Plymouth to Benidorm/Alicante

[jdjfry]

Hi
Has anyone done the Plymouth to Santander ferry then down to Benidorm
Advice and tips please
Many Thanks

 

[MarkN]

I've done Plymouth / Santander a few times, the next time is tomorrow. Although I've not ridden to Alicante / Benidorm but I've ridden down to Gibraltar via Granada.

The ferry is superb, Spain is fantastic to ride in, although the mountains in the South can be very, very hot in June/July time and it's at it's hottest at about 3pm-4pm . The roads through the centre of Spain can be long and straight and a bit boring in places but the mountain ranges more than make up for that.

Hope that helps in a small way.

 

[xrv]

Thats a nice ride.I have rode it a few times....as recently as a couple of weeks ago. It can be done in about 9 hours on the motorway...and its all free until you hit the coast road at Alicante.The downside is it can be a pretty boring 500 plus miles.If you decide to stop over near Madrid you could head for a town just north of there called Colmenar Viejo.Not sure about cheap accomodation there but its a nice place with a healthy collection of twisties......the Spanish Touratech outlet is there too
The ferry generally docks in Santander about 08.00 which gives you all day if you decide to do it in one hit.Just follow the the leader as you disembark as almost all will be heading for the motorways.......leave port to the right and at the first roundabout take third exit to come back on yourself.Before you know it you will see signs for roads going to all directions(todos direcciones)You could head straight for Bilbao via the motorway then down to Burgos and Madrid,although my choice has always been to take the shorter,slower N623 to Burgos over the mountains.There can be very variable weather there at this time of year.....you reach 1020metres about 25 miles from the port and it stays like that for a good few miles..almost until Burgos which is about 90 miles..beautiful on a clear day but at 09.00 on a cold September morning freezing fog is not un-common...as i found out recently.

If you do take the N623 then just north of Burgos you will find signs for Madrid via the relatively new by-pass.Its plan sailing from there.....approaching Madrid look for M40 heading towards the airport then follow signs for Zaragoza,soon you will see signs for Valencia/Alicante......on the approach to Alicante you have choice of AP-7 (fast toll-road-peage) to Benidorm or free,slower N332.I be just up the road abit from there....its the posher end of Benidorm you know!

Have a good trip.What you riding? If you see a Honda Africa Twin give it a wide berth because it might be me...and i still tend to fall off alot

 

[pedro]

when you get there

head for the Daytona Beach Bar down at the sea front. Usual haunt for bikers and has live music on through the day.

 

[jdjfry]

Hi
Thanks for all replies so far....
Planning on going in September 2009 on my 2005 BMW 1200GS which is being delivered tomoz!!
Any more advice please keep it coming especially with suggestions on where to stop about half way , overnight
Also sat nav a massive help or maps fine?
JDJ

 

[peter wallis]

hi, nothing to worry about did this trip 2 months ago i did motorway all the way in one day,only 1 slight problem you have to come of the motorway at burgos and do about 5 miles city centre before rejoining motorway no sat nav but a good map,its alot cooler in the north and heats up as you go south,i spent 3 weeks in pyrenees and 2 weeks in spain,watch out for roadside checks at alicante i was breathalysed just through the toll needless to say i hadnt been drinking, have a good trip

 

[xrv]

only 1 slight problem you have to come of the motorway at burgos and do about 5 miles city centre before rejoining motorway

Approaching Burgos from the north via the N623 there is now a by-pass,so no need to go through the city.