Discussion
Plans are coming together for a Pyrenees trip.
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Saint-Jean-de-L...
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Perpignan,+France/...
The plan is for a 9 day trip starting after the 23rd June.
At the moment there are a couple of us planning to go. We want to keep the group to not more than 6 but if others want to join in, you would be most welcome.
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Saint-Jean-de-L...
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Perpignan,+France/...
The plan is for a 9 day trip starting after the 23rd June.
At the moment there are a couple of us planning to go. We want to keep the group to not more than 6 but if others want to join in, you would be most welcome.
Edited by Zed 44 on Wednesday 12th March 23:22
Can I ask why you are driving all the way to and from Calais rather than taking the ferry to Santander/Bilbao? That's a lot of driving for a 9 day holiday. My 2013 summer road trip was around the Pyrenees and it was most enjoyable, we took the ferry out which was very nice and drove back which was a bloody long way. Mind you, we were in a 20yr old Landcruiser 4.2 diesel with no cruise control, a comfortable cruising speed of 65 and a window that decided to stick half open. In a normal car it might make more sense.
I am planning a similar trip for summer 2014 although I intend to take the boat both ways to/from Bilbao/Santander.
I am planning a similar trip for summer 2014 although I intend to take the boat both ways to/from Bilbao/Santander.
I'm doing a trip to the Spanish Pyrenees in May but rather than blasting through France to get there I'm taking a more relaxing route.
Two nights on the Portsmouth/Bilbao ferry then 5 days and 4 nights driving the N260 to Andorra and just south before heading back westwards to Oviedo and Picos de Europa and then ferry back from Santander.
I estimate about 1300 miles in the 5 days
Two nights on the Portsmouth/Bilbao ferry then 5 days and 4 nights driving the N260 to Andorra and just south before heading back westwards to Oviedo and Picos de Europa and then ferry back from Santander.
I estimate about 1300 miles in the 5 days
Zed 44 said:
Hope this works.
Nope ..... or are you changing the trip to the whole of N America? 
I'm going in July, this is the first day of my trip. I have driven the Pyrenees many a time.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'd also suggest the ferry, but I'd go Plymouth Santandar as its only around 19 hours and gets in around midday.
Third time lucky - maybe??
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
Edited by Zed 44 on Wednesday 12th March 17:30
Zed 44 said:
Third time lucky - maybe??
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
They work for me & I prefer the older maps too, much easier to use.https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2001036417288...
We have today booked our route (I'll now have to remember how to sort out my route on google maps and edit on my thread) and we are going down from St Malo to the Pyrenees and staying in Vielha. Returning via Santandar.
St Malo to Vielha is about 6 .5 hours if memory serves,
The road from Asasp - Arros to Ripoll via Vielha is a great road and beautiful too boot. EDIT: THIS IS A FABULOUS ROAD, especially from Luchon.
My initial thinking with the route previous to that, is your spending alot of your time in France, I would always drive more in Spain in the mountains that the French side. Less traffic, better road surface cheaper fuel, more understanding coppers. I'd be tempted to get over the border and head for Pamplona then east on the A21 to Jaca then up to Biescas and north from there on the A136 (D934 on the French side) to meet up with your route just before Laruns. On the map it looks like a minor road, it isn't.
St Malo to Vielha is about 6 .5 hours if memory serves,
The road from Asasp - Arros to Ripoll via Vielha is a great road and beautiful too boot. EDIT: THIS IS A FABULOUS ROAD, especially from Luchon.
My initial thinking with the route previous to that, is your spending alot of your time in France, I would always drive more in Spain in the mountains that the French side. Less traffic, better road surface cheaper fuel, more understanding coppers. I'd be tempted to get over the border and head for Pamplona then east on the A21 to Jaca then up to Biescas and north from there on the A136 (D934 on the French side) to meet up with your route just before Laruns. On the map it looks like a minor road, it isn't.
