Roads not to be missed in the Pyrenees?

[ukkid35]

It's a long time since my first trip through Andorra in my 2.8i Capri, but at last I have a chance to go back, although only for nine days at then end of May.

Recommendations for favourite roads, and or villages, and moderately priced accommodation would be very welcome.

[VerySideways]

Where to start?
There's lots of good stuff in the Pyrenees and the immediate vicinity, but it depends on what your schedule looks like, where you might want to start and finish, and how long you want to spend driving each day.

Starter for 10;
Andorra is mostly very dull, but has cheap petrol especially near every border crossing, though many petrol stations only take cash.
There are some great roads in the foothills too, on both sides.
Spanish accommodation is typically better value for money than the French equivalent - either better or cheaper, often both.
The Col D'Aubisque absolutely has to feature in your route

[Zed 44]

I'm doing a 1790 mile trip there from the 9th to the 23rd of June. Which part(s) are you planning on doing and how will you be getting there, ie. ferry or road? I have booked all my hotels so if you're going to be on or near any part of my route, I'll be glad to share them with you if you pm me.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GuSpUQHQlRT4Ch_N...

To whet your appetite:



One of my favourite roads, this:

[Quickmoose]

Following this thread with interest as I'm going on a solo 2 week camping road-trip down to the Spanish GP in May.

The link above is VERY helpful thanks

[ukkid35]

VerySideways said:

The Col D'Aubisque absolutely has to feature in your route

Thanks for that, now booked our final night in Eaux Bonnes at the western end of the road through Col D'Aubisque.

[ukkid35]

Zed 44 said:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GuSpUQHQlRT4Ch_N...

Many thanks, we will be studying that route to see how much we can incorporate in our trip.

[VerySideways]

ukkid35 said:

VerySideways said:

The Col D'Aubisque absolutely has to feature in your route

Thanks for that, now booked our final night in Eaux Bonnes at the western end of the road through Col D'Aubisque.

[Zed 44]

My photos of the Col d'Aubisque in 2014.







Preferred the Col de Tourmalet myself.

[VerySideways]

Looks like you were unlucky with the weather Jack, but col du tourmalet is usually my approach to aubisque
Tourmalet is a good shout.

[Slippydiff]

Zed 44 said:

I'm doing a 1790 mile trip there from the 9th to the 23rd of June. Which part(s) are you planning on doing and how will you be getting there, ie. ferry or road? I have booked all my hotels so if you're going to be on or near any part of my route, I'll be glad to share them with you if you pm me.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GuSpUQHQlRT4Ch_N...

If you were to reduce this trip down to 7 days of driving (maximum) and using either the Bilbao or Santander the ferry to get there and back, which roads would you remove from your intinerary ?

[Zed 44]

A difficult question but the western and eastern loops are really good in my opinion. The bit I would get rid of or pass through quickly, I guess, would be the bit from Ainsa through Jaca to Pamplona.

However, I have to say I don't believe you can do this wonderful area justice in only 7 days and with the cost of the ferry on top.

[will_]

Zed 44 said:

I'm doing a 1790 mile trip there from the 9th to the 23rd of June. Which part(s) are you planning on doing and how will you be getting there, ie. ferry or road? I have booked all my hotels so if you're going to be on or near any part of my route, I'll be glad to share them with you if you pm me.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GuSpUQHQlRT4Ch_N...

To whet your appetite:



One of my favourite roads, this:

Thank you very much for this route, much of which I have used to plan my third trip to the Pyrenees this summer. Really helpful.

Do you (or anyone else) have any suggestions for roads around Larrau, just over into France? Or anything on the French side? I have the main Cols (Tormalet etc) to the West already on the route but have a day and a half to fill, coming in from the French side.

Thanks again.

[Allyc85]

Have a read of the fantastic travel blogs by Sara Nase. Loads of good info on there

http://www.getpalmd.com/road-trips/two-cats-on-a-c...

[ukkid35]

Zed 44 said:

I'm doing a 1790 mile trip there from the 9th to the 23rd of June. Which part(s) are you planning on doing and how will you be getting there, ie. ferry or road? I have booked all my hotels so if you're going to be on or near any part of my route, I'll be glad to share them with you if you pm me.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GuSpUQHQlRT4Ch_N...

Have a great trip, and thanks for sharing your map.

We followed part of that route from Llivia along the glorious N260, and then over the cols to Arreau.

