Pyrenees in June

[kyle]

thinking of a wee spin in june.
any advice as to what ferry crossing to use etc.
i have been granted 2 weeks by swmbo
obviously bein a tight-arse i will be camping.

so any advice/slaggin appreciated

also if anyone is at a loose end for a fortnight in june

cheers

 

[Aidan1150]

Sounds like a good run Kyle, but I hope to be here at about the same time as you are in the Pyrenees.

The only thing that might put some off is the camping. Jockser for example wouldn't entertain it. Me neither come to that.

 

[kyle]

The only thing that might put some off is the camping. Jockser for example wouldn't entertain it. Me neither come to that.

AYE its gonna be hardcore

(i only said I would be camping.never let it be said that i would impose such hardship on others)

 

[Hairnet600]

hotelf1.com

approved frog sites are usually pretty good

cork roscoff theres only one sailing a week

id come over here and portsmouth bibao or portsmouth caen

 

[pedro]

try-

www.eurocampings.co.uk

Shows most campsites throughout europe, complete with grid references, reviews and google maps link. Great site for planning a trip.

 

[charlie brown]

Not a clue

I have no idea what so ever about ferries from Ireland to France. But I would recommend aiming to land south of the Gironde river. It will cut out the bland north roads. The South West coast is lovely and I would recommend St Lux St Savieur once you hit the mountains. Town with some good hotels and bars with camping near by. The cyclists hitting the Col de la tour are inspirational and watch out for the cattle, they out weigh you and seem to quiet fancy their chances

 

[Norrie]

Kyle

FWIW I would look at Plymouth - Santander cut's out France and your only a few hours ride from the Pyreness

Norrie

 

[Jaws100]

Kyle

FWIW I would look at Plymouth - Santander cut's out France and your only a few hours ride from the Pyreness

Norrie

+1 on that suggestion and you could take in the Picos as well seeing you have two weeks to travel, and its only approx 160km from Santander ferry port.

I think the ferry to Northern Spain would be a much better idea as very very boring is the only way I can describe the journey south

Would agree with Sidpick on the above point

 

[sidpick]

We went this year in June, ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe then rode down through Orleans, Limoges, Agen and Tarbes finally finishing close to Lannemezan. Quite a long day! Blistering hot the further south we went until the next morning.

I think the ferry to Northern Spain would be a much better idea as very very boring is the only way I can describe the journey south.

We had to do some serious milage to get some sun! I recon it was only dry for 1 day.

From doing the Swiss Alps the previous year with awsome weather and good roads I was pretty disapointed. We ended up coming home a day early.
If you follow the A-138 down into Spain there is a massive lake just south of Ainsa, that was awsome - our best day was spent in wonderful hot, dry conditions.

Plus note, the rain suits worked!

Hope the sun shines on you more then it did us! (especially in a tent!) I think my next visit to the Pyrenees will be to drive straight through it to Spain and beyond!

Good luck!!

Sid

 

[fuddy]

+1 on that suggestion and you could take in the Picos as well seeing you have two weeks to travel, and its only approx 160km from Santander ferry port.

I agree, i got the ferry one way,then spent 3 days in the picos,then
went across the pyrenees spanish/french sides,then back up to calais.
I was on the road for 9 days,there are plenty off campsites about,no
need to book just stop on route.

 

[kyle]

Kyle

FWIW I would look at Plymouth - Santander cut's out France and your only a few hours ride from the Pyreness

Norrie

thanks for the replies chaps..

Jaysus Norrie, long time no see mate


Sidpick,
nothing written in stone mate if the weather is crap I'll just move on

 

[Montydog]

When your so close the Pico's is a must ...fantastic roads scenery food a beautiful part of the world

 

[de crowe]

happy new year kyle

i travelled from here, being galway last june kyle, to malaga via the pyrennes. i made the rosslare cherbourg ferry for friday afternoon leaving home around 11 am( had to change tires in meskell limerick on my way), very doable now for you what with motorways and stuff. landed in cherbourg and disembarked around 11 am local Saturday am. made my way to toulouse via bordeaux for about 9pm Saturday night, hard ould driving but fine, driving 94 k1100rs. Stayed in Formula1 toulouse for €23. Next day, Sunday hit the pyrennes/spanish border for 11am. after that the world is your lobster!! it was hot, wet up in the mountains, fantastic views, roads and food. I got a route from someone else on this site. one of the best rides ever. kept a note, thereafter drove on at leisure to malaga via la mancha, Jaen, Grenada etc. great country roads.

the saturday evening ferry out of `cork, the Pont Aven is a nicer faster (14 hours) boat but you have a few more hours on the road as it lands in Roscoff further west in france. however it arrives early Sunday morning, and bar the fuel issue you can really make tracks on Sunday.

Ahem; what dates are you going?

 

[The Foolish Fellow]

SUGGESTIONS

If its your first time then it really doesnt matter you just gotta do it . The camping is generally fine . Some nice wee towns on the spanish side of andorra . Spain is also cheaper than france . A lot of the time we would have gone down through france and back on the spanish boat to portsmouth / plymouth . The Picos wouldn't be a bad call either.

 

[kyle]

Ahem; what dates are you going?

I am actually very flexible date-wise.Icant go july or august as the boys are off school then.
only really picked june as read somewhere that there is a good chance of torrential rain in september.

i take it the wines good there?

 

[kyle]

If its your first time then it really doesnt matter you just gotta do it .
.

definately a complete novice when it comes to international travel Matt.main thing i want is to go the road less travelled.absolutely hate motorways.so would rather get as close as poss by boat without too much boring stuff

 

[davidgibson999]

definately a complete novice when it comes to international travel Matt.main thing i want is to go the road less travelled.absolutely hate motorways.so would rather get as close as poss by boat without too much boring stuff

so long as you don't get seasick! if you do suffer from it, the plymouth-santander route can be horrendous....

Picos are definitely worth a visit... lynda and i rode through spain in 2007 and loved it...

 

[kyle]

so long as you don't get seasick! if you do suffer from it, the plymouth-santander route can be horrendous....

Picos are definitely worth a visit... lynda and i rode through spain in 2007 and loved it...

so would you go rosslare-fishgaurd then plym-santander

how long from fish-plym?

 

[Jaws100]

how long from fish-plym?

Its Approx 420km.......5-6 hrs depending on traffic, fuel & food stops etc

 

[davidgibson999]

so would you go rosslare-fishgaurd then plym-santander

how long from fish-plym?

we did Dun L - Holyhead, Plymouth-Santander but after the sickness vowed never to venture across the Bay of Biscay again!
If we were going again (and have done since) would always go Rosslare-Cherbourg - you dock in Cherbourg around 11am and can easily make Santander by nightfall.... Granted it's a motorway slog but I'd rather ride on motorway than puke on a boat!

p.s. PLUS, unless the ferry times have changed it's hard to make the Plymouth ferry from Holyhead in one day easily - nearly always requires an overnight in England or good luck with the traffic! The way I see it you can leave NI one morning and make Spain the following evening if you Rosslare-Cher.