Suggestions - Galicia and the Basque country routes

Peirre O`Bollox

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As its the only area I haven`t prevoiusly explored, on my next trip to Spain I`m looking to explore routes west from Bilbao towards Santiago de Compostelo for 3 or 4 days, before heading inland towards Chaves and travelling down the N2 to Faro, arriving in Faro 7-8 days after disembarking the ferry. Tbh I`m not really interested in visiting Churches etc, its more about keep on moving down the road. So Scenic routes, breathtaking Scenery etc on sealed roads is what I`m looking for. Accommodation will be hotels, pensions etc. So can anyone suggest places to visit, routes to travel and modest places to stay overnight
 
The AS-12 from Navia on the north coast to Lugo is the finest bit of tarmac I have ever personally ridden. We did it on recommendation from a Spanish biker, he wasn't wrong. It tied in nicely as it was on the way to Santiago de Compostella.

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I stayed in Navia and did a couple of circuits before heading down the AS12 as mentioned above to get to Porto eventually. Great fun. Some spectacular scenery in Asturias. The AS227 through the Somiedo National Park was one of my favourite roads but there are so many, I will go again this year. Probably stay in Ponferrada this year as that seems to be surrounded by good roads.

Closer to Bilbao, the roads inland are a delight as I found last year, heading from Rioja back to Santander. If you have done the Picos you could head SW of Bilbao through towards Aguilar de Camppo, then NW to Riano and on to Navia. Palacio Arias Hotel was decent enough in the centre of Navia. Plenty of restaurants nearby. https://goo.gl/maps/bGJyGqh8LSCkbtJQ8 shows the hotel.
 
I'm heading that way myself in July so thanks for the tips; I'll add them to my list!
 
Last year two of us sailed to Santander and after a night in Cabrales we headed along the coast roads towards A Coruna with the intention of taking the coast road all the way down to Faro.

The weather had other ideas and so after a night battling through shite weather, we hit the main road to Santiago Compostelo and down the coat via Porto etc. and then down to Faro, hitting the main roads as and when necessary.

After a few days, we reached Faro and cut across to Huelva in Spain where we headed back up on the N435 up to Badajoz, Caceres, Salmanca, Valladolid, Burgos.

We spend another night at Cabrales and then to Bilbao.

To be honest, we preferred Spain to Portugal and the roads were amazing.

This isn't a road report and we were on Goldwings, so all on roads rather than tracks.

Ten days of great riding though.
 
Following, as booked 7 nights hotel del Oso near Potes early September arriving at Santander on pont-aven area looks great, never been before :thumb
 
The AS-12 from Navia on the north coast to Lugo is the finest bit of tarmac I have ever personally ridden. We did it on recommendation from a Spanish biker, he wasn't wrong. It tied in nicely as it was on the way to Santiago de Compostella.

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I've added As-12 to my list for July; I hope it's as good as you say.
 
You could tap about in the free Tourenfahrer website, to see what their databank throws up.

https://www.tourenfahrer.de/tour-datenbank/

Zoom in a bit and tap on the green and purple coloured circle things. You can’t break it.

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See this thread on what is possible: https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showt...he-Pyrenees-to-Provence?p=5577797#post5577797
 
Thanks Gents for your input and ideas, please keep them coming. :thumb
The ride routes I found tend to circular type routes to return you to the starting point, or to connect to the next route.
Wapping has given me another ideas with the tourenfahren website. As I`m booked on the sunday Pompy to Bilbao crew changeover ferry in July which disembarks in Bilbao Tuesday morning, I`m gonna look at heading west to Navia for an overnight stay, then ride the AS12 road towards Lugo and depending on the weather either meander on similar roads towards Santiago or south towards Ourense and Chaves
 
I've added As-12 to my list for July; I hope it's as good as you say.

AS12 - AS28 - LU 701 - LU530. You won't regret it.

Richard (Wapping),

We're going around that sort of way this year. Leaving aside that we don't have the leisure time to do it all, we're cutting down on the N road (paralleled by a M.way, so should be relatively traffic free) from A Coruña to get to Chaves. That route is eternal and not only that, much of it is like this:
 

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AS12 - AS28 - LU 701 - LU530. You won't regret it.

https://www.motogoloco.com/blog/the-spain-trip-part-three-the-best-roads/

Roughly where it goes: https://goo.gl/maps/dUtDZnvjYLyrEchM8

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Richard:

Yep, that's about where it is. Obviously starting from Navia, up through Boal and, hopefully, not walking.

I didn't proof-read my post but I was referring to the blue route you have published on the Tourenfahrer. Just in case.... regards.
 
At 41kms exactly you will round out of a bend and see the third picture.

At the second (picture) you see a road going left. If you take that it becomes a very short dirt track which leads to a bar/restaurant with a nice view. It's called the Folgueiru Bar. After the number of bends you have just ridden, you will need refreshment.:D It looks like a WWII bunker but, as I say, the view is nice from outside.

Now, if you look at the first picture and for those not continuing to the AS28 - Fonsagrada, that signpost leads you to a cut-through along a windmill farm (all paved) to La Garganta. You can get right up close to the windmills and stand underneath. There is a great restaurant in Sta. Eulalia de Oscos with a fantastic road to it called Casa Pedro. Sit under the vines looking out onto the valley.

Apologies, the photos came out bottom to top.:nenau
 

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Last June, the LU530 to Lugo was completely empty of traffic, apart from hoards of Camino pilgrims walking to Santiago. A great touring experience.

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At 41kms exactly you will round out of a bend and see the third picture.

At the second (picture) you see a road going left....

Apologies, the photos came out bottom to top.:nenau

Bottom to top or top to bottom, thank you for taking the time to share the news and the pictures. Appreciated.

Looking at your other pictures, this looks about as far away from what bods might imagine Spain as looking like, as is possible:

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It looks more like rural Essex. Some will moan there’s no mountains and (apparently) no hairpins but hey, you can’t have everything. It’s nicely different, that’s all. Hopefully it will encourage them to go. Hopefully as well, posts #11 and #15, demonstrate how you can find alternative sources of information and where roads probably are, without trying too hard.
 
mmm, can't edit now. The references are 1 top, 2 middle, 3 bottom.

Yes, (re- Essex roads) unfortunately there comes a time when that's all you ride for quite some time in that area. It's not all like that, of course and I could name quite a few more to avoid (in Ourense especially) but from experience, I know them to be a PIA. Not so bad if everyone has comfy tourers but the SB riders will soon get fed up with the bumpy ride and either high gear, low throttle, or vice versa.
 


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