Full details here: LD Lines Times look good - 1 week off work with travel down Saturday morning to Poole, Sunday afternoon you are riding in Northern Spain Week later SUnday evening and back in Poole Monday 19:00 with 'just about' time to get home and be in work Tuesday morning = 6 days off work, 7 full days in Spain
I wouldn't fancy work on the Tuesday tbh... But they are great options! Well worth a look. Be interested to see how this prices against Brittany.
Jimbo - for the launch fare its £160 return INCLUDING a cabin (their site is not as advanced as Brittany so you cannot select 2 bikes, 2 adults using 1 cabin) - that is for 1 Bike, rider and a cabin. Can only get it to quote upto Jan - For going back to work you would have had 26 hours sat on the boat to chill / recover!
Paid £25 deposit on a £328 fare for bike plus two and a seat, from Portsmouth to Santander for next September. Be interesting to see prices for during the busy months?
Last time I looked. 4 bikes 4 men 1 cabin in July next year was £380 each so about right? That was sat sailings too so little bit more again I think.
Back in Poole at 19:00 and U reckon to have time to get back to Manchester without being fecked??? Nah! B&B somewhere local then Treck home in morning for me. Good shout totherwise though!
Vague plan is Potes the first night (boat arrives 15:00 and want to be in hotel by nightfall) - then I have 4 full days, so vague plan is to aim for Douro Valley and maybe Porto in Portugal. Take in Picos on the Sunday before boat at 18:00 Sunday night. Weather will play huge factor - but its got to be better than here!
At that time of night you could be home by 22:30. I used to do a lot of traveling between Poole and Knutsford/Macclesfield and now and then Manchester, 3 hours 10 mins is possible, under 4 hours is easy, and if you have been sitting on a boat for 26 hours I imagine getting home may be a priority. That said space in the garage and a bed may be available here, depending on the date, and if I am around.
I'm expecting sub zero temps in the picos at night - whole thing will be a hugely weather dependant so actually not booking anything is best option - def. not taking tent, its only 4 nights hotel needed - could be disaster from start to finish, or could have amazing view of snow covered mountains with dry roads and 10 - 15' sunshine - or could be very different! The boat is mighty small too compared to Brittany Ferries!
At that price, who cares? Have you been down there before? I cant remember. If it's rainy near the coast......which it often is there.....just head inland for super fast bendy roads (rather than twisty mountain ones) You will have time to head for the epic N260. You could do it both ways.
Not done North Western Spain - done enough of the n260 / Pyrenees so def not going that way - there is plenty enough in Portugal / Northern Spain for 4 days.
