Spain / Andorra etc. - suggested routes?

Discussion in 'Touring' started by Ian E, Oct 1, 2014.

  1. Ian E

    Ian E Active Member

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    I would welcome any advice on recommended biking roads / areas in Spain, Andorra etc. (or links to any previous threads).

    Booked on the Hull Zeebrugge Ferry this Friday and going to Europe for 9 days No real plan, but heading for Andorra and Spain, taking in Millau bridge on the way down. We are taking camping gear - will there still be plenty of camp sites open this time of year?

    Cheers,

    Ian.
     
  2. Jimbo Vills

    Jimbo Vills God Like

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    I'd get yourself some Michelin maps and plan your route around these. They highlight all the good roads and never been let down tbh.

    Mapsman do bundle packs which are excellent mate

    Obviously the n260 is the main route across Spain / Andorra but we found better roads off it. No doubt some of the northern boys will give you some must do roads but IMO you can't rally go wrong.

    What route you planning on getting down as its a fair old slap and a few diff ways to approach it.
     
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  3. Ian E

    Ian E Active Member

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    Hi Jimbo,

    Thanks for the reply. Maps will be a good start - although left it a bit late! I'm going down on the Speed Triple and have put SatNav on. A mate is going on a Buell Firebolt (and also has SatNav).

    We've not planned a route down - so open to any suggestions.

    Cheers,

    Ian.
     
  4. ShinySideUp

    ShinySideUp Elite Member

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    Give Alblade a shout I'm sure he will have some good ideas about where is good to go around that area mate.
     
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  5. Jimbo Vills

    Jimbo Vills God Like

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    I've got loads (well used) that are all marked up of our routes.... But again, maybe a bit late, don't think I'd even have time to send em to ya??
     
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  6. Ian E

    Ian E Active Member

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    Thanks for the offer but too late - go Friday. Cheers, Ian.
     
  7. Iain

    Iain Active Member

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    My suggestion, only use the Sat Nag to find the hotels, use regional maps to enjoy the roads. Sort out the detail the night before with others in the group. As already mentioned, lots of fantastic roads to explore, Sat Nag is not the way to find them. but can help find hotels and petrol stations ;-)
     
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  8. Peter

    Peter Active Member

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    Apart from N-260, do try C13, C28 and N230 all north from N-260 and close to the French border.
    Epic views, not much traffic and almost brand new road surface ;)
     
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  9. Ian E

    Ian E Active Member

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    Thanks. We have done that route today, superb, especially n260 :)
     
  10. Ian E

    Ian E Active Member

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  11. Alblade

    Alblade God Like

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    Looks good - shame I've missed this thread as been away in Germany

    WHere are you now and how long till you sail back ?
     
  12. Ian E

    Ian E Active Member

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    IMG_20141005_172109_396.jpg
     
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  13. Alblade

    Alblade God Like

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    Awesome!

    Me in 2010

    [​IMG]
     
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  14. Ian E

    Ian E Active Member

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    Based at Andorra until Friday then heading back home via La Rochelle side. Sail home Sunday night Zeebrugge hull.
     
  15. Alblade

    Alblade God Like

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    OK - Make sure you go to Ripoll via col de tosses , then the road to Berga from Ripoll - Go to Bourg Madame / Puigcerda near border of France / Spain to pick up road, its ace


    ALso good is andorra over Col Du Pymorens down to Bourg Madame, then head east down to Prades, then pick up Milas to Estagel road, Quilan, then Foix, Ax Les Thermes and back to Andorra. (if you do that please call into LEs Cabannes for a coffee in the main bar) its between Tarascon and Ax-Le-Themes. You can also go from Les Cabanes up the Platau de Beille for amazing views.

    hope this helps - very envious ,is it still warm or snow on mountain tops ?
     
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  16. Alblade

    Alblade God Like

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    Also for a longish day, go to Sort on N260, then Vielha , then back south on N230 but take C1311 back east to tremp and then back on N260
    C1311 really nice little road with great views, look up for Eagles on the thermals!
     
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  17. Remal

    Remal It's ME
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    I pointer don't Hit Andorra on a weekend. I did and the coaches and traffic was not fun.
    Also the area between the Atlantic and med between the boarders of Spain (andorra) and France are amazing. Stunning roads so make the most of the area. I went to Tarragona on the med just below Barcelona. Some nice bars and places to stay the night that are not to expensive. but anything in the middle of spain is not fun. Hot and not much to see. We went From Tarragona to Zaragoza then to pampalona and it was pretty much flat out to get somewhere nice

    Also hit the Midi-Pyrénées another lovely area.

    Biarritz is lovely. South west coast of france. But very expensive. cost me 24 Euro's for 3 grand beers.

    Hoping that gives you some idea of places to look at

    for the Edit doh i'm to late with this. Sorry
     
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  18. Ian E

    Ian E Active Member

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    Many thanks for all the advice - much appreciated :cool: Just got back.

    On our last day in Andorra we went South and then took the N260 to Sort - then a loop round through Vielha back to Sort, then back to Andorra. 200 miles ish - top ride.

    IMG_20141009_143915_802.jpg

    It was a long ride back up through France. Stayed at Isle D'Oleron (near La Rochelle) on the Friday Night and Villers Sur Mer (Normandy) on the Saturday night.
     
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  19. Ian E

    Ian E Active Member

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    Weather was great. No sign of any snow on the tops (I Skied Andorra at Easter and there was loads then!). Temperatures in Andorra were generally 20C ish, but fell to around 12C towards the French border near the Ski resorts. We saw 30C one day in France - not bad for October!
     
  20. Alblade

    Alblade God Like

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    Glad you enjoyed that route - we have that as our 'long spain day' but we do that from near Ax-le-Themes which adds a bit of time at start and end of the run.

    Good news on the weather - just shows late season is often better than going early so to speak.

    Enough of us have been to the area recently we should maybe create a 'sticky' post about the area with routes / hotels to help others as many ask similar questions about the area.
     
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