Pyrenees Routes, Hotels etc ... info needed

[F308 MAN]

after retiring from two wheels and switching to four, i was hoping you guys could possibly help me with some suggestions/help with routes, hotels, restaurants etc.

i know the pyrenees is a popular venue for bikes, hence the request.

many thanks in anticipation.

d

[rsv gone!]

I found a fantastic route from Pamploma to Lourdes. Roads were pretty slow and nadgery in places and fast and sweeping in others. Traffic was very, very light.

If you have a Garmin then I can email the route.

Hotels are easy - go to www.booking.com. You can view potential hotels in Google Earth.

[sjtscott]

Definitely go to Andorra, I'd suggest planning to stay there a couple/few days. I stayed at Pas De La Casa which is at 1900+ metres, its on the eastern border of Andorra (with France) so you could get there if coming from Andorra La Vella in the west a little away from the spanish border.
You can find plenty of cheap hotels in Pas De La Casa, its full of bikers and bike gear shops too. Also its tax free which means booze is cheap, good food in Resturants is cheap too. Basically you can then plan some routes through the mountains which includes some fantastic road in Northern Catalunya (Spain) and enjoy yourself with a beer/food etc in Andorra in the evening. Could also go to Barcelona if you want to go that far south too.
Best route I did was Pas De La Casa through Andorra La Vella through to spanish border. Once in Spain road is N-145 (south) you then keep on this till you meet the N-260 (at Serrat de le capella) then head east and keep going until you hit Puigcerda and the French border which takes you to Bourg Madame once through. Somewhere on the N260 we turned off (can't remember where) and followed a D class road which was 70km+ of 2nd gear twisties up and down the mountain side. I can see a few which take you off the N260 and are twisty and then let you rejoin it further along (checkout google maps). Once you get to Bourg Madame head north/north west on the N20 until you reach the junction with the N22. Then simply follow the N22 back to Andorra and Pas De La Casa! We did this in one day, man that was tiring on a gixxer600.

[F308 MAN]

thank you both vey much.
the latest plan is for two groups to meet in Biarritz.
i) group one heading down from Le Mans '08
ii) group two landing from the ferry at Santander.

then collectively heading toward Barcelona and then on to Monaco.
each hotel will be a one night stand and hopefully, en route.
probably around 300 miles/4-5 hours max per day.

thanks once again for your help to date.

d

ps ... a pic from this year's adventure:

[Pugsey]

F308 MAN said:

thank you both vey much.
the latest plan is for two groups to meet in Biarritz.
i) group one heading down from Le Mans '08
ii) group two landing from the ferry at Santander.

then collectively heading toward Barcelona and then on to Monaco.
each hotel will be a one night stand and hopefully, en route.
probably around 300 miles/4-5 hours max per day.

thanks once again for your help to date.

d

ps ... a pic from this year's adventure:

Well, someone's got to say it - lovely pic. Where is it btw?

[F308 MAN]

'tis on the climb between L'alpe d'huez and Briancon in the French Alps.

d

[Buck Bundy]

We did it the other way - Ferry to Santander then travel up to Le Mans. The schedule was a bit tight though so not too much time for sightseeing. We did a nice ride from Pamplona over the border to Saint Jean Pied du Port, and the route across the hills to Lourdes would have been the way given more time.

Buck

[F308 MAN]

Buck Bundy said:

We did it the other way - Ferry to Santander then travel up to Le Mans. The schedule was a bit tight though so not too much time for sightseeing. We did a nice ride from Pamplona over the border to Saint Jean Pied du Port, and the route across the hills to Lourdes would have been the way given more time.

Buck

thank you .... most useful

[308mate]

The Gorge of St George south of Quillan is a great drive back into France from Spain.

[Wedg1e]

308mate said:

The Gorge of St George south of Quillan is a great drive back into France from Spain.

As is the coast road from Roses Probably better in daylight; I did it in the dark and thought I was going to die on every bend.

[F308 MAN]

many, many thanks everyone.

any more suggestions before we start to put pen to paper ?

thanks once again,

d

[rsv gone!]

How are you getting to the Pyrenees? If you are travelling through France then a stop off in the Massif Central is worth it.