Iberian Peninsula

[SwartGevaar]

I’ve got a germ of an idea to do a solo tour of the Iberian Peninsula this September.

My initial thoughts are, starting from Santander to hug the coast as much as possible in an anti-clockwise direction. So, very loosely:

Santander -> Porto -> Lisbon -> Gibraltar -> Valencia -> Barcelona -> Santander

I’ve got about 2 weeks (flexible to a degree) which based on some very back-of-fag-packet sums should be achievable averaging about 200/250 miles per day (which is more or less my comfort zone) even with a couple of rest days thrown in.

I really want to avoid motorways as much as possible but, as I’ll be on my RT, I won’t be seeking out gravel back roads either.

As someone pointed out to me some time back, camping is for the young and/or the poor and I'm neither - so I’m looking to B&B and/or hotel it during the trip.

If I may, I’d like to pick the brains of the ‘tinternet collective with a view to pick up any tips, suggestions, etc regarding routes, where to stay, what to do, what not to do, where to go and what to avoid. Or indeed anything else you think may be useful!

TIA

 

[Peirre O`Bollox]

I did a similar trip last year albeit clockwise, so unless you need to visit Valencia I`d ride inland and take the N412/N414 road north from Murcia to Pinoso, Yecla, & almansa.
Pick up the N330 Through Utiel, Landete (I stayed at the hotel moya), to Teruel (the N330 road is listed on "best biking roads"). The N330 heads over the hills (1700m+) and through villages. I rode the route south bound last year. Then on up to Zaragoza for a couple of nights at the hotel sauce leaving you time to visit the basilica. The Sauce has its own secure garage too.

My route (mapsource file) https://www.dropbox.com/s/rkt65hlbhctprtq/Faro via Spain 2014.gdb?dl=0

 

[SwartGevaar]

I did a similar trip last year albeit clockwise, so unless you need to visit Valencia I`d ride inland and take the N412/N414 road north from Murcia to Pinoso, Yecla, & almansa.
Pick up the N330 Through Utiel, Landete (I stayed at the hotel moya), to Teruel (the N330 road is listed on "best biking roads"). The N330 heads over the hills (1700m+) and through villages. I rode the route south bound last year. Then on up to Zaragoza for a couple of nights at the hotel sauce leaving you time to visit the basilica. The Sauce has its own secure garage too.

My route (mapsource file) https://www.dropbox.com/s/rkt65hlbhctprtq/Faro via Spain 2014.gdb?dl=0

Not wedded to any particular location so your recommendation certainly looks very good!

Cheers!

 

[sven]

This may offer some inspiration for the northern part

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/347259-Northern-Spain-July-2013?highlight=Salamanca

 

[brut33]

As someone pointed out to me some time back, camping is for the young and/or the poor

Please don't be to harsh on camping.
It's a lovely way to spend a holiday (in good weather). Admittedly it can be a bit of a chore pitching a tent every night on a tour such as yours, plus carrying the extra kit.
However it can be a bit special sat out in the open by your tent of an evening, glass or cup in hand, contemplating the day, watching the setting sun, considering tomorrow's route and maybe chatting to fellow campers. Ah bliss...

BTW, enjoy your tour, it sounds great.

 

[Joca]

Envy to OP. I keep meaning to go through to Porto via Santander (my home town is near there) but the costs keep putting me off.
(and the bravery)

 

[Pondboy]

On your way from Valencia to Barca, stop halfway here :-

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...1s0x12a0f3e0069ac493:0xefeff14d2f015161?hl=en

and have a beer and a rest.

PB

 

[Simon_100]

I've got lots of info about accommodation, etc. on my blog, plus one-and-a-half tours - 2011 and the first week of 2012! - written up for some ideas.

It's very difficult to ride up the Mediterranean coast as it's mostly either motorway or heavily built up. Much better to ride inland and drop down to visit a few cities or 'nice' resorts.

Cities worth the detour, heading south to north: Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia, Tarragona, Barcelona - although it's better to visit Barna is better by train from a nearby town, e.g. Sitges, Vilanova i La Geltru (see below).

'Nice' resorts and villages, south to north: Castell de Ferro, San José (on the lovely Cabo de Gata near Almeria), Altea, Peñiscola, Altafulla, Vilanova i la Geltru, Sitges, Blanes, Sant Feliu de Guixols, Port de la Selva.

Just to throw in a wild card - Benidorm is actually rather lovely!

Regs

Simon

 

[SwartGevaar]

Well, just over a week and 2000 miles into the trip and I thought I'd post a quick update.

Firstly, the roads:

Just wow! Bar about 50km's or so of a bone jarring, filling loosening stretch (The ZA 111 - not ideal for RT's!) almost all the roads have been absolutely perfect. I don't know how Spain, as a country, has accomplished it but the quality of the road surfaces put the UK's roads to shame.

In spite of this I've only been through one set of roadworks. I've no idea how they maintain the roads to such a high standard.

One minor gripe are speed bumps on blind corners, typically when going from a 90KPH to a 50KPH zone. I've lost count of the times I'm going around a loverly right-hander only to have the bike quite badly unsettled in the corner due to these bloody things.

The traffic:

What traffic? On occasion I've ridden for over 100Km without seeing another car. The obvious exception to this was a stretch along the south coast out of Malaga, but even that was lighter than a weekend on the Brecon Beacons. Driver discipline is generally very good.

The exception to this appears to be a tendency for cars wishing to overtake to tailgate when there is no overtaking opportunity. I'm sticking to what I hope are "tolerable" speeds for any given speed limit and I'm buggered if I'm going to blast at 120KPH in a 60KPH zone.

Another "quirk" are cars doing 30KPH in a 90KPH zone. I soon got used to this being a not infrequent event so I just sit back, admire the view and blast past when I can.

Accommodation:

I think I've covered most types of accommodation types available (except for camping - that's for the young and/or the poor - and I'm neither!). Except for one unfortunate experience at a "casa rural" where I had to wait for over an hour in 30C+ heat for the proprietors to come back from a shopping trip before I could get in, I've found most places quite good.

As I have no fixed agenda I'm planning the next day's route and booking accommodation in the evening beforehand. I've found booking.com to be a very good tool.

While some places offer an evening meal I much prefer to find a local bar or restaurant to eat at. There are no shortage of these even in the smallest rural villages.

Top tip - If your Spanish is as bad as mine (viz. non-existant) then get google translate on your phone. It's helped me out on many occasions from asking for secure parking for the bike to working out what is on a menu. You can set it up to work offline which helps in areas with poor mobile reception (not that there are many of these!).

The route:

As mentioned I've no planned route but I've found that the old trick of looking at google maps and finding the bendiest roads between point A and point B is working very well for me.

I think I've only done about 100KM's on motorways.

The "N" roads can be very good but the minor roads are generally much more enjoyable.

I'm enjoying the routes through the national parks very much as they offer the most breathtaking scenery as well as challenging but quiet roads.

Right now I'm working my way up north east with the intention of spending at least a few days in the Pyrenees before the ferry back next week.

Hoping that the rest of the journey is as good as the last week has been!

The journey so far: