Picos/Pyrenees/Spain/Portugal

[(RIP) Ewan]

So, I've just booked ferry tickets for my wife and I, arrive Bilbao 17th September, depart again 24th (eve), so 7 days of riding to be had. We've never biked or even holidayed in the area before - what do you more expereinecd and knowledgable people recommend?

Our considerations:

We'll be on our triumphs (me Tiger 1050 her Street Triple) so this is a road riding holiday, not trail riding.

SWMBO doesn't like day after day of huge mileages, so we don't want to cover masses of distance especially on highways - the fun mountain and coastal roads are our priority.

She'll want at least a couple of half days off the bike doing 'Holiday' stuff (apparently it's not a proper holiday if all we do is ride amazing roads )

We wouldn't mind basing ourselves in the same place for a couple of nights, as long as there is lots of riding nearby that doesn't mean repeating ourselves.

All suggestions welcomed!

Thanks

 

[bowser]

Just come back from that area, if your going to stay anywhere then Spain is cheaper than France, so stay in Spain have a ride into france through the mountains and then back to spain to stay, the petrol is much cheaper there as well (about 30cents a ltr minimum)

 

[oblertone]

Try ...

... to factor Segovia into your itinerary; well worth a visit

 

[hank]

If you are looking for a place to stay in Bilbao the Artexte is very good, 20 minutes from the ferry and they love bikes. We have stayed there the last couple of times we were in Bilbao.

http://www.hotelartetxe.com/index.php?idi=uk

 

[corsicandreamer]

Take your wife to Toulouse it is one of the finest cities in France she will love you forever.

Book a hotel before you go or visit the tourist info in the city centre and get them to book one but make sure they phone also!

Dine out in the student quarter for fine dinning at sensible prices, visit the indoor food market, the best outside of Paris and she can shop till she drops
should she wish.

 

[timtim]

We are going on 22nd Sept, staying here. They also know all the best remote bits away from tourists
www.pyreneesmotorcycletours.com

 

[hank]

We are going on 22nd Sept, staying here. They also know all the best remote bits away from tourists
www.pyreneesmotorcycletours.com

We had a fantastic week at Phill and Belinda's last year.

 

[Allan Davies]

First night stay here http://www.hoteljaques.com/gracias.htm
Find a road any road N260 will do stay here for 2 nights if you can http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1236096-d1136041-Reviews-Casa_Guilla-Tremp_Catalonia.html (they know the people here http://www.casalola.info/indexeng.html lovely food and people) then find the L511 out of Isona L conca Della (turns into L 401/LV 4241 )and head towards Berga on this twisty twisty twisty billiard table smoothe little mountain road. After Berga (possible night stop or Andora) C16 back up to the N260/C13then onto Val de Arran stop here for two nights, evening meal highly reccommended http://www.lechapeaubleu.com/en really nice place run by brits and in the middle of some beautiful rides---ie, Cols de Tourmalete/Aspin/Peyresourde/Portillion Then from there Toulouse or theD938/ D918 if you like and back to Bilbao

All about 200 miles a day, plenty of time for a Kodak moment and stop for lunch!

 

[Oliwoof]

Hi Ewan

Would avoid Toulouse and suggest Pau if you must go shopping! For non biking days there is a great spa in Bagneres called Aquensis, lots of good walking in the area eg Garvarnie and Pont d'Espagne.

 

[Yellow Peril]

You'll find some excellent advice here:- www.ebbo.org

Ebbo is of this parish or was and has some excellent write ups,photos routes etc.

He recommends some great hotels as well.

We have just come back from Spain/portugal and to be honest unless you are going a long way south I wouldn't bother with portugal. Also the weather can be a bit hit and miss so the med end of the Pyrennes is probably best for holiday stuff.

 

[Harv]

,,, consider running along the length of the mountains and dropping down into the Ebro valley around Mequinenza....then follow the river down to the Med....great beaches on the Costa Dorada.
We are out there the following week for the Moto GP
Let me know if you want more....

 

[t'other dave]

Easy/nice ride from Bilbao is the coastal road upto San Sebastion, Which aint a bad city to spend a few hours if the weathers nice.

 

[markie_wales]

I think that's the ferries we'll be using (KTM 950 SE and BMW 800GS). For road only, I'd say D918 across the Pyrenees because a) it's easy to explain b) most of it is heart stoppingly fantastic. You don't need to point out the non-word in the previous sentence!

We'll be off to Portugal so I can update the N -> S route of growing fame.....

cheers

Markie

 

[gspod]

We'll be travelling along that coast next week - the further west you go the more remote, dramatic and, surprisingly, less possibility of rain. We will go as far as Luarca then head directly south for the corner of Portugal and onto Salamanca.

I know the lure of the Pyrenees, but IMHO head west young man. The little bays and fishing villages are straight out of a film set and there is a backdrop of mountains all the way. You can spend the morning riding in the hills and the afternoon on the beach, with a little old fashioned restaurant (fish straight from the tank and a bottle of Albarino) for dinner. Your wife will love it.

Enjoy whatever you decide.

 

[itspilsbury]

If you are looking for a place to stay in Bilbao the Artexte is very good, 20 minutes from the ferry and they love bikes. We have stayed there the last couple of times we were in Bilbao.

http://www.hotelartetxe.com/index.php?idi=uk

I'm glad you are recomending this place, we are going to Spain on the 25 Sept via Santander and back 8 days later via Bilbao having stopped our last night at the Artexte!!!!
We are staying also in Tordesillas,Avila,Segovia and Burgos.
Sounds that there will one or 2 tossers over there at the same time.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Consider staying in Paradors in Spain. They are not cheap, but excellent value, very plush, and brilliant, reasonably priced fixed menus in the evening. Oh, and a breakfast that'll fill you up until tea-time! Always worth treating the lady in your life to a night or two of luxury.

http://www.parador.es/en/portal.do

Briefly, Paradors are state-owned hotels, usually in old or remarkable buildings, run as hotels to bring money in to support the buildings, rather than just being kept going with public money.

I love Spain, away from the touristy coastal resorts. Only word of warning would be that last time we were there on bikes, my friend was fined twice by the police. Put the dampers on his holiday! Catalunya or Maestrazgo woudl be my destinations, but they're over to the East and you may choose to spend more time in a smaller area.

Pyrenees are great, or course, with some lovely passes, but the weather is changeable. If it looks cloudy up there, there are plenty of good mountain roads elsewhere.

My other tip: when stopping for lunch in the middle of nowhere, always plump for the menu del dia. You'll get good, solid food, probably shared with the locals, and it still represents great value.

EDIT: Should have added that for Paradors, you get better deals if you join their loyalty club, called Amigos de Paradores. Free to join.

 

[merv996]

Hi,Ewan, i am booked on the same ferry home, will look out for you. Have a good trip Merv.

 

[long-tall-round]

Tips on that ferry

Any of U guys got better deals than £410 return????? Seems a bit steep to me?
Bilbao or Santander.

I did Picos about 10 years ago on a totally overloaded Gold wing.
Look up the 'Grand Tour' for some quiet mountain roads.
Only about 1.5 hrs from the port, but a bit quiet from a shopping angle. Do, do the Fuente De cable car. Pretty high, (Edit) 'Kin High, and only two towers, the bottom and the top, almost vertical climb. Now't up there, but great views.

Pete.
NB might be going 15th if I can find an extra bike.
(Bro in law mants to come.).

 

[cookie]

Any of U guys got better deals than £410 return????? Seems a bit steep to me?
Bilbao or Santander.

going in october. portsmouth - santander, single occupancy cabin both ways, £220 IIRC

 

[twizzle]

i'm off down there on the 2/9/11.... but riding down from St Malo..

£140 including O/N cabin ferry from Portsmouth... do it in one go at 512 miles = 3tanks of fuel at 75 euros... job done... be in the moutains for tea time!