We drove there and back rather than use the ferry, in fact we came home a day early because the weather on Saturday had turned. We didn't decide to give up our Saturday night accommodation until 2pm when we arrived in Eaux Bonnes, and we'd already been driving for over three hours by then. But at 2pm we decided to call it a day and head back, arriving at the Eurotunnel about 11 hours later, and that was with less than half using the Autoroutes, predominantly the section from Le Mans north.

[ukkid35]

Zed 44 said:

My photos of the Col d'Aubisque in 2014.







Preferred the Col de Tourmalet myself.

Here's a few screen grabs of Col d'Aubisque, the weather seems similar!

The uphill section was entirely obscured by cloud/fog, but when we crested the Col it became clear why this was so highly recommended.

[rosino]

Largerly based on the above insights.. I have mapped a road trip for the end of Summer.. Essentially Santander --> Barcelona through the Pyrenees...

Here's the full itinerary.. https://goo.gl/maps/RPjVZsLkxVH2

So trying to get to Jaca as straight as possible as I have been told not much of exciting roads getting there.. then i would do the Biescas - Fiscal loop...

Then N-260 all the way to Viella - Sort loop..

Skip Andorra as I think I've read nothing special aside from cheap petrol.. and continue on the N-260 east with a stop-over night north of Vic which i will then have to go through on the final schlep down to Barcelona.

Accommodation pretty much set by now.. and just FOMO any decent roads offshooting from the main route I have planned.. anybody with some local experience able to confirm this is a "wise" selection ?

[Zed 44]

I just got back from my 5th trip there and loved it as much as the first time. I wouldn't agree that there are no interesting roads until Jaca. Depends on the time you have. Also, while the N260 is a good road east from Vielha, there are other little gems you might want to consider. What about your return route? There are some equally wonderful roads going that way. I'm not saying they're definitive but I like them. PM me for details if interested.

[rosino]

Thanks. Will drop you a PM. Am doing one way only. Car getting shipped back from Barcelona home. As am taking a good week to go from Santander to Barcelona I hope to put in some jewels on early morning drives without the wife next to me... 😁

[Wozy68]

There are plenty of great roads west of Jaca..... though not massive amount of twisties (there is but not in comparison to The Pyrenees) the roads are still great the scenery beautiful and the roads are (mainly) empty.

For a start, unless you intend to visit Bilbao and San Sebastian, you should heading south out of Santander for around 20-30 miles and then take a left heading for Ona. ...... beautiful very fast roads that become challenging in places.

So to get to Jaca (and I’ve travelled it many times)
Head south from Santander on the N-623 for 20-30 miles
Turn off left just before Cabanas de Virtus onto the N-232 for Ona and follow this road along the beautiful Ebro valley all the way to Logrono ...... staying off the motorway.
From Logrono head north east on the A-12 motorway (no toll) for 20 odd miles before coming off at Legardeta and heading east on the NA-132 to Tafalla....... then carrying on the NA-132 to Sanguesa and picking up the A-21 to Jaca.
(Shame the old road skirting the lake is no more).

The NA-132 has been massively upgraded over the years and many of the old small towns have been bypassed....... this is a lovely fast road and mainly empty, right in the middle of the Rioja region.

That’s a good amount of driving in the first day, personally I wouldn’t go much further east, Jaca is a good sized town for an overnight stop, nothing really worth stopping at after this until you get to Vielha.

As Zed states (Hello Jack ) the N-260 is a great road ...... but it’s been known about for years now and needs to be driven if not driven before, but there are many many other great roads as well. Look for the minor routes ........ much eu money has been spent on resurfacing these, and they can be absolute gems.

One last thing. Head east from Tremp on the C-1412B if you have the time heading for Isona and then take the L-511 to Coll de Nargo. Epic road of tight corners fab tarmac and fabulous scenery.

I could go on and on and on ........ enjoy


Edit ..... after all that, it seems you have already booked your hotels so maybe the route south out of Santander isn’t for you unless your first night is in Jaca. If it is and your ferry gets in early enough, the route I’ve posted above is an absolute gem. It’s probs 5 hours, but you’ll see parts of Spain most do not see.

Edited by Wozy68 on Saturday 14th July 07:48

[Zed 44]

Wozy68 said:

One last thing. Head east from Tremp on the C-1412B if you have the time heading for Isona and then take the L-511 to Coll de Nargo. Epic road of tight corners fab tarmac and fabulous scenery.

I could go on and on and on ........ enjoy

Edited by Wozy68 on Saturday 14th July 07:48

AAAaaaaahhhhh noooooooo. You've just given away one of my favourite roads, Warren.