Where's a good base in the Pyrenees?

DrPete

DrPete

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I'm planning a bit of a jaunt down to the Pyrenees this spring with a good mate of mine. I've never been to that part of the world before, and just wanted to ask where a good place to stay (hotel tips gratefully received) and tour from would be? We'll be going for a week via Santander.
 
I organised a tour with a group of friends from the VFR Club in July 2007 and we stayed in Bagneres-de-Luchon at Le Majestic hotel, which was reasonably priced and recently refurbished, so the rooms were quite nice although not air conditioned.

http://www.hotel-majestic-luchon.federal-hotel.com/page_en_1.html

The town had plenty of bars and restaurants and good access to the passes on both sides of the border :)

Preferred the Spanish side of the Pyrenees from a riding perspective though :thumb
 
sven said:
I organised a tour with a group of friends from the VFR Club in July 2007 and we stayed in Bagneres-de-Luchon at Le Majestic hotel, which was reasonably priced and recently refurbished, so the rooms were quite nice although not air conditioned.

http://www.hotel-majestic-luchon.federal-hotel.com/page_en_1.html

The town had plenty of bars and restaurants and good access to the passes on both sides of the border :)

Preferred the Spanish side of the Pyrenees from a riding perspective though :thumb
Click to expand...

We had lunch there at it was a lovely town

We stayed in Vielha @ Hotel Aran

Sort is also good

Here's my trip report

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=246594
 
What time do you like to eat in an evening? If you must eat before 10pm then you need to be in France.

Stayed in Ainsa a couple of times and near Mirepoix on the other side, both nice places.
 
Hotel Ciria In Benasque


Booking.com/Hotel-Ciria


Right location, plenty of belting roads, Andorra close by, good hotel, as its Spain evening meal 9pm


Teejay
 
Last edited:
+1

+1 for Phil and Belinda.
A month ago we spent the first couple of days of our first trip into the Pyrenees with Phil and Belinda. A perfect introduction to riding those col, and Phil is pretty handy with the tools (just in case)
Great B&B and we'll definitely be back there again next year.

Dean
 
been based in vielha in spain twice this year. once camping, and once in hotel aran.

very strange place, but fun :thumb2
 
We stayed here: http://www.experiencethepyrenees.co.uk/ in 2008.

Well located for many great roads, good food, great hosts and just ask about where to ride and they will be able to tell you.

I was on a sportsbike at the time so stayed off narrow stuff for the most part, however do try the N260 from Sort- Adrall, some great roads, flowing in parts but plenty tight enough to be fun on a GS and some great scenery.

From this base it made for a great loop taking in other good roads and swinging through Andorra on the way back - although your not missing much if you do not go to Andorra.
 
If you stay right in the high Pyrenees - Vielha for example - then wherever you want to tour, you're limited to the same roads up and down the valley. The roads across all tend to run North-South. Also, if the weather closes in, you'll be stuck in the fog.

If you stay out a short ride away from the highest passes, you'll be able to (a) avoid the worst of any weather problems (b) use faster roads to head towards the particular passes you want to do on any particular day and (c) probably have a wider choice of places to stay.

It's up to you if you want to stay in Spain or France. In my experience, there are nicer roads away from the Pyrenees in Spain than in France, where it all turns quite low and flat very quickly. My personal choice would be to stay over in Catalunya, but that's a fair trek from Santander.

If your budget allows, have a look at Paradores in Spain. Always nice hotels, always tremendous food, usually some discounts or deals for multiple night stays.
 
Rasher said:
We stayed here: http://www.experiencethepyrenees.co.uk/ in 2008.

Well located for many great roads, good food, great hosts and just ask about where to ride and they will be able to tell you.

I was on a sportsbike at the time so stayed off narrow stuff for the most part, however do try the N260 from Sort- Adrall, some great roads, flowing in parts but plenty tight enough to be fun on a GS and some great scenery.

From this base it made for a great loop taking in other good roads and swinging through Andorra on the way back - although your not missing much if you do not go to Andorra.
Click to expand...
Do you have a waypoint or lat/long for this place Rasher? cheers
 
Robin said:
If you stay right in the high Pyrenees - Vielha for example - then wherever you want to tour, you're limited to the same roads up and down the valley. The roads across all tend to run North-South. Also, if the weather closes in, you'll be stuck in the fog.
Click to expand...


true, but what roads they are :cool:
 
Pyrenees base

Laruns, France was a good spot for me last August - mountain passes to east, west and south. Many of them Tour de France routes. Not far from Col the Portalet and the Spanish border. Also Col de Somport to the West.

It's a small town without the glamour of a Bagneres de Louchon. I can't comment on hotels; I was camping.

Local attractions:
- Fabulous hiking, for all abilities at Lac Bious Artigues
- Train de Artouste. Mountain top narrow gauge railway. Once a construction train now for tourists.
 
Wapping said:
Looks like this town, here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=098...=42.948381,1.060181&spn=2.408368,5.817261&z=8

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/17246390
Click to expand...

That's the one:thumb2

Sleepy little village with a pub and not much else, we loved it Chris & Caty are great and Chris knows the area very well and has been riding there for about 20 years, he would also be able to advise on road conditions at different times of the year.

I have a report on another forum I will try to dig out & post at some point.

It was good value as you get breakfast and evening meal included, times were catered for, if we were unsure of return time we could just call up later in day and on return a great meal was waiting.

Chris was always helpful with route advice, I had some plans and he checked them over and made some recomendations here and there.

Drop them an E-mail :thumb
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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