Iberia Grand Tour

[Peter Pan]

Trips coming along quite nicely

I've already been to Salamanca, Caceres, Toledo, Seville etc. so tending to try and avoid those. Have also tried to get in as many other World Heritage sites as I can.

So far, it's looking like 4,800 miles in total - excluding the ride home (assuming all return ferries are fully booked) which will add a further 950 miles.

Travelling solo on R1200GS LC. Expected to be away 4-5 weeks. Fortunately, I have a very understanding Missus!

Any obvious places that it looks like I may have missed or tips that anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Looks like I'll have to get the bike serviced and a new set of tyres fitted part way round. Does anyone have a list of Motorrad Service centres for Spain and/or Portugal in either GDB or GPX format that they'd be willing to share?

Can't wait until the 8th September ferry from Portsmouth to Santander

 

[jeremyj]

Hi very similar route to mine last year Jerez and Seville particular highlight Lovely hotel in the centre of Jerez 15euros per night and private underground parking owner does not speak a word of English but still very easy to comunicate with booked through Booking.com will send you details if you wish

 

[Peter Pan]

Hi very similar route to mine last year Jerez and Seville particular highlight Lovely hotel in the centre of Jerez 15euros per night and private underground parking owner does not speak a word of English but still very easy to comunicate with booked through Booking.com will send you details if you wish

Yes please! Thanks Jeremy

 

[FD2]

What did you think of
Toledo?

 

[luke scott]

What did you think of
Toledo?

Definately worth a visit. We rode two GS's through some VERY narrow cobbled streets (GPS ). A really pretty walled city.

 

[Joca]

Hope you have a great time.
I have been tempted to do a similar run to North Portugal (as I come from there originally) but cost of ferries puts me off.
(ps: like the way you labeled the ocean. Definitely not good for bikes)

 

[Peter Pan]

What did you think of
Toledo?

Beautiful place. Never walked so much in a day in my life!

 

[RJC]

Great plan!

If you pass by Barcelos - Portugal let me know!

 

[Peter Pan]

Great plan!

If you pass by Barcelos - Portugal let me know!

Yep! That'll just about fit in one of my boxes!

I'm still trying to finesse the route RJC but it looks as though I may be getting quite close to you as I'm hoping to visit the Historic Centre of Guimaraes as part of the trip. That's not too far from you is it?

Best wishes Peter

 

[RJC]

Mate Guimarães is pretty close about 30km.

There are great roads here in the Gerês area If I'm available at that time I can go along with you.

There are 2 MUST tracks in the north of Portugal This:

Minho and Gerês:

Track: https://www.google.pt/maps/dir/Lind...3a!2m2!1d-8.7408021!2d41.7930331!3e0?hl=pt-BR

And Douro valley:

Track: https://www.google.pt/maps/dir/Entr...75!2m2!1d-7.1403598!2d41.0822466!3e0?hl=pt-BR

Of course that's impossible to miss the Porto city.

And also the best grilled meat of the world that is in Bragança:

 

[Peter Pan]

Well that's certainly put the cat among the pigeons! I wasn't anywhere close to either of those, so have now plotted them into Basecamp and now need to figure out how I'm going to be able to accommodate them both! Thanks!

Loved the pictures of the Churches. Where were they? - I'd like to add them to the route too.

I doubt if I'll go into Porto itself. Looks lovely on the photo's but I tend to prefer to avoid the bigger towns - too much traffic - unless there's a specific reason for visiting. Will have to do more research methinks!

Thanks very much for the tips Buddy!

 

[RJC]

Aren't churches, are centenary corn cellars.

You can search for Lindoso and Soajo think theres the only place in the world you can find it.

That Minho track I'l give you include both locations, great secondary mountain roads, without traffic and great landscapes, check the google maps link and you can upload it to basecamp, the best of Portugal is not on the books and travel guides, the best places ware not too much crowned except Douro valley that is having a big exposition by these days.

 

[RJC]

There are more great places like:

Monsanto - Idanha a Nova

Arouca

You can google it and redefine your route.

 

[Peter Pan]

There are more great places like:

Monsanto - Idanha a Nova

Arouca

You can google it and redefine your route.

Thanks very much RJC. I'm very grateful for the tips.

