North west Spain/Portugal 12 nights
Discussion
Just booked a trip arriving/departing Santander and staying 12 nights
My thoughts are to head west into the mountains and move towards the west coast then drop down into Portugal and then back upto Santander
It’s an area I don’t know and any recommendations of good roads/must see places etc
I’m booking overnight stops but also looking for a couple of places where we could stop for two/three nights mid week one and mid week two, maybe one on the Atlantic coast and one inland?
This is predominantly a driving holiday so perhaps somewhere where we could base and drive out from each day?
I’m now just planning the routes and overnights so any ideas recommendations greatly accepted
TIA
My thoughts are to head west into the mountains and move towards the west coast then drop down into Portugal and then back upto Santander
It’s an area I don’t know and any recommendations of good roads/must see places etc
I’m booking overnight stops but also looking for a couple of places where we could stop for two/three nights mid week one and mid week two, maybe one on the Atlantic coast and one inland?
This is predominantly a driving holiday so perhaps somewhere where we could base and drive out from each day?
I’m now just planning the routes and overnights so any ideas recommendations greatly accepted
TIA
You don't say when you're travelling, which might influence whether you need to book hotels before departure. Also what grade of accom you want
Paradors at Fuente De in the Picos and at Baiona on the coast are very good. Leon if open again after refurb is deluxe. Also on check out from a parador the receptionist can book you ahead to the next one if you wish and if there's space. Pousadas in Portugal are equally good value, e.g. Braganca, Braga, Guimaraes
If the ferry arrives late afternoon Fuente De is doable for the first night
Paradors at Fuente De in the Picos and at Baiona on the coast are very good. Leon if open again after refurb is deluxe. Also on check out from a parador the receptionist can book you ahead to the next one if you wish and if there's space. Pousadas in Portugal are equally good value, e.g. Braganca, Braga, Guimaraes
If the ferry arrives late afternoon Fuente De is doable for the first night
We were near Santiago in Mid June 2018, the temperature was 44C.
To the W and NW of Santiago is the centre of the Spanish deep sea fishing industry and shipbuilding and what look on the map like nice coastal routes are very busy with trucks. If you are there before June 21, the Northern Europeans won't yet have arrived by road in great numbers and you'll be really unlucky not to find a decent hotel on spec. The region gets much busier in July/August as Madrilenos exit their city for the relative coolness of their country houses and hotels all across Galicia and Asturias
The roads are IMO most fun across the Picos and Cantabrian Mountains. In 2018 there was a group of British Lamborghinis hooning around but they did find their low frontal ground clearance a big issue in some of the roadworks where the tarmac had been stripped off the base layer of the road
Some of the roads in the Basque country and Aragon & Navarre are great too however you might want to plan that for another time, when (if you like food) a visit to San Sebastian/Donostia is a must!
There's also a reasonable parador in Puebla de Sanabria if you're thinking of taking the inland route south into Portugal to Braganca say
To the W and NW of Santiago is the centre of the Spanish deep sea fishing industry and shipbuilding and what look on the map like nice coastal routes are very busy with trucks. If you are there before June 21, the Northern Europeans won't yet have arrived by road in great numbers and you'll be really unlucky not to find a decent hotel on spec. The region gets much busier in July/August as Madrilenos exit their city for the relative coolness of their country houses and hotels all across Galicia and Asturias
The roads are IMO most fun across the Picos and Cantabrian Mountains. In 2018 there was a group of British Lamborghinis hooning around but they did find their low frontal ground clearance a big issue in some of the roadworks where the tarmac had been stripped off the base layer of the road
Some of the roads in the Basque country and Aragon & Navarre are great too however you might want to plan that for another time, when (if you like food) a visit to San Sebastian/Donostia is a must!
There's also a reasonable parador in Puebla de Sanabria if you're thinking of taking the inland route south into Portugal to Braganca say
Interesting replies thanks very much
I did the med coast west through the Pyrenees last year as far as Lograno and Bilbao
This time I’m entering via Santander and then dropping down into the Picos for the first night, already booked that stop, then west through the mountains before turning south
As far as i can see there’s some great looking roads on the Sp/P border so it’s just planning stops between them .. problem is there’s a group of us going so it needs a bit of planning and pre-booking
Im hoping it will be all back roads and zero motorway
Do like the look of the Paradors and Santiago looks good for a two night “break” from continuous driving days
Is Brancagna worth a couple of nights ?
