Roads in Spain.

[so called]

Can anyone advise me of good roads in Spain between Bilbao and Alicante please.
Taking my Tuscan for a bit of exercise.
Did the google map for a route but dont mind a few extra miles as I'm going to split the journey over 2 days.
Was thinking the Zaragoza route but its not much further via Madrid.
Maybe the hills north of Valencia are worth while.

Grateful for any feedback.
Thanks,
Tony.

[Jasper Gilder]

I spend a lot of time in Spain running driving Tours for TVRs and others so here goes

1 - From Santurtzi ( Bilbao) take the E5 for Vitoria Gastez ( It's a toll motorway, quiet with great views, tunnels etc) and go for Logrono

2 At Logrono take the N111 through the Rioja to Soria and then in Almazan take the C101 for Siguenza. Drive to the top of the town and have a snack at the Parador hotel which is in a castle

3 - Leave Siguenza on the CM110 for Alcolear del Pinar and head East on the N 211. At Molina de Aragon join the CM 210 for Cuenca and stop there for the night. The best hotel is the Parador and the view over the gorge there is fantastic. The hotel has secure parking and there are pictures of TVRs there in Sprint Feb 2008

4 - Next morning take the N420 for Albacete and the N430 to KM 596 where you join the N 330 for Alicante. As an alternative leave Cuenca to the east on the N420 and at Torrebaja join the N 330 South to meet up at the N430 just before the KM 596 junction This should be more interesting, but slower

5 - If you're using 98 fuel it isn't available in the tiny villages but it is in most of the towns, so no playing Russian roulette with the fuel gauge

If you want to stay at the Paradors give me a shout as I can help with bookings

Hope this helps!

[so called]

Hi Jasper,
Thats great information.
Thank you very much,
Tony.

[Steve Lewis]

Hi folks.
Having just returned from living in Spain for 2 years your post has made me jealous!
I do concur with Jasper.
However, I know it’s a little further round the coast, but I can definitely recommend the roads up to and around the picturesque Moroccan influenced town of Ronda. As Jasper says there is a good Parador in Ronda but I would highly recommend one of the smaller more regional hotels overlooking the gorge (Tajo).
This is about 40 mins up from Malaga. 2 Routes available.
1. Campillos route
2. Via the mountain route (highly recommended!)

There is the added benefit of Ronda being 10km from the fabulous private Ascari circuit!
5.4km 26 corners etc. (Guess where I was Track Manager and Chief Instructor!)

I could get you in as a visitor to have a look.
Experience days are expensive though at around 2.5k euros.
Do let me know if I can help more.
Jasper, I am sure I could help if you are doing events in that region.

Best regards
Steve Lewis

[so called]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the advise. I realy need to study a map to understand the routes.
Havn't been to Spain very often and so not too familiar with locations and geography.
Swaning round the US at the moment hotel hoping with not much time to study.

As far as track fun. I recently wrecked my Mk1 Tuscan and dont want to risk suffering that intence pain and empty stomach feeling again with my new P&J.

Again thanks, I'll be looking at maps on line over the weekend.

Tony.

[Jasper Gilder]

Yes Ronda is great - but the circuit isn't cheap so I use Guadix which is owned by an ex TVR dealer and we have exclusive use with an open pit lane - If you want to see what we're up to Steve look us up at www.driveespana.com

[zimzum]

The roads in the south of Spain are the most beautiful I've ever seen.
It's not between Bilbao and Alicante, but I can advise for Andalucia travellers the A4050 from Granada to Motril, the A7000 to Malaga with her double loops and tunnels and all the Ronda Area.
For a great hillclimb, I suggest the Pico Veleta road up to 2500m in Sierra Nevada, just outside Granada. That's the place where you can see all european car manufacturers testing their cars. You can see Bentley, Mercedes, BMW, Peugeot... And me in a Logan or a Twingo this summer So sad I can't take the Caterham with me...

[t1blk]

I've been considering driving to Spain myself with my son while the wife and my other 2 sons travel by air. Hoping to travel in summer if work okays it , if not it'll be Christmas time. Thing is we are off to see family in Torre dela Horradada not to far from Mercia, and don't mind taking a few days to do it in. My options are
1. drive through France then Spain enjoying a scenic route.
2. take ferry to Bilbao and onto destination.
What are the best options, ferry or tunnel to France or ferry to Spain and drive on.Cost will of course be an issue and would like to keep expenditure to a minimum . What are the average costs of this type of journey, fuel and stuff. Sorry to be asking such bone questions but there does seem to be a lot of experience here and I've never undertaken this kind of adventure before, wife thinks I've lost the plot , but then she doesn't understand my 11 yr olds and my passions for driving a TVR.