Pyrenees return

Author
Discussion

Zed 44

Original Poster:

1,242 posts

155 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
Just finished the route and hotel bookings for northern Spain in June. It will take 3 weeks plus or minus a day. One advantage of being retired - the other being free bus passes. We will take in the Blancpain race at the Paul Ricard circuit as well as two other stopovers, one high in the Pyrenees on the border, the other on the coast in Portugal.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z1ahuj2hTEP...

Comments welcome Wozy68, CarbonXKR or anyone else

AdiT

1,025 posts

156 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
quotequote all
What dates are you going? We'll be heading out from Portsmouth on the 17th June. Probably 1/2 a dozen cars; Mixture of kitcars, MX5's etc. We'll spend 3-4 days in the Pyrenees then head across France and loop back up to Calais via the Alps.

Big E 118

2,408 posts

168 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
quotequote all
Route looks great, what dates are you out there?

We've got 5 or 6 of us going out end of June with a mix of Porsche/Ferrari/McLaren. We're basing most of out trip on the Spanish side but with a few jaunts in to France for Col du Tormoulet etc.

A few tips from a previous trip:

If you're going through Bagneres du Luchon take a quick trip up the the Station de Ski Superbagneres which is a great little road up to a great viewpoint. If you're staying near Puigcerdà the Chalet du Golf is a great hotel.

We also stay in the Alma Pamplona in Pamplona which is a great hotel with underground parking.

If you're ready for lunch in Ainsa then go to the medieval town and got to the tapas place on the right just inside the square, stunning food!

Have a great trip.

Zed 44

Original Poster:

1,242 posts

155 months

Sunday 7th February 2016
quotequote all
June19th to July 10th.

AdiT

1,025 posts

156 months

Sunday 7th February 2016
quotequote all
Near miss then. If you spot a group including 3 Fisher Furys give us a wave.

Zed 44

Original Poster:

1,242 posts

155 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
AdiT said:
Near miss then. If you spot a group including 3 Fisher Furys give us a wave.
Not really, unless you've changed your route. The furthest east I'll be going is circa Marseille.



Big E 118

2,408 posts

168 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
We're doing a lot of the N-260/Bagners de Louchon/Col du Tourmalet sections you are doing between the 24th June and 1st July so we may well see you if that coincides with your dates. Look out for a group of 5 or 6 of us, a couple of Porsches, McLaren 12C, one or two Ferraris and if it's delivered in time you'll hear an Aventador SV Roadster from miles away!

One more tip, if you fancy a bit of a jaunt off the N-260 between Castarne and Campo take the A-1605 and then the HU-V-9601. The A-1605 is a lovely road that snakes along a canyon and then the HU-V9601 is a new road that is very fast, wide with sweeping corners that has great views as you come down off the Pyrenees into Campo.

Zed 44

Original Poster:

1,242 posts

155 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Big E 118 said:
We're doing a lot of the N-260/Bagners de Louchon/Col du Tourmalet sections you are doing between the 24th June and 1st July so we may well see you if that coincides with your dates. Look out for a group of 5 or 6 of us, a couple of Porsches, McLaren 12C, one or two Ferraris and if it's delivered in time you'll hear an Aventador SV Roadster from miles away!

One more tip, if you fancy a bit of a jaunt off the N-260 between Castarne and Campo take the A-1605 and then the HU-V-9601. The A-1605 is a lovely road that snakes along a canyon and then the HU-V9601 is a new road that is very fast, wide with sweeping corners that has great views as you come down off the Pyrenees into Campo.
Thanks for that. I'll have a look at those. Shame you didn't know about our trip and had 3 weeks plus to spare otherwise, you could have joined us.

AdiT

1,025 posts

156 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Zed 44 said:
Not really, unless you've changed your route. The furthest east I'll be going is circa Marseille.


You've lost me there. Whats that trip got to do with either of ours?

Zed 44

Original Poster:

1,242 posts

155 months

Tuesday 9th February 2016
quotequote all
AdiT said:
Zed 44 said:
Not really, unless you've changed your route. The furthest east I'll be going is circa Marseille.


You've lost me there. Whats that trip got to do with either of ours?
Sorry, I've only seen the one trip pictured above. When/where is the other?

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Tuesday 9th February 2016
quotequote all
Big E 118 said:
One more tip, if you fancy a bit of a jaunt off the N-260 between Castarne and Campo take the A-1605 and then the HU-V-9601. The A-1605 is a lovely road that snakes along a canyon and then the HU-V9601 is a new road that is very fast, wide with sweeping corners that has great views as you come down off the Pyrenees into Campo.
This ^^^^^. The N260 it misses out was in a proper old state (in places) last time I was there.

Just becareful heading into the tunnels if heading south down the A-1605..... They curve inside as you enter, quite often wet and are unlit. Nearly caught me out when last down that way coming from bright sunlight with me shades on.

Zed. Looks a great trip. I'll have a look in more detail laters smile

Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 9th February 11:43

AdiT

1,025 posts

156 months

Tuesday 9th February 2016
quotequote all
Zed 44 said:
Sorry, I've only seen the one trip pictured above. When/where is the other?
Sorry no specific thread on here, just what I put in my first post here.

