Route advice - Picos to Andorra and back through France

[xantamisch]

Hi

got a quick blast planned. we'll have 2 full days (and an evening) to get from Santander through Picos to Andorra (friend lives there). I've heard good things of the N260 on Spanish side of Pyrenees - is this the best route for second half

Then it will be a day and a half to get to Calais - thinking stopping over near Clermont Ferrand overnight then motorway for last few hundred miles

any suggestions?

thanks

 

[MAR.600]

Hi
Done similar route last year
N612 to potes (picos)
Down the n-260 Pyrenees Spanish side .
Up to gorge de galamus/ onto carcassonne not to be missed.
Over the Milau viaduct then onto the gorge du tarn .
From there we headed east to the French alps which I would do again.
But for the Picos you could base yourself and try different routes
Awesome area and the roads .

 

[donnie]

N260 is a cracking road. If you haven't time to explore, then you can't go far wrong just doing that.

In regards to the two days to get back, my recommendation would be to take the autoroute from Perpignan to the Millau Bridge, then ride through the Gorges du Tarn. It's both beautiful, typically French and a good ride. From there, head for Mende, then the N88 to Le Puy.

I've used a lovely local hotel in the village of Jumeaux, about 25 miles south of Clermont. The owners are great and Fred speaks a little English if needed. Hotel de l'ile. If you search the forum, I stuck a post up about it ages ago. It might be of interest. From there, I did a autoroute to Orleans, then cut across to Chartres, Dreux, Evreux then pick the autorute up again at Rouen. If you have time, the coastal road from Boulogne to Calais is good too.

Hope this helps.

 

[stolzy]

I've heard good things of the N260 on Spanish side of Pyrenees - is this the best route for second half

That.
Even though they seem determined to take out as many of the interesting bits as they can, its still a cracking road.