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03-07-12, 01:33 PM | #1 |
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Pyrenees
Thinking of visiting the Pyrenees next year.
Will be getting the ferry from Plymouth to Santander I expect. Has anyone done this crossing? Is it as mind numbing as I am expecting? Looking at 10-14 days including the crossing but spending at least 3 days chilling by the beach somewhere. Any suggestions on roads and places to visit?? |
03-07-12, 01:46 PM | #2 | |
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Re: Pyrenees
Quote:
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03-07-12, 02:02 PM | #3 |
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Re: Pyrenees
Portsmouth - Santander, as above, boring as fff, but given where I am in the UK, riding through France would have been even worse.
Get as much as possible of the n260, Andorra is nice to visit. Think I'd try to zigzag between France and Spain to get the best roads. I think Luckypants and Mavic cycle there so they might offer good advice. |
03-07-12, 02:09 PM | #4 |
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Re: Pyrenees
I know, I am still undecided. According to Google Maps it's just under 9 hours from Calais to Bordeaux but riding on the Autoroute is also pretty boring.
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03-07-12, 02:10 PM | #5 |
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Re: Pyrenees
Ive done to andora which was nice on both sides.
http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php...59&postcount=7
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03-07-12, 02:55 PM | #6 |
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Re: Pyrenees
Andorra is definitely on the list.
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04-07-12, 09:13 AM | #7 |
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Re: Pyrenees
Not done the long crossing, but I respect what others have said about it being boring. So how about a shorter crossing to Brittany (e.g. Portsmouth / St Malo or Poole/Cherbourg)? Then ride the west coast to the Pyranees.... Looks more fun than a big ole boat....
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04-07-12, 10:07 AM | #8 |
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Re: Pyrenees
Did consider that but it's still a 12 hour crossing, although it's overnight.
Is the ride through France that interesting though? |
04-07-12, 11:43 AM | #9 |
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Re: Pyrenees
If you are the sort that can sleep on a ferry in a chair, then it's worth it for cost / time reasons IMO. Not done the west coast of France, but generally like coastal roads so it would appeal to me. Plus it goes through Bordeaux, so worth it for a visit to a wine château
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04-07-12, 12:27 PM | #10 |
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Re: Pyrenees
Mind numbing? No. Certainly not as bad as the Portsmouth one used to be. 36hrs!
Not long back from Spain on the bike. Plymouth to Santander, Bilbao - Portsmouth. Now both 24hrs with Brittany Ferries. Arrive in Santander, Picos D'Europa west, along some brilliant m/way. East for Pyrenees again along some awesome m/way. Spoilt for choice. No hours and hours of dull peage through France. Instant goodness! Usually head for Jaca as a first stop. Plenty of accom. Only road you need to know is n260 for Pyrenees. Gets you to the beaches eventually. Cadaques is beautiful. Barcelona - Santander back is a (long) days ride on the m/way. Have stopped in Zaragoza a coupla times to break it up. Very very nice. Very very hot too(105f a few weeks ago.) But you miss out on gems like any of the roads north/north west from Soria. N111 (don't go through the new tunnel, take the "high road") or even better Sierra De La Demanda. LR113. Peak of N111. Nobody there whole road up and down. Bliss. Picos Last edited by STRAMASHER; 04-07-12 at 12:35 PM. |
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