Big E 118

2,408 posts

168 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
Wozy68 said:
The N260 it misses out was in a proper old state (in places) last time I was there.

Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 9th February 11:43
We were there last Sept 14 and they were resurfacing that section and it looked like they had just done the run down from the Viehla tunnel as well.

Zed/Wozy, do you guys think it is worth doing the Col Du Portalet and the Col du Somport?

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
Big E 118 said:
Wozy68 said:
The N260 it misses out was in a proper old state (in places) last time I was there.

Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 9th February 11:43
We were there last Sept 14 and they were resurfacing that section and it looked like they had just done the run down from the Viehla tunnel as well.

Zed/Wozy, do you guys think it is worth doing the Col Du Portalet and the Col du Somport?
Col Du Portalet as in the A-136 north from Biescas? If so the road north to the border was very bad in places if travelling at speed, especially the nearer border you got...... not the place for a minimum clearance supercar for sure. Last time I was on that road was September 2014 and it had been bad for quite a few years. I guess they may have resurfaced by now, but it didnt seem as if it was a priority as they had some very permanent signage informing about the poor state of the road.

Saying that, if taken slowly (yeah right) the road and scenery the French side heading east along the D-918 is fab and also a very quick road ....... problem is, its in France with all that entails.

Col du Somport, N-330 north from Jaca? Bizarrely never been along it.

Big E 118

2,408 posts

168 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
Wozy68 said:
Col Du Portalet as in the A-136 north from Biescas? If so the road north to the border was very bad in places if travelling at speed, especially the nearer border you got...... not the place for a minimum clearance supercar for sure. Last time I was on that road was September 2014 and it had been bad for quite a few years. I guess they may have resurfaced by now, but it didnt seem as if it was a priority as they had some very permanent signage informing about the poor state of the road.

Saying that, if taken slowly (yeah right) the road and scenery the French side heading east along the D-918 is fab and also a very quick road ....... problem is, its in France with all that entails.

Col du Somport, N-330 north from Jaca? Bizarrely never been along it.
Great info, thanks. Was looking at doing them as I haven't done them before but wasn't that keen on doing the French part as you say, there are added complications that side of the border.








Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
Big E 118 said:
Great info, thanks. Was looking at doing them as I haven't done them before but wasn't that keen on doing the French part as you say, there are added complications that side of the border.
No probs smile

Are you taking the ferry across to Spain? Reason I ask, is it me or is damn getting expensive. Two guys on M/bikes return with cabin in early May they want a tad over £800.00, if I took the car I'd assume near £1K. Absolute daylight robbery IMO.
Less than five years ago, it was a lot cheaper; three of us travelled Plymouth Santander return for £700.00. That was two motorbikes and a car, in 4 birth outside cabins there and back.

Its not guaranteed you'll get back either. I've been stranded twice because of strikes. smash

Brittany Ferries = Monopoly.

Edited by Wozy68 on Wednesday 10th February 15:57

Big E 118

2,408 posts

168 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
We are getting the ferry back, driving through France on the way there.

We're paying about £350 each for 5 cars and 3 exterior 2 berth cabins which is pretty pricey but similar to our last crossing two years ago. If you think about the cost of driving and an overnight in France it's probably more than the £350 by the time you add tunnel, tolls, petrol, overnight stay plus you can be in a bar while you're travelling!

They do have a bit of a monopoly with the ferry to Spain and it does always seem to get booked up.

We don't actually do any of the bookings ourselves, we decide roughly where we want to be and when and pass it to Scenic Car Tours, there's a guy their called Kieran that finds the hotels and books our crossings, it's brilliant and they've always found excellent places for us. They do get some discounts on crossings so we may be benefiting from that.

Zed 44

Original Poster:

1,242 posts

155 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
Big E is right about ferries vs. land travel. Mine was £718 this year including outside 2 berth cabin both ways.

I had a look at the roads suggested and of the two routes, I think I would prefer the HU-V-9601 & A-1605. I prefer the tighter twistier sections rather than broad sweeping bends which only become challenging at truly illegal speeds.

BTW, what's wrong with the French side specifically? The D918 is quite good although it does have one or two rough stretches between Eaux Bonnes and Argeles Gazost if memory serves.

Wozy68

5,387 posts

169 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
Zed 44 said:
BTW, what's wrong with the French side specifically? The D918 is quite good although it does have one or two rough stretches between Eaux Bonnes and Argeles Gazost if memory serves.
Gendarmes ........ Get caught speeding at more than (I think it is) 12km over the limit and it becomes very tricky.

Big E 118

2,408 posts

168 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
quotequote all
Wozy68 said:
Gendarmes ........ Get caught speeding at more than (I think it is) 12km over the limit and it becomes very tricky.
Yep, one of our group picked up a 3,000 Euro fine and 6 month ban last year in France. A mix of bad luck and stupidity on his behalf I'll admit but the Spanish police are a lot more accommodating!