couple of the ones in historic buildings into the trip like the castle at Sigüenza as pictured.
Any hotel recommendations for the towns/cities listed appreciated. I have the Casino Hotel in Salamanca as recommended by @Arsey pencilled in for a couple of nights mid trip.

 

[er-minio]

Very nice.
Might take some inspiration from that.
Subscribing to the thread

Either April or May (we are avoiding Easter at all costs) I’m planning a trip to the South and back with a friend.
I a stop further south, Marbella, as my sister lives there and will got visit.

Friend is coming from Italy, so will meet him in Barcelona and then proceed together.

 

[wessie]

The Parador as pictured in the Siguenza castle above now booked for 1 night on the way to Salamanca. Half board.

Also booked 1 night in Santa Domingo de Silos at the eponymous hotel recommended in Doc's thread on the way back to Santander. Close enough to Soria on the route in my first post. Looks a nice place to have a stroll about before dinner.

 

[Rusty]

Well that all looks very nice ! Look forward to the trip report and good luck.

 

[Berin]

Mrs Berin and I did a similar trip, based around Castles and Templar sites, with a couple of other things like the valley of the fallen for good measure. Not such a big mileage, as we did actually spend time looking at the sites! I think it was about 1500 miles, in and out of Santander, 2 weeks so quite leisurely

I have the gpx of the route, and list of hotels if anyone would like them.

 

[paul08]

Yes please

 

[siddo]

Mrs Berin and I did a similar trip, based around Castles and Templar sites, with a couple of other things like the valley of the fallen for good measure. Not such a big mileage, as we did actually spend time looking at the sites! I think it was about 1500 miles, in and out of Santander, 2 weeks so quite leisurely

I have the gpx of the route, and list of hotels if anyone would like them.

Please post them up.

 

[wessie]

Not such a big mileage, as we did actually spend time looking at the sites!

my daily mileages aren't huge if I take the most direct route. Average of about 120 a day if I ride every day but there will be some days not riding such as a day on foot exploring Salamanca. Some days I might ride 250 miles but rarely more unless a transit day on the motorway.

 

[wessie]

Annoyingly, the grand looking Parador de Cuenca is currently closed and will not reopen until 1 Aug 2025

 

[Simon_100]

That's a nice route! I'd recommend you take in a hight at Cordoba and visit the Mosque and especially the little known Viana palace which is the beautiful old city. The Parador there is modern but there are lots of lovely historic buildings that bare converted to small hotels.

Back in the day if you went into the Mosque before first mass at 08.00 - it's catholic cathedral now! - you got in for free! More useful perhaps is that Spains' most beautiful women come from Cordoba - allegedly

Instead of doubling back to Siguenza via Cuenca I'd go to Teruel and stay at Albarracín - an amazing place with stunning local scenery and roads to match!

 

[wessie]

Instead of doubling back to Siguenza via Cuenca I'd go to Teruel and stay at Albarracín - an amazing place with stunning local scenery and roads to match!

I will explore that option as I can't book the Parador in Cuenca as closed until August.

I will not be staying in the Parador in the Castle at Jaen either. My stay would be over the middle weekend of my trip and they are price gouging!

I'm looking at heading SE of Ciudad Real to Valdepenas (just because I like the DO wine!) then into the National Park SE of the A32. Then loop north back up towards Albacete for 1 night. There looks to be some nice roads through pine forests and National Parks between Albacete and Albarracín.

 

[Simon_100]

Yes. There are stunning roads around there although i wouldn't bother with Albacete. Valdepenas wines are mass produced table stuff, not much to write home about IMHO, with a bland landscape to match. But while you're up north of Zaragossa check out the Somontana DO, fabulous

 

[Simon_100]

I see that Olite is on your route another great place to visit although the landscape around is nothing special

 

[Simon_100]

Somontana is based in Barbastro, on the edge of the Pyrenees, another good stop

 

[wessie]

Now looking at Cordoba for a couple of days after Ciudad Real. Plenty of hotel choice. Then maybe over to the hilltop parador at Alarcón. This would be a week day so not too dear. Not the greatest of routes but I have to start heading towards Burgos after Cordoba so maybe a transit morning to give an afternoon to explore Alarcon.

 

[Berin]

Annoyingly, the grand looking Parador de Cuenca is currently closed and will not reopen until 1 Aug 2025

We did stay there, it was well worth it! I see a few paradors are have quite long closure periods, maybe for a refurb?

 

[Berin]

We did stay there, it was well worth it! I see a few paradors are have quite long closure periods, maybe for a refurb?

I will find the files and post them. Meanwhile….

 

[Doc]

I'll have a look at your route and places to stay as we are still looking.

 

[MickDB1]

Alquezar was a nice afternoon.
Some lovely single track roads around it too.
Olite has a brilliant castle that is easy to have a walkabout for a couple o quid
Albarracin is spectacular. The square in the town has a few good tapas bars too

 

[wessie]

I'll have a look at your route and places to stay as we are still looking.

What dates are you in Spain?

I have revised the route due to hotel availability or the weekend cost of the posher Paradors I was interested in e.g. Jaen Castle is near 300 euros a night with half board and the Cuenca Parador is shut for 7 months.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2pVzz1kwwvXGVhU39 - where I have made a reservation, I have named the hotel. Stays in Salamanca & Cordoba are 2 nights. I am probably going to rejig the the first few days once I start looking into accommodation.
Everywhere is booked with flexible dates so that I can reroute during the trip if the weather is shit.