 

[Simon_100]

Hi there,

If you follow my 2011 and 2012 tours on my blog you might get some more inspiration - I didn't finish writing up the latter as it got taken over by a topic thread on ABR forum.

I know an excellent BMW mechanic at Lleida and Huesca - it's the same company Moto2 - and have a friend who is setting up in business near Madrid in a few weeks time. He's a 'general' mechanic but rides a 650 Dakar, speaks excellent English and will store bikes if necessary.

If you want some specific recommendations for places to visit just ask away. Meanwhile your route looks great and I'l think up a few POI's along the way.

Regs

Simon

 

[Simon_100]

Do they have to be World Heritage sites? If so you've missed out Tarragona, where I live in the winter - think York-on-the-Med

From there you can head inland as far as the Pyrenees on country roads and head back to Figueres from Ripoll - otherwise your route from Barcelona is a bit of a disaster to be honest.

North coast, I think CovaDonga is a WHS but I wouldn't miss Comillas, with the only Gaudi building not in Catalonia and lots more architectural gems.

You're obviously 'doing' Santiago - I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere there, reminded me of Oxford in the 'seventies . . .

The ride up the Minho river is great, but why not go the whole hog and start at O Guadia where it exits into the sea? The only remaining ferry over to Portugal is there and is a good crack, then just ride upstream a bit and chose your bridge back into Spain - upstream of Tui both banks are lovely - so keep swapping.

Also in Galicia try to stay at Muros rather than Vigo or Pontevedra, both of which are industrial and rather depressing - Vigo reminded me of Birkenhead in the 'sixties! - whereas Muros is both a working fishing port and a gem

Down in Andalusia I prefer Cordoba to both Seville and Granada. It's less visited and IMHO the Mosque is far more impressive that either the Alhambra or the Giralda/cathedral in Seville. But you do have to 'do' the Alhambra, note that you need to book your entry on-line well in advance.

It looks like you are going to the Sierra de Grazalema and Ronda - if not then do so.

Ditto the Las Tabernas desert on the way into Almeria. But don't pass the Cabo de Gata just to the east of Almeria and maybe add in Cartagena a bit further round the coast. I0ve never been but folks I trust say it's a 'forgotten' gem - elsewhere in that bit of Spain almost everything sucks.

Inland it looks like you are heading for the source of the Guadalquivir river in the Sierra de Cazorla. This is a natural park - not a national park, there's a big difference - and in mid-late September will be lovely, it gets really overcrowded with Spanish tourists in the summer and the villages are a bit tacky. So it's worth pressing on through it and up into the Segura section of the natural parks there for a taste of 'real' Spain - even the Spanish would say this! BTW don't be put off by Cazorla town, which you pass through to cross over the mountains into the park, as it's just a dusty arid plains farming centre so no hint of what's to come.

Moving north it looks like you are going to Cuenca, yes, it is wonderful, at least the old town, but pass on and stay at Albarracín - not for nothing is it called the prettiest village in Spain - technically it's a city! But the Moorish walls, and general feel will bring back memories of Granada but on a human scale. . .

I've already suggested you head to Tarragona . . .

Whoops, work to do

 

[Kritou]

....... I know an excellent BMW mechanic at Lleida and Huesca - it's the same company Moto2 ........

Would be neat if they could add an English language version of the website

We found an excellent pneumatico on the outskirts of Huesca. Primarily an HGV type operation but a small and very professional bike set up in one corner - stocked a range of tyres including PRs

 

[Simon_100]

Would be neat if they could add an English language version of the website

I take your point, but as they don't speak English it would be a bit of a waste of effort, and perhaps misleading . . .

Thanks for posting the tyre place, I'll check it out and add it to my list. The Rodi chain is also excellent, but note that although not all have a bike workshop I think all of them could change a tyre. You can also have tyres delivered in advance and they just charge 20% extra for fitting.

IMHO the best branch*, in Teruel, where they do speak a little English and it's a very handy location on the way down south - or up north depending

Regs

Simon

* actually it is their best branch, they have won the in-house awards for the last ten years or so . . . I also use them to support my off-road rallies nearby.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Here's a better map, just join the dots....

 

[Peter Pan]

Here's a better map, just join the dots....

Like it!