Northern Spain

[Beethree]

I’ve organised a few European roadtrips to the usual suspects (France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland) and am now thinking of trying Northern Spain/Andorra.
I’d also like to check out one of the deserts in that area.

Any tips for routes and best time of year to go?

Thanks!

[Ussrcossack]

I'd go May onwards, passes in the pyrenees will be closed in winter months

[Beethree]

Ussrcossack said:

I'd go May onwards, passes in the pyrenees will be closed in winter months

Do you know when they start to close in the autumn/winter? We’re thinking mid-October as a possible time for this trip

[hiccy18]

I went over the Pyrenees twice this year, the May route had to be altered because it was snowing, the early October trip had no such concerns but the road we came over had snow the week after we got back. There's plenty of route options so I wouldn't worry about not making a stopover, but I suspect September would be a safer option.

N260 is meant to be awesome.

[POIDH]

Some brilliant roads around the Picos de Europa and Basque country when I was there a few years ago.

[seefarr]

Beethree said:

Do you know when they start to close in the autumn/winter? We’re thinking mid-October as a possible time for this trip

Pasted from another Spain thread - we've always gone at mid to end of October as that's when by birthday is and there has been no chance of snow. I can confirm all the various bits of the N260 are amazing.


We've done three proper road trips from the UK that have taken in Northern Spain and we love it! It's driving nirvana with glorious empty roads and the food and wine are our favourites in the world.

If you want to see the best roads in the region, I think the Pyrenees has more to offer than the Picos. Jaca is a great base to hit some of the best roads. My favourite is this route up the pass to France:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ArvgJ76Qu7HxmdaW7



Between the coast and Logrono (you should stay in Logrono or the Rioja more generally!), there's a mesa thing with a couple of delicious roads (NA-718 & NA7130):

https://maps.app.goo.gl/q5BnH2dPJ3d6EgTR8



I've done up trip reports with maps if you're interested:

Latest in the Aston:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Cayman was Picos down to Portugal:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

R8 a few years ago:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Beethree]

This is awesome! I will consume it all in the coming weeks, thank you!

[Driversmatter]

Currently staying in the Pyrenees in La ie on the Col du Tourmalet. The roads are superb. We used Road Trip Tribes to build routes. The drive from Pamplona, Spain to Pau, France was great. The Spanish section particularly stands out as light traffic, fast flowing twisties.

Today we are heading back in to Spain and on to Andorra. On the map the road looks like a ribbon of spaghetti. Probably explains why I'm wide awake at 4am. Absolute zero visibility due to the cloud at the moment (1800m above sea level).

[Omaruk]

Awesome - I have booked my ferry Plymouth-Santander 5 Oct returning 16 Oct can’t wait ! Keep with the updates and route recommendations please

[Omaruk]

seefarr said:

Pasted from another Spain thread - we've always gone at mid to end of October as that's when by birthday is and there has been no chance of snow. I can confirm all the various bits of the N260 are amazing.


We've done three proper road trips from the UK that have taken in Northern Spain and we love it! It's driving nirvana with glorious empty roads and the food and wine are our favourites in the world.

If you want to see the best roads in the region, I think the Pyrenees has more to offer than the Picos. Jaca is a great base to hit some of the best roads. My favourite is this route up the pass to France:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ArvgJ76Qu7HxmdaW7



Between the coast and Logrono (you should stay in Logrono or the Rioja more generally!), there's a mesa thing with a couple of delicious roads (NA-718 & NA7130):

https://maps.app.goo.gl/q5BnH2dPJ3d6EgTR8



I've done up trip reports with maps if you're interested:

Latest in the Aston:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Cayman was Picos down to Portugal:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

R8 a few years ago:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Planning my October trip out of the 3 which would you say was the best for driving. And if you were to go again - Picos down to Portugal or the Pyrenees ot have you thought of anywhere else like Teruel?

[Zilla]

NA718 is close to driving Nirvana - though it has come a bit more famous now.

Got pulled there by a very nice policeman. No tickets just a polite chat and some photos of the car reg. So just a heads up - don't go too mad

Overall you cannot beat Pyrenees for empty winding roads. Enjoy!!

[seefarr]

Zilla said:

NA718 is close to driving Nirvana - though it has come a bit more famous now.

Got pulled there by a very nice policeman. No tickets just a polite chat and some photos of the car reg. So just a heads up - don't go too mad

Overall you cannot beat Pyrenees for empty winding roads. Enjoy!!

Good info on the NA718! Last time I was on it I was in a hire car in pea-soup fog which would have been fine except Team Lycra also seem to have discovered it and packs of them leaping out of the fog on the wrong side of the road did not an enjoyable scenic drive make.

And also yes, Spanish side of the Pyrenees is number one for me. I managed to come back via Teruel / Albaracin area on the first trip in the R8 so given enough time there's no reason you can't do both!

[Omaruk]

Thanks that’s my thinking if weather is bad I am looking at alternatives I don’t book hotels in advance so free to roam. Teruel, serra de estrela, sierra de credos are on my alternatives list should the weather be bad in the Pyrenees

[Tupwood]

Apparently the weather in the Pyrenees can be variable, it’s a mountain range after all. I spent a week on the Spanish side, and there are fabulous roads all over. This was my favourite:


https://youtu.be/da6mjJGQb20?si=-TTMGnu6rN2p1JlC