I’m happy with wayside inns on overnights, somewhere decent and cleans but for the “breaks” I’d like something a bit nicer ( well the female travellers would anyway
)
I’ve booked the last night before the ferry back just outside Santander so its just joining the dots to complete the circle
I did the med coast west through the Pyrenees last year as far as Lograno and Bilbao
This time I’m entering via Santander and then dropping down into the Picos for the first night, already booked that stop, then west through the mountains before turning south
As far as i can see there’s some great looking roads on the Sp/P border so it’s just planning stops between them .. problem is there’s a group of us going so it needs a bit of planning and pre-booking
Im hoping it will be all back roads and zero motorway
Do like the look of the Paradors and Santiago looks good for a two night “break” from continuous driving days
Is Brancagna worth a couple of nights ?
I’m happy with wayside inns on overnights, somewhere decent and cleans but for the “breaks” I’d like something a bit nicer ( well the female travellers would anyway
) I’ve booked the last night before the ferry back just outside Santander so its just joining the dots to complete the circle
Thanks for the tips guys
Managed to sort it out and book four paradors including one in Portugal over the course of the trip
Sadly the Santiago de compostella one was fully booked and in the end we decided against staying there (the town) choosing instead to stay in the mountains
Basic outline of the route below heading in an anti clockwise direction from/to Santander through the Picos and then down into a Portugal and back across south of Burgos and as far east as Logroño before heading back north to Santander
Travelling on the brand new Brittany ferries ship Santona ex Portsmouth
All set now just need to refine the routes and the find yet best roads
Managed to sort it out and book four paradors including one in Portugal over the course of the trip
Sadly the Santiago de compostella one was fully booked and in the end we decided against staying there (the town) choosing instead to stay in the mountains
Basic outline of the route below heading in an anti clockwise direction from/to Santander through the Picos and then down into a Portugal and back across south of Burgos and as far east as Logroño before heading back north to Santander
Travelling on the brand new Brittany ferries ship Santona ex Portsmouth
All set now just need to refine the routes and the find yet best roads
DangerDoom said:
Venisonpie said:
Blimey, I missed this thread. I'm doing almost the exact same thing in September.
Ah, amazing, what's your plan?Day 1 gentle drive to Cudillero, explore the local coast and stay one night - consume copious amounts of seafood.
Day 2, drive along the coast to Navia, then head inland along the Navia valley to Navia de Suarna for 3 nights and hike around the picos
Day 5/6 tbc
Day 7 drive to Porto, stay 2 nights and meet a couple of mates who are flying in for two days tapas bar crawl and general explore
Day 9 to Saturday 16th Sept - head along the Douro valley stopping anywhere interesting but will aim for an afternoon/ evening in Logrono for more tapas
So work in progress and more a hiking/culinary explore than an out and out road trip - will be cruising in my antique SL so no tearing about.
And I'm doing something similar in October. 
Not too much locked in yet but I have planned a couple of drives in Northern Portugal.
Braganca to Braga via the N104 - I saw this described on here somewhere as someone's all time favourite road:
https://goo.gl/maps/q2wxBGctyK3jcaYY6
And then a day out of Braga exploring the National Park up at the border:
https://goo.gl/maps/saf6ib1KvChYMEqk7
Only other thing besides lots of wine and seafood is a visit to Serra da Estrela national park where the roads look amazing. I saw this on a Catchpole video (I think, but I can't find it now) and he said loads of car launches happen around here.
https://goo.gl/maps/GAT7NhmfMFMFBqzRA
Not too much locked in yet but I have planned a couple of drives in Northern Portugal.Braganca to Braga via the N104 - I saw this described on here somewhere as someone's all time favourite road:
https://goo.gl/maps/q2wxBGctyK3jcaYY6
And then a day out of Braga exploring the National Park up at the border:
https://goo.gl/maps/saf6ib1KvChYMEqk7
Only other thing besides lots of wine and seafood is a visit to Serra da Estrela national park where the roads look amazing. I saw this on a Catchpole video (I think, but I can't find it now) and he said loads of car launches happen around here.
https://goo.gl/maps/GAT7NhmfMFMFBqzRA
seefarr said:
And I'm doing something similar in October.
Nice. Looks like a great trip. Will be good to hear how you get on and any other roads you find.This Catchpole video?
https://youtu.be/hLVZ-SFgrys
DangerDoom said:
seefarr said:
And I'm doing something similar in October.
Nice. Looks like a great trip. Will be good to hear how you get on and any other roads you find.This Catchpole video?
https://youtu.be/hLVZ-SFgrys
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