Edited by Wozy68 on Thursday 13th March 14:05
Wozy68 said:
We have today booked our route (I'll now have to remember how to sort out my route on google maps and edit on my thread) and we are going down from St Malo to the Pyrenees and staying in Vielha. Returning via Santandar.
St Malo to Vielha is about 6 .5 hours if memory serves,
The road from Asasp - Arros to Ripoll via Vielha is a great road and beautiful too boot. EDIT: THIS IS A FABULOUS ROAD, especially from Luchon.
My initial thinking with the route previous to that, is your spending alot of your time in France, I would always drive more in Spain in the mountains that the French side. Less traffic, better road surface cheaper fuel, more understanding coppers. I'd be tempted to get over the border and head for Pamplona then east on the A21 to Jaca then up to Biescas and north from there on the A136 (D934 on the French side) to meet up with your route just before Laruns. On the map it looks like a minor road, it isn't.
Thanks for the heads up on the routes. You're going in July aren't you via. the ferry to St. Malo.St Malo to Vielha is about 6 .5 hours if memory serves,
The road from Asasp - Arros to Ripoll via Vielha is a great road and beautiful too boot. EDIT: THIS IS A FABULOUS ROAD, especially from Luchon.
My initial thinking with the route previous to that, is your spending alot of your time in France, I would always drive more in Spain in the mountains that the French side. Less traffic, better road surface cheaper fuel, more understanding coppers. I'd be tempted to get over the border and head for Pamplona then east on the A21 to Jaca then up to Biescas and north from there on the A136 (D934 on the French side) to meet up with your route just before Laruns. On the map it looks like a minor road, it isn't.
Edited by Wozy68 on Thursday 13th March 14:05
We'll probably go channel tunnel on the 23rd June. France has some great D roads which I prefer to use.
I've allowed 3 days on each leg of the trip with a margin of 1-2 days over the top if necessary. So 9-11 days all in.
Zed 44 said:
Thanks for the heads up on the routes. You're going in July aren't you via. the ferry to St. Malo.
We'll probably go channel tunnel on the 23rd June. France has some great D roads which I prefer to use.
I've allowed 3 days on each leg of the trip with a margin of 1-2 days over the top if necessary. So 9-11 days all in.
No probs We'll probably go channel tunnel on the 23rd June. France has some great D roads which I prefer to use.
I've allowed 3 days on each leg of the trip with a margin of 1-2 days over the top if necessary. So 9-11 days all in.
Yup July 3rd overnight crossing from Portsmouth, can't really do Dover as I live in Worcestershire. Santandar evening sail on the 9th back, so we will have all day Friday to get down to the mountains, 4 nights in Vielha, probs 1 night in Logronno on the Tuesday and as the ferry has changed and now is late leaving rather than 3PM, a quick jaunt to Leon and take the N621 north to Santander via Riano on the last day.
I did this road a couple of years back when the wife and I toured Spain for a couple of weeks ........ fab route and outstanding scenery. This time with the lads, I'm hoping to be able to do this road, a little quicker.
France, I know what you mean about the D roads, spent a small amount of time there in the South, and she is such a beautiful country.
Thinking of a similar trip at some stage so I hope you don't mind joining in this thread. Current plan would be ferry down to Bilbao instead of driving down through France.
If anyone has specific accommodation recommendations that would be great. Looking to find one or two nights in something characterful. Could be anything from a castle to a spa.
Probably returning a bit further east to accommodate https://goo.gl/maps/bnlJH as apparently the Route Napol éon is worth a look.
If anyone has specific accommodation recommendations that would be great. Looking to find one or two nights in something characterful. Could be anything from a castle to a spa.
Probably returning a bit further east to accommodate https://goo.gl/maps/bnlJH as apparently the Route Napol éon is worth a look.
The N260, I think it was, probably the best road I have ever been on. Full stop. Got diverted and wound up going through the most immense scenery.
