Northern Spain - route suggestions

Post by **richard.w** » 12 Jul 2007, 09:38

I am toying with the idea of taking two weks off in Sep and touring the Basque region. The fares quoted on P&O and Brtianny Ferries are such that I could buy half a T25, well, a third anyway.
Anybody been down that way, if so what ferry/road route and how long did it take.
Thanks

Post by **Louey** » 12 Jul 2007, 10:01

I think by road is a hard going 2 day trip, we were considering something similar this year but the ferry prices and time constraints put us off sadly

Post by **HarryMann** » 12 Jul 2007, 10:38

Calais or Le Havre and drive down West coast of France on nice A and B roads after le Mans, stay just North of Biarritz, on down into Northern Spain...

A very nice (non Basque) area of Spain to drive through is the Extremadura region (wild) which also borders Portugal, up to the Douro (Port wine) valley and along it, out into the (dead flat) plains of North Western Spain to Leon, maybe up to 'Santiago de Compostela in Galicia' or turn immediately East again and drive thro' wonderful Picos d'Europ mountains (buying Goat Cheeses to keep the van smelling nice) and back to the edge of the Pyrenees and up the French coast again... 2000 or about 2500 miles if you go deeper into Spain before cutting up through the Extremaduras... known for its red wine (try it at Nando's) and cherries.

Diesel fairly cheap in Spain or even cheaper in Portugal... or was!

owlets · Post by **owlets** » 12 Jul 2007, 11:46

Portsmouth to Bilboa with outside cabin is aroun £700 booking through the caravan club. Tis like a mini criuse on the ship, so I'd look at it as part of the holiday, bloody long drive through France otherwise

Post by **Ade** » 12 Jul 2007, 13:01

Calais/Boulogne to Biarritz is about twelve hours drive on the autoroute
and @ 75 euros in tolls , its a good fast road all the way,but gets busy though not congested in late July and August

50 quid in tolls ,100 quid in diesel ,50 quid ferry ,and spend the 500 quid youve saved on booze

Post by **cumbriankeith** » 12 Jul 2007, 22:43

We're booked on the Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry towards the end of the month (£330).
We plan on seeing some of northern Spain before pottering thro the Pyrenees and up thro France to get LD lines ferry back to Portsmouth (£135) a couple of weeks later - really looking forward to it and as has been said the long ferry is expensive but is part of the holiday for us. The petrol costs for driving both ways would be lots more than you diesel or LPG users. I'll let you know how we get one...

Post by **richard.w** » 14 Jul 2007, 12:26

Tks very much, I'm recently divorced and poorly broke so tending to go for the long drive. Bought the map, starting to think about the journey, hope to get the Tshirt.

Post by **crazydiamond** » 16 Jul 2007, 06:35

We did the Dover-Calais and western France drive south, into Norther n Spain-Picos-de-Europa area is fantastic. A long drive but take your time and enjoy the sightseeing on the way. We got back in three days staying at some different sites, Chateau Renaud (sp) is a superb municipal site about £8 a night with a full size outdoor heated swimming pool Olimpic size!.........(my spelling is rough today int it)

Post by **sonic23** » 16 Jul 2007, 16:30

Franklyn - seeing as you're North Somerset (as I am ), then I've gone down to that part of the bay of Biscay via the Plymouth Roscoff crossing and also the Poole Cherburg. I prefered the Plymouth Roscoff as it's an overnighter - (you can leave your house at 7pm and still get the boat). It gets in early the next day - and last year I made it to Lacanau (west of Bordeaux) by 4pm the same day, and that was in a 2Litre Aircooled. From there it's 2 hours to the Hendaye/Irun border.

Totally agree with crazy Diamond - Picos d'Europe is stunning and about 3 hours from the border. All of that coast in between is very interesting and if you like surfing then you'll be spoilt for choice....some of the best breaks in Europe IMHO

Post by **Grantourer** » 16 Jul 2007, 17:10

Hi, do you have a copy of Autoroute? this would allow you to do a pretty good cost projection, if you havn't email your address yo grantourer@aol.com and I will send you acopy 2005 I am afraid but still useful.
Regards, Graham

Post by **richard.w** » 17 Jul 2007, 09:07

You meet such nice people on this site. Grantourer, I've emailed you direct. Tks again all.

Post by **OXI** » 17 Jul 2007, 20:45

I've done it several times. I've sailed into both Roscoff and Cherbourg. Not much difference between the two ports.

Take your time and enjoy the drive. Mostly I don't use the payage roads as they are too fast and have quite a few lorries which can be annoying.

The drive through the Pyranees is spectacular. Follow thw ancient pilgrims route and camp at Zarutz on the beach. There are two campsites - one on the hill and a lower one beside the beach which is the better of the two IMO.
I drive via Rennes, Nantes, Saintes etc. Route is obvious if you look at the map.
Also, you can make very reasonable time on the "A" roads. (Now renamed from D to N?, I think. Just back on 16 June and I've forgotten that already !!)

I'd say go for it.

Frank

Post by **kevtherev** » 17 Jul 2007, 20:51

Rode a bike back from Santander to Roscoff ....

it was Brutal.

Post by **OXI** » 17 Jul 2007, 21:04

kevtherev wrote:Rode a bike back from Santander to Roscoff ....

it was Brutal.

Fek me !! Can you still walk ??

Frank

Post by **kevtherev** » 17 Jul 2007, 21:29

Next day I felt it...

That was non stop aswell took twelve hours...I was a lot younger too Frank

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Northern Spain - route suggestions

Northern Spain - route suggestions

Northern Spain- Route Sugesttions