Thanks for the great guide, very useful for a beginner like me.

I noticed it sometimes mentions images, e.g. “The first road sign above shows a number of things,…” (p. 17), but I can’t see the images – where to find?

Thanks,
Sergio

Great to hear your trip went well. I’ll be back there for a week in Sept trying out some new roads, the best of which I’ll upload as usual. Some magic roads between Zaragoza and Pamplona too which I’ll be visiting also..

Stay in touch mate and laet me know the plans for the next big trip..

D

I just wanted to thank you for your help with the above. I had a fantastic time and just about got it all done. Although its only really scratching the surface so I will definitely be going back.Your accommodation recommendations where spot on and I think you will have seen Ron( Le Chapeau Bleu in Saint-Beat) in between me coming back and sending this. Just the 1 pass closed so managed to see some breath taking scenery.

Ron gave me some directions from his place to Zaragoza going through the long tunnel into Spain, 15-20 miles of pure biking heaven. Didnt want it to end Dennis.

May do the Picos de Europa next Whitsun if I can wait that long, not sure I could get another pass out even if i did all the ironing!

Thanks again, Paul

That map is really hard to find these days for some reason. The best place to find it or something simular is in a French Tourist Office which is where I got mine. It’s a nice map to have but not to worry if you can’t get it. Get yourself a copy of the following two maps..

1. Michelin Regional Map No. 523 Rhones-Alpes
2. Michelin Regional Map No. 527 Provence-Alpes-Cote D’Azur

These two maps together cover the Route Des Grandes Alpes and more, you just need to work out which passes to take from Thonon-les-Bains. Actually these two maps combined are better for exploring the area. Remember, you will never get to ride all the possible passes/routes south in one trip which is why people return again and again…

If it is your 1st time riding in the Alps remember to bring base layers and rain gear as it can be cold and wet, especially up high, even in July. Also pack light, a heavily laden bike becomes very hard work to manage on the constant hair-pins..

Best of luck, you are going to love it. If you have any further questions feel free to ask, I might be a bit slow in replying but I always do…

Cheers
Denis

If Zaragona is not set in stone then you have a choice, Zaragona or a return to Gijon via the Picos! Given the choice I’d take a ride through the Picos over Zaragona any day. Here is an alternative route http://goo.gl/maps/5mAQN The first change in this route will bring you from Saint-Beat to Broto via Campo, this is an excellent route through canyons and smooth, beautiful and empty back roads through Aragon. Aim to have lunch in the old fortified town of Ainsa, once you get to this town look for the sign for the car park up in the old part of town. From Ainsa the route takes you through the Canyon de Aniscolo which is a jaw dropper to a great biker friendly hotel in Broto.

From there you can make your way down through the Picos aiming for a stopover somewhere within an easy ride to catch the ferry in Gijon. Broto to the Picos is a bit of a long day, almost 600km but a big chunk of it to Burgos is via motorway so you will be fine if you get an early start. Not sure how you feel about that but for me it would be well worth the effort as the Picos is up there with Europes best motorbike rides.. If you can manage this route you will really have ridden some of the best possible roads within your time frame and something you wont forget in a hurry..

Denis

Have included the first part of your recommended route, could you have a look at this route please and advise if I should avoid or not miss anything. I can visit a Supplier in Zaragoza hence why its on the map but this doesnt have to set in stone .

Thanks Denis

Regards Paul

http://goo.gl/maps/jp2Nn

Best wishes and Kind regards,

Sean

Like I said, just fine tune the route to suit yourself (riding times etc) but you can’t go wrong on those roads themselves and the nightly stop overs. Once you hit the Pyrenees proper don’t try to ride more than 300km/250 miles a day, it’s not worth it. Take the time to enjoy the views, appreciate where you are and stop for photos. You can easily make up time/distance on the motorways and French N roads riding 500+ mile days easily, those bits are boring, but easily do-able.

Watch your speed on the Spanish roads, especially the main routes. The Guardia Civil (Spain’s Military Police) are everywhere even if ye can’t see ‘em. You will be riding through troubled Basque country, so trust me, they may be hidden, but they are there. They use hidden cameras along the roads which have reg plate recognition, if the camera gets you be sure you will be meeting an armed and dangerous GC up the road at the next roundabout with a ticket already written up for you. They also have camouflaged posts hidden in the mountains. If ye think the British cops are no fun wait ’till you meet these guys lol. It’s a cash on the spot fine for speed/traffic violations and it will hurt – bad.

If you don’t have the cash expect to have your bike impounded and your trip ruined. Same thing or worse if you give them any trouble or lip. I know how easy it is to get frisky with the throttle on those magic roads, but you really have to keep it in check while in Spain these days. That said, you will have a blast, if you stay within the law of the land you’ve nothing to worry about either way, you probably wont ever see them..

Let me know how you get on,

Denis

This is far more than i could have hoped for, thank you so much. I just looked at some parts on Street View and its totally awesome, exactly what I am after. I will digest it all later on and let you know which one I will aim for. I think I will be on the Poole-Santander Ferry which arrives in Santander Sun afternoon 25th May so could start your route on Monday. Very excited now!:)

Thanks again Denis

Best regards Paul

Route one, http://goo.gl/maps/UXEWr this takes in 3 of the 5 Star big passes in the Pyrenees and a few more besides before heading up via the Millau Bridge and the Gorges du Tarn and the run home. Night 1 is the Auberge de l’Etable, Montory 2/3 star Auberge – rooms dated but functional, good food, good bar and safe locked parking. Night 2 Le Chapeau Bleu in Saint-Beat, a family, English run B&B, safe parking, good food, let them know I sent you and they will show you a good time. Night 3 would be around Millau or Gorges du Tarn, try boking.com to find a place hear, but it’s a busy spot so be sure to book a place well ahead of time. Night 5 and 6 would be somewhere on route home. Fine tune the route to suit yourself.

Route 2, this is a back-up route as even though you are riding in late May there is still a risk that 2 of the highest 5 star passes might still be closed to snow, i.e. Col d’Aubesque and Tourmalet.

Route 2 Part 1 http://goo.gl/maps/3bFq3 Night 1 is the Auberge de l’Etable, Montory, this route from Bilbau takes in a great route along the Basque coast, then once you get past Pamplona you will hit the high stuff. It’s take’s a solid 8hrs ride as there may be holiday traffic on the coast road but if you dock early you have plenty of time. Night 2 is Hotel Pradas Ordesa, Broto, one of the best hotel’s in the Pyrenees and really good value, the 14 euro 3 course menu includes a bottle of good wine The hotel owner (Angel) is a Paris-Dakar rider, a serious off-road and passionate biker, tell him I sent you and he will look after you, I could easily be there too, let me know the date, if I’m there we can have a beer. Day 2′s route will take you over the epic Col de Pierre St Martin and through