Did the ferry from Santander and drove to the south of France with my dad, both on bikes. Stunning trip, great scenery, and so weird as most of the little towns in the mountains are dead in the summer as they're ski resorts. Amazing place.
Did the ferry from Santander and drove to the south of France with my dad, both on bikes. Stunning trip, great scenery, and so weird as most of the little towns in the mountains are dead in the summer as they're ski resorts. Amazing place.
TurboHatchback said:
Can I ask why you are driving all the way to and from Calais rather than taking the ferry to Santander/Bilbao? That's a lot of driving for a 9 day holiday. My 2013 summer road trip was around the Pyrenees and it was most enjoyable, we took the ferry out which was very nice and drove back which was a bloody long way. Mind you, we were in a 20yr old Landcruiser 4.2 diesel with no cruise control, a comfortable cruising speed of 65 and a window that decided to stick half open. In a normal car it might make more sense.
I am planning a similar trip for summer 2014 although I intend to take the boat both ways to/from Bilbao/Santander.
658+ reasons not to take the ferry but also enjoy driving the French D roads and I love France.I am planning a similar trip for summer 2014 although I intend to take the boat both ways to/from Bilbao/Santander.
I can understand taking the ferry though if you're on a time limit.
Wozy68 said:
We have today booked our route (I'll now have to remember how to sort out my route on google maps and edit on my thread) and we are going down from St Malo to the Pyrenees and staying in Vielha. Returning via Santandar.
St Malo to Vielha is about 6 .5 hours if memory serves,
The road from Asasp - Arros to Ripoll via Vielha is a great road and beautiful too boot. EDIT: THIS IS A FABULOUS ROAD, especially from Luchon.
My initial thinking with the route previous to that, is your spending alot of your time in France, I would always drive more in Spain in the mountains that the French side. Less traffic, better road surface cheaper fuel, more understanding coppers. I'd be tempted to get over the border and head for Pamplona then east on the A21 to Jaca then up to Biescas and north from there on the A136 (D934 on the French side) to meet up with your route just before Laruns. On the map it looks like a minor road, it isn't.
Is this more or less the route?St Malo to Vielha is about 6 .5 hours if memory serves,
The road from Asasp - Arros to Ripoll via Vielha is a great road and beautiful too boot. EDIT: THIS IS A FABULOUS ROAD, especially from Luchon.
My initial thinking with the route previous to that, is your spending alot of your time in France, I would always drive more in Spain in the mountains that the French side. Less traffic, better road surface cheaper fuel, more understanding coppers. I'd be tempted to get over the border and head for Pamplona then east on the A21 to Jaca then up to Biescas and north from there on the A136 (D934 on the French side) to meet up with your route just before Laruns. On the map it looks like a minor road, it isn't.
Edited by Wozy68 on Thursday 13th March 14:05
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=2014556566090...
Zed 44 said:
Kind of, other than maybe I prefer to take the N260A from Biescas to the N260 then north to Vielha, its more demanding to drive than the route into Luchon you are showing (I prefer that part going back west, than going east).Later follow the N260 to Puigcerda and then the N116 to Perpignan is my favoured route, it can get busy but not usually until late July.
Edited by Wozy68 on Saturday 22 March 12:29
Big E 118 said:
Can you recommend a place to stay in Vielha with decent parking? We're going to have around 8 cars and 3 and a half days to enjoy the roads around there!
I can't, the place we stop is off the main road parking, but there underground carpark entrance is so small (its more like underground storage) the lads on the bikes can get them parked, alas I cannot in the car. Vielha seems very safe, the hotel we use is this one, http://www.hotelvitaberet.com/en/gallery.html (its actually the building to the left of this one shown, but they belong to each other) Very clean, new and cheap as we go out of ski season.
Vielha isnt the best place out of season to stay as there isnt loads to do at night, but its great as a central location for the mountains and there are enough bars and restaurants. It just isnt a party town.
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