Picos trip advice

[Hairybiker]

Hi, Anyone help with some info. My partner and I are going on a bit of a touring holiday in Northern spain and then maybe on to the Serra de Estrella. I'm looking for do-able tracks two up on a GS in the Picos or elswhere near by. I've got a map and some info from the rough guide that suggests a track between Espinama and Sotres, and was wondering if this is passable on a GS12 two up and also if it is a legal right of way. any help would be appreciated

 

[shready]

Got back from the Picos and Serra de Estrella last Thursday, fantastic places, beautiful scenery and roads, especially in the Picos.

I didn't do any tracks, however, there was a guy on the campsite we went too that went riding on tracks with his son. He had a KTM and went up to many of the fire lookout points around the Potes area. There are tracks all over the place that seem to be accessable, we had an RT rider with us so tarmac only He dropped that twice on the roads as it was

 

[Hairybiker]

Got back from the Picos and Serra de Estrella last Thursday, fantastic places, beautiful scenery and roads, especially in the Picos.

I didn't do any tracks, however, there was a guy on the campsite we went too that went riding on tracks with his son. He had a KTM and went up to many of the fire lookout points around the Potes area. There are tracks all over the place that seem to be accessable, we had an RT rider with us so tarmac only He dropped that twice on the roads as it was

Thamnks for the reply, which campsite did you go to and was it any good?

 

[shready]

Thamnks for the reply, which campsite did you go to and was it any good?

We went to two campsites, one in Portugal and one in Spain. The Portugese campsite was in a small village that had a baker/bar/pizzeria all rolled into one, superb pizzas However, the campsite served food too and we had a superb meal, at a large table, with a load of Dutch campers.

The campsite is owned by a Dutch couple who speak very good English and the campsite has a bar and swimming pool, the pool was not open when we were there.

It is called Quinta das Cegonhas and the position is N40 31.204 W7 32.458, I'll attach the Garmin waypoint file too. The campsite owner was very knowledgeable about the area and gave us a map of the best roads. We had a great two days there and it was nice to ride the roads without all of the luggage. http://www.cegonhas.com/ Some pics:

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From there we rode up to Porto for the day and stayed in a hotel, nice city and worth a visit if you are nearby.

The other campsite was in Potes, in the Picos, it's called Camping La Viorna. It's owned by a Spanish couple who seem to everything and they do it well. The site is spotless and very well looked after. There is a small shop that sells the usual necessities and a restaurant that served breakfast and evening meals. We didn't bother with breakfast but the evening meals were superb, they also serve a very nice Rioja too. They have a bar and swimming pool, the latter was being cleaned for the season.

Again, the site was great for riding around the Picos and we stayed two days, leaving our luggage behind once again. You can walk into Potes from there, it takes about 15 minutes and is worth seeing, especially the side streets. The cable car is a short ride from there too. For some reason I do not have the waypoint for this campsite but if you are in Potes you pass the tourist information/coach station on your right and as you head out of town you take a left turn at the statue, of a boy I think, that is on the junction to your left. The campsite is signposted from there anyway but it's about three quarters of a mile up there on your right. The road stops anyway when you reach a monastry at the top so you know if you miss it. http://www.campinglaviorna.com/
Some pics:

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The view from my tent, superb.

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Nice restaurant on the road to the cable car, on the left as you go there.

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The monastry at the top, past the campsite.
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Another view from the campsite.

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Garmin waypoint file:

 

[Big Lad]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54294&highlight=potes

 

[rocks]

La viarona..

I too can state happily that "La Viarona" campsite out side Potes, was one of the best I have stayed at. And when I do another trip to the Picos, I will be staying there. Price was good, facilities excellent and people very friendly..

Try and learn a bit of spannish and you get a MUCH warmer reception.. even if you murder the language, like I did..lol.

As for routes to ride, be warned, much of the area if national park, meaning NO off road riding. On the edges of the park and surrounding it, there are some tracks, but many I found were sandy in places and I was bit hesitant to venture too far on my own at the time.

The one man i know who, knows the area well, Mr Timolgra is unfortunately somewhere in Mongolia at this moment, hopefully having a cracking time.. he i think had some ideas of do-able routes.

 

[mikpow]

Sotres to Beges

Hi, don't know whether you've left yet but we just returned from Spain (car unfortunately) but did a walk from Jito de Escarandi, about 3 Km east of Sotres. Good 4WD track although a little loose on first 1 Km descent. then very good bike track with spectacular views. Probably legal as saw 2 4WD vehicles (Sunday, supposedly very quiet in week). Easy trip to Beges. We were on foot and took the right turn at the spring (Vao de los lobos). up to foot of Macondiu peak and back to Jito, 16Km in total. Wonderful walk and passable on bike but rougher and looser, depends on your experience but all easy compared to BMW off road stuff in Wales.

Thought all way round that I must go back on the 1200GS. Let us know if you do the ride or any other in the area....

 

[Phluppe]

One more here to conform about camping La Viorna.

Stayed there three nights about two weeks ago, saw some Britisch bikers, one on a 1150GSA, had a mate with a Ducatti ST-series.

Perfect campsite, though you need to keep very quiet after midnight, the owners are strickt about this.

Grtz, Philip!

 

[Timmo]

Picos

Did the Picos a couple of years ago and stayed at the campsite near Potes. We took 250 trail bikes which were fine. One day a guy on a GS joined us for a 20 mile traverse of the Picos. He struggled a bit but managed to cross (albeit with a dent in his brand new pannier!). Most is quite manageable but there are some downhill stretches where the tracks have lots of loose scree which will challenge a big heavy bike.

Well worth the trip though as views are stunning. Check out the eagles! Saw dozens of them.