Inspiration sought. Santander - UK

[AberdeenAngus]

I impulse bought a ticket for the ferry to Santander to go and see the Eclipse.
Being a gentleman of leisure now, i'm thinking of a gentle saunter back to Aberdeen.
Maybe up to Cherbourg then Ireland, or Calais and up through England, or... if its opened in time, the new ferry from Dunkirk to Rosyth.
Still at the early stages so looking for inspiration please.

Not keen on cities and not camping.
If folk have any good experiences of places I'd be pleased to hear.

Thanks peeps.

 

[Northern jock]

I guess the obvious route is through France though personally I haven’t enjoyed trying to follow the coast line. If it were me I would try going up the east of France and see what I find. Then head west, probably south of Paris. And a ferry back to Ireland, wee bimble up north and another home.
That’s enough planning.

 

[simondippenhall]

A few years ago I rode down to Spain in April, got as far as Valencia before the weather turned me around.

The key point was that I avoided motorways through France and Spain, and that of itself transformed my experience.

So maybe crack out the Michelin, hone your observation skills for French speed limits (90/80/50/30 km/h) and see a little of French everyday life by the road?

Bon voyage!

 

[Wapping]

How long do you have in mind for this gentle saunter? A fortnight? Three weeks? A month? Longer?

When do you plan to go? Next week? In June? In November? I have no idea when the eclipse is.

Two possibilities (out of many) might be:



I’ve done both (or some variation thereof) during my laps of France.

Along the Pyrenees > Cevennes > across to Provence > up the Route Napoleon or Route des Grande Alps > edge of Switzerland (or go into Switzerland) > Vosges (or Black Forest) > Morvan > Ardennes > Calais

 

[wessie]

For me, the best route up through France from the Pyrenees is up through the middle. Head over one of the passes like Puerto de Larreau to Oloron Ste Marie. Stop off in the Lot Valley somewhere near Cahors. We were in Cabrerets in September. We then headed up through the Cevennes and stayed in the Tarn/Jonte Gorge at Meyrueis. From there we popped into Le Mont Dore in the Volcanes, SW of Clermont Ferrand. A final stop in Saumur in the Loire before an overnight ferry from Le Havre to Portsmouth.

 

[Wapping]

Aha…. The eclipse is timetabled with great cosmic accuracy for 12 August 2026, so Google tells me. It’s going to be warm, as in very warm….

Some here believe it’s too hot to do anything in August, that your bike will melt and hoards of holiday makers will block every road.

 

[Blue]

And busy holiday period for France

 

[Wapping]

And busy holiday period for France

And, presumably Ireland, too.

It’s a big country, it won’t be full.

 

[ThreeDawg]

We thought Bilbao - Rosslare - Larne - Cairnryan was a good way to get back from Spain to Scotland. Avoids the hell that is the south of England anyway.

 

[glenn2926]

You could continue up the coast all the way to Rotterdam or idjmuiden ferry back to the U.K. I’m pretty sure the ride up the coast would be preferable to the slog up England. We rode up that coast many years ago to Zeebrugge when there was still a ferry from there.i remember it was a lovely ride but it was sunny weather.

 

[Wapping]

The immediate west coast of France is pretty dull, as is much of the immediate Channel coast, once you get northeastward of Normandy. If you want to stay to the west of France, head roughly up the middle / a bit to the right of the middle, to about Le Mans, before carving off to wherever…..

 

[Wapping]

Rotterdam or idjmuiden ferry back to the U.K

There is some sense in that suggestion, having in mind where home for the OP seems to be.

‘Do the Ardennes’ and then scurry on up to the North Sea ports.

 

[Flintlock]

After the eclipse, spend some time exploring Northern Spain/Portugal.

Bilbao ferry to Rosslare

Wild Atlantic Way north up the west of Ireland

Ferry Belfast or Larne back to Scotland

 

[glenn2926]

After the eclipse, spend some time exploring Northern Spain/Portugal.

Bilbao ferry to Rosslare

Wild Atlantic Way north up the west of Ireland

Ferry Belfast or Larne back to Scotland

Another good idea.

 

[Wapping]

Await news from the OP as to how long he has set aside for this bimble and just as importantly whether, besides cities, there is anywhere else he doesn’t want to go.

For example, it is crazy suggesting Provence and up the eastern side of France or, indeed, Portugal if he’s already “Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt”.

 

[boatman]

We thought Bilbao - Rosslare - Larne - Cairnryan was a good way to get back from Spain to Scotland. Avoids the hell that is the south of England anyway.

That is the route that some of our bods have been using

 

[Mr Derek]

Avoids the hell that is the south of England anyway.

You obviously don't know the south of England very well. Bits are hell. Other bits are wonderful.

Jurassic Coast
South West 660
Atlantic Highway (stupid name, good road)
A272 but look out for average speed cameras and avoid Loomies
Dartmoor
Exmoor

These are just a few. Plenty of people here will be able to add to this list. It's not all M25 and shit towns.

 

[er-minio]

For my trip to Spain last year (trip, sadly never happened for external circumstances) I had a couple of days to meet my friend arriving in Barcelona, leaving from London.

In the other direction ofc, my plan was to go through Tours, semi-direct.
There is a wide choice of B-roads then, as stated above, most are fairly fast and you can make decent progress and then jump on the highway here and there if necessary.
I've done the Tours area many years ago and it's very pleasant to ride.

From around Limoges, going towards Santander instead of BCN leads through a few interesting routes.
I'd avoid passing too close to Bordeaux. Did it by car and was lovely, but fairly flat/straight for a motorbike.

 

[Two wheels good]

If a detour via Ireland is being considered.
Another option is Roscoff- Cork.
Then some of the WAW in Kerry and Clare is possible. Maybe not so feasible arriving in Rosslare.
Roscoff not so convenient if you're taking an eastern route through France.
Bilbao - Rosslare may be two nights aboard. Might be a chore after already traveling Portsmouth/Plymouth - Santander

 

[er-minio]

A272 but look out for average speed cameras and avoid Loomies

After traveling through Spain/Portugal and half of France, the A272 has the same appeal of riding a service station ramp, with speed cameras added.