Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and Alps Trip

[nick crisp]

Thinking about doing this late April/early May next year, basically the N260 all the way down, possibly doing some short detours for scenery/places of interest, maybe back up on the French side of the range. Anyone got any hotel recommendations for that route? Anyone fancy tagging along?

[ogri48]

Me and the missus did this two years back on a cb13 nick, fantastic place. On one bit we rode switchbacks through the mountains on sticky black dead flat tarmac for a solid two hours without seeing another vehicle! Tyres looked like I'd just come a track day, just brilliant roads and they go on forever. We stayed at places on the hoof, was all pretty cheap even into France as long as your going through the small towns and villages. Going there again this year to visit a mates villa in Portugal, if it ties in would love to tag along. You taking the ferry down to Bilbao or doing the long way through France bud. We did the ferry and would probably do the same again next year, keeps the new tyres from being squared off afore you get there and you can be having the crack on the boat ;-)

[nick crisp]

Yeah Paul, was thinking ferry to Santander or Bilbao, maybe back through France; not decided on that bit yet. What time of year did you do it? I'd like to see the mountains still with some snow on them, but want to avoid summer heat and traffic, so hoping things might be ok from late April?

[ogri48]

We went late in the year nick, it was a kinda "Fock it lets just jump on the bike and go " thing. Ferry was expensive (£600 I think for two and a bike) and we did the same, rode back up through France. I gotta find out this week when me exams are, and I'll know then when I'll be free ( any other date in the year lol) to go. I'll get in touch with me mate this week about going to see him too, be no probs with him if you fancy coming down there too. The Pyrenees and the gorge du verdon ( into the south of France) are biking heaven, I'm genuinely hoping if I make it as a writer after uni I can live there, end me days riding in the sun and chilling with my dog :-)

[nick crisp]

Sounds good mate, I'd enjoy a bit of company. My dates aren't fixed in stone either 

[ogri48]

Excellent mate, definitely sounds like the beginning of a plan...:-)

[Skippernick]

Gits!!!

[locksmith]

The N260, fantastic road, probably the best fun I ever had on a bike :thumbup

[ogri48]

Heard from a mate in the busa club who went April time and it was zero degrees in the mountains so yeah, probably mid May onwards, should be warm but still snow to see on the peaks :-)

[slimwilly]

I went fast ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg,2 or 3 hours, then rode down to Bordeaux , then next day into piranees

[midden]

Has this idea died?

[Millietant]

Yeah Paul, was thinking ferry to Santander or Bilbao, maybe back through France; not decided on that bit yet. What time of year did you do it? I'd like to see the mountains still with some snow on them, but want to avoid summer heat and traffic, so hoping things might be ok from late April?

We went from Santander, out through the hills to Pamplona and on Jaca (some fantastic roads once away from the coastal industrial sprawl) for our first overnight stop - stayed at the Hotel Real). It was a lovely town and is right at the foot of the Pyrenees. Heading over the hills, the roads are spectacular, both wide and flowing and narrow and extremely twisty, with serious drop-offs at the side of the road (also riding under rock overhangs that you think will fall on your head). Heading towards Lourdes from Jaca takes you right through the heart of the ski areas (no snow when we there though, it was mid August). Our second night we stopped in Carcassonne - what a fabulous place - stayed at the Hotel Montmorency - what a place for perfect access to the walled city. Stayed there for a couple of nights, brilliant location, lovely atmosphere, they loved bikes/touring riders.

Then headed over to the Millau bridge - awesome roads there and fantastic roads around the area of the bridge, climbing up the valley sides - after a couple of hours riding around, going over the bridge 3 times (worth it) we eventually headed north and stayed up near Limoges  before heading to Mont St Michel for a couple of days before getting a ferry back from Le Havre.

Great places, great roads, great scenery. We'll defo do it again some time.

[nick crisp]

Has this idea died?

No. It may have mutated slightly though.

[lew600fazer]

I have just done this trip 3 weeks ago from SW France over the Pyrenees down through Spain to the Costa Blanca. I had fantastic weather all the way and back again, 10 day trip. I avoided motorways and toll roads were possible. I pre booked a couple of hotels using booking.com. Nothing fancy  but clean and a place for a few beers and a bite to eat and breakfast Room €29.00 Dinner €7.00 Breakfast was included , the beer was €2.25 a pint. I have posted a few photos on the forum. I have also posted several videos on youtube.com, search for Lewis McColl and you  should find me. some are long winded but bear with is as the roads are amazing. I am still adding stuff from my trip. The scenery is amazing, I did the parts of the N134, N260 and also the N330.
Anyone thinking about doing the Pyrenees send me a PM and if I can help will be more than happy, I may even join you as I am already halfway there seeing as I  leave in SW France.
Checkout my post in Events, Meets, Ride outs etc

[fatbloke62]

Lew, I've watched your video's while  drinking a few bottles of Leffe  what a great part of the world you live one day I'll talk the wife in to taking the thou over the water, we have done it in the car but never the bike .one day eh !

[lew600fazer]

Lew, I've watched your video's while  drinking a few bottles of Leffe  what a great part of the world you live one day I'll talk the wife in to taking the thou over the water, we have done it in the car but never the bike .one day eh !

Cheers mate, I just wish I could find some longer bits of music to tag on to the vids, gets a bit tedious watching after a while.
It really is a trip to add to any bikers bucket list, I was really lucky with my weather. It is easy for me to plan as being retired time is my own. I just kept an eye on the long range forecasts and when I spotted a weather window went for it. My main concern was checking the snow conditions in the mountains so the old ski reports forecast came in handy as well. Once through the mountains and into Spain by way of Aragon Provence the further south you head the better the weather. It can still be cold until you get beyond Zaragoza. For that stretch I did cheat as I did us the AP23 to mile munch down to my planned first night stop 100kms beyond Zaragoza . I stopped at Monreal del Campo. Next day hit the N 330 and just enjoyed Spain.

[nick crisp]

Got my trip booked as far as Sort in the Pyrenees, then going to wing it.


Ferry from Portsmouth to Santander.
1 night at Torrelavega.
4 nights at Riano in the Picos de Europa.
2 nights at Pamplona.
5 nights at Sort on the N260 for Pyrenees exploration.


Then I'll just see how I feel. I'd like to turn this into an epic, but I'll have to see what my stamina is like. If it's not good, I'll perhaps head back up on the French side of the Pyrenees via the D618 and D918, which I am informed are very good scenic roads, then a fast toll-route blast to Calais for the Chunnel.


Quite looking forward to it, dontcha know 

[lew600fazer]

Have a cracking trip and enjoy, photos please.

[nick crisp]

Thanks Lew. I'll do my best to take some half decent snaps and post them here. Going at the end of May.

[nick crisp]

Thought I'd better post in here (for those interested), instead of cluttering up the "What did you do with your Fazer" thread  :rolleyes

























































































































And all connected by fantastic roads. Alps next?