Pyranees - September

[sauluk]

Am looking at going to the Aragon GP next year, or if not then just heading to the Pyranees anyway at some point in September.

We'd get the ferry over to Santander and make our way up. I've already pencilled out a route Here if anyone is interested (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Santander,+Spain&daddr=Pamplona,+Spain+to:42.98161,-1.37998+to:42.90307,-1.19273+to:42.7564,-1.10051+to:42.70099,-1.01617+to:Jaca,+Spain+to:Biescas,+Spain+to:Broto, +Espa%C3%B1a+to:Fiscal,+Espa%C3%B1a+to:Bolta%C3%B1 a,+Spain+to:42.4903,0.46702+to:Bonansa,+Spain+to:V ielha+e+Mijaran,+Spain+to:Arreau,+France+to:Bar%C3 %A8ges,+France+to:Laruns,+France+to:Arudy,+France+ to:Aramits,+France+to:Larrau,+France+to:Ezcaroz+Ez karoze,+Calle+de+la+Rochapea,+Ezc%C3%A1roz,+Espa%C 3%B1a+to:Pamplona,+Spain+to:Santander,+Spain&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=43.173135,-1.175537&spn=4.302155,10.821533&sll=42.897095,-1.470108&sspn=0.270121,0.676346&geocode=FWAplwIdQuXF_ylDWxa-fUlJDTFwN8tzgvUEBA%3BFcRZjQIdaOnm_ykR1BD89pJQDTHw9 84IZYwBBA%3BFerYjwIddPHq_yk5I1yIcsVQDTHAissIZYwBEw %3BFR6mjgId5szt_ynDtJSI2zRXDTHA7sAHZYwBEw%3BFTBpjA IdIjXv_ylZd-SL3U5XDTGQG6sPZYwBEw%3BFb6QiwIdln7w_yllxkTB0URXDTF QG6sPZYwBEw%3BFQOViQIds533_ynb0tWHv4BXDTFBeNHAmLL0 Eg%3BFYdzigIdpgv7_ykVXxPfnYxXDTHwnM4IZYwBBA%3BFQ0Z igIdZx3-_ynviEEApvlXDTE2cAbU6a2yHA%3BFaBuiAIdvyb-_ymbHdVYDwNYDTFQIRNKEZCvGg%3BFeSehwIduBABACk1x5uW9 AdYDTFQnc4IZYwBBA%3BFbxZiAIdTCAHACl1DcduQ9enEjEQ2a EPZYwBEw%3BFdpihwId9i8KACkfWi8qzC2mEjEpH2pHcGLSFg% 3BFVaTiwId9iMMAClTCZ7GeZCoEjGgxqQh4PoABA%3BFX6tjgI dXHsFAClnYq9n40CoEjHgiz0vnPYGBA%3BFaKMjgIdCfwAAClt VNMegyGoEjGvQ5XTvcAJ5w%3BFXzwjwId3n75_ynrdj446LpXD TH6MgflRxBMFQ%3BFQe9kQIdRHb5_ylb3D8s3q1XDTHgqxNIF2 UGBA%3BFdT4kQIdcOL0_yltidYF_gJXDTHQrRNIF2UGBA%3BFQ VqkAIdumrx_yl_mq2DLSNXDTFt6EGrEnF-NQ%3BFXNkjgIda0Lv_yFqnXarLytE4A%3BFcRZjQIdaOnm_ykR 1BD89pJQDTHw984IZYwBBA%3BFWAplwIdQuXF_ylDWxa-fUlJDTFwN8tzgvUEBA&vpsrc=6&gl=uk&doflg=ptm&mra=ls&via=2,3,4,5,11&t=m&z=7) and am looking for places to stay along this route or around the area.

We're easily pleased, mainly just want a nice place to relax and sit outside with a cold beer after a day on the mountain roads.

The N260 is clearly a feature of the route and I've scoped out a few twisties from google maps which has been successful in the past when we've been to Vosges and the Black Forest.

Any suggestions appreciated!

[sauluk]

Another route that goes a bit further East (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Santander,+Spain&daddr=Pamplona,+Spain+to:42.98161,-1.37998+to:42.90307,-1.19273+to:42.7564,-1.10051+to:42.70099,-1.01617+to:Jaca,+Spain+to:Biescas,+Spain+to:Broto, +Espa%C3%B1a+to:Fiscal,+Espa%C3%B1a+to:Bolta%C3%B1 a,+Spain+to:42.4903,0.46702+to:N-260+to:Sort,+Espa%C3%B1a+to:Ribera+d'Urgellet,+Esp a%C3%B1a+to:El+Pont+de+Bar,+Spain+to:Bellver+de+Ce rdanya,+Spain+to:Tarascon-sur-Ari%C3%A8ge,+France+to:42.90846,1.27211+to:42.9113 8,0.70636+to:42.82109,0.41725+to:42.89775,0.06765+ to:42.96224,-0.34963+to:Aramits,+France+to:Larrau,+France&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=42.839724,-0.785522&spn=2.162899,5.410767&sll=43.155105,-0.77179&sspn=1.075938,2.705383&geocode=FWAplwIdQuXF_ylDWxa-fUlJDTFwN8tzgvUEBA%3BFcRZjQIdaOnm_ykR1BD89pJQDTHw9 84IZYwBBA%3BFerYjwIddPHq_yk5I1yIcsVQDTHAissIZYwBEw %3BFR6mjgId5szt_ynDtJSI2zRXDTHA7sAHZYwBEw%3BFTBpjA IdIjXv_ylZd-SL3U5XDTGQG6sPZYwBEw%3BFb6QiwIdln7w_yllxkTB0URXDTF QG6sPZYwBEw%3BFQOViQIds533_ynb0tWHv4BXDTFBeNHAmLL0 Eg%3BFYdzigIdpgv7_ykVXxPfnYxXDTHwnM4IZYwBBA%3BFQ0Z igIdZx3-_ynviEEApvlXDTE2cAbU6a2yHA%3BFaBuiAIdvyb-_ymbHdVYDwNYDTFQIRNKEZCvGg%3BFeSehwIduBABACk1x5uW9 AdYDTFQnc4IZYwBBA%3BFbxZiAIdTCAHACl1DcduQ9enEjEQ2a EPZYwBEw%3BFa5VhgIdMHcNAA%3BFf0ghwIdOzkRACkrm7FxaQ SmEjHwxKQh4PoABA%3BFYvahQId5lEVACnnLy42leilEjHAw6Q h4PoABA%3BFXmLhgIdq4IYACmdMrkC45GlEjFgu6Qh4PoABA%3 BFWmEhgIdXyIbACnB067WTIOlEjGwvKQh4PoABA%3BFQzRjQId z3wYAClpmHxMV2uvEjEAUUMvnPYGBA%3BFSy7jgIdLmkTACnZ2 RyVJDSvEjH9lBwit0ACwA%3BFZTGjgIdOMcKACmLSS97sfOoEj FMxIIY5X7wWQ%3BFeJljQId4l0GACkPc7JP-mioEjGS_JPnO_ruWg%3BFVaRjgIdQggBACmRxE-KgyGoEjFANHkfnPYGEw%3BFUCNjwIdQqr6_ymZpzHNGblXDTHd dfbI2NUDZQ%3BFdT4kQIdcOL0_yltidYF_gJXDTHQrRNIF2UGB A%3BFQVqkAIdumrx_yl_mq2DLSNXDTFt6EGrEnF-NQ&vpsrc=6&gl=uk&doflg=ptm&mra=ls&via=2,3,4,5,11,18,19,20,21,22&t=m&z=8)

[maviczap]

Here's where we stayed this September, really nice place, good food.

Rob & Rachel run the place. Rob know the region very well, as he does guided cycling trips

Looks like its right in the middle of your 2nd route. Plenty of bikers riding through when we were there.

Stunning roads everywhere

Its half way up the Col du Tourmalet

http://www.lessorbiers.co.uk/

[STRAMASHER]

Bit of a difference in your two routes!?

The second one hits all the top spots I always recommend:

N260 Sort- La Seu De Urgell. Probably the best/twistiest/most famous bit of that road.

The 3 Cols. Aspin, Tourmalet, Aubisque. We stayed in Bagneres De Luchon and finished the day in Jaca. Easily do-able in a day (and it WILL be an unforgetable riding day!) and that included going up the cable car up to the "Big James Bond Baddie Base" at the Pic Du Midi on the Tourmalet pass.
If you decide to get to Jaca from here the Col Du Pourtalet is stunning. Lord Of the Rings/ Scotland at its craggiest, look-a-likey, so it is.:)

TBH its very hard to go wrong in the Pyrenees, either side. Although the French side has roads in generally poorer nick and is wetter (even in June/July as I know to my cost...until I got above the clouds!)

Via Michelin is a great twisty/scenic route finder,green highlighted roads are the toppers. Have fun : http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/Maps

:)

[maviczap]

The ride up to Luz Ardiden is flippin amazing, I know we did it on push bikes, but on a motorbike it would be great too.

Its a dead end, but worth it for the ride up and down

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Dfs1yhhwatc/Tm4Y0PbVsZI/AAAAAAAAAhw/OhOIjlSOHpQ/s512/046.JPG

[STRAMASHER]

The Tour De France is passing through The 3 Cols (D918,) tomorrow and that I mentioned in the earlier post (actually 4 if you are coming from or going to Bagneres, you get to do the Col De Peyesourde.)

Hopefully looking stunning in HD. I'll catch the highlights on ITVHD4 at 7pm.

Should whet your appetite if you are heading that way or give you a kick to get out there. Here is some pics I took a few year ago.

Heading west /north D618 Col De Peyesourde

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g87/stramasher/Holiday2007148.jpg

Top of Pic Du Midi before top of the Tourmalet (Take your photo at the silver cyclist)

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g87/stramasher/Holiday2007159.jpg

Racing through and away from the clouds on the top of the Col D'Aubisque

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g87/stramasher/Holiday2007211.jpg

Lord Of The Rings after the Col Du Pourtalet D934/A136.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g87/stramasher/Holiday2007213.jpg


You really need a 360 camera!