Picos/Pyrenees/Spain/Portugal

[Mister B]

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 )

An easy days ride from Bilbao partly along the coast and Motorway (suggest you take the motorway first -just there as you leave the ferry terminal) then after Santander turn inland (South) to POTES (worth a look ) then up the CA185 towards Fuente De. to stay at one of the best hotels in Spain (Check out trip Adviser),Family run superb accom and truely excellent food and the cheapest beer (pints) and drinks in any hotel ive stayed at in spain.All this for about 70 euro room and best breakfast abroad .Beautiful setting and a good base for 2-3 days. Fuente De and the funicular are a must ,be there before 10am and miss the crowds .. Whilst a minor ,dead end road it is a stunning bikers road .A full days out ride could be N621,AS114 ,Cangas de onis ,if you have time do the as262 to cavadonga and mirador de la reina,N625.N621 Potes and back to the hotel for the pool and a beer..They have secure bike parking and a hose to clean the bike! if required but we had no problems SWMBO will be impressed,as we were in June. THe only don side is that the weather can be as variable as Scotland ,wet/glorious but the scenary is stunning and the roads glorious ...
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

An easy days ride from Bilbao partly along the coast and Motorway (suggest you take the motorway first -just there as you leave the ferry terminal) then after Santander turn inland (South) to POTES (worth a look ) then up the CA185 towards Fuente De. to stay at one of the best hotels in Spain (Check out trip Adviser),Family run superb accom and truely excellent food and the cheapest beer (pints) and drinks in any hotel ive stayed at in spain.All this for about 70 euro room and best breakfast abroad .Beautiful setting and a good base for 2-3 days. Fuente De and the funicular are a must ,be there before 10am and miss the crowds .. Whilst a minor ,dead end road it is a stunning bikers road .A full days out ride could be N621,AS114 ,Cangas de onis ,if you have time do the as262 to cavadonga and mirador de la reina,N625.N621 Potes and back to the hotel for the pool and a beer..They have secure bike parking and a hose to clean the bike! if required but we had no problems SWMBO will be impressed,as we were in June. THe only down side is that the weather can be as variable as Scotland ,wet/glorious but the scenary is stunning and the roads glorious ...

 

[Mister B]

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

An easy days ride from Bilbao partly along the coast and Motorway (suggest you take the motorway first -just there as you leave the ferry terminal) then after Santander turn inland (South) to POTES (worth a look ) then up the CA185 towards Fuente De. to stay at one of the best hotels in Spain (Check out trip Adviser),Family run superb accom and truely excellent food and the cheapest beer (pints) and drinks in any hotel ive stayed at in spain.All this for about 70 euro room and best breakfast abroad .Beautiful setting and a good base for 2-3 days. Fuente De and the funicular are a must ,be there before 10am and miss the crowds .. Whilst a minor ,dead end road it is a stunning bikers road .A full days out ride could be N621,AS114 ,Cangas de onis ,if you have time do the as262 to cavadonga and mirador de la reina,N625.N621 Potes and back to the hotel for the pool and a beer..They have secure bike parking and a hose to clean the bike! if required but we had no problems SWMBO will be impressed,as we were in June. THe only down side is that the weather can be as variable as Scotland ,wet/glorious but the scenary is stunning and the roads glorious ...

ps Brittany ferries do this hotel as a package with thir bookins at even more attractive prices, Worth a check to see if you can adjust your booking,

 

[martin c s]

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.

Better still ride up the 10 mile track to the cable car station and save your fare! You might need to be on a GS or similar though.

 

[(RIP) Ewan]

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

We're paying about 400 return each inc bike, twin cabin both ways. We'd originally booked to go later in the year last year, and had a lux b=cabin booked both ways for less - unfortunately change of plans meant we got a refund voucher which we're spending on this trip.

Thanks for all the top tips, there's about 3 weeks worth of suggestions there so we'll have to sort through the options and make a plan!

Cheers!

 

[Hman]

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

just to point out the hotel artexte is a nice place to stay but a bit remote and the resturante expensive. however a few kms up the road is a cable car to bilbao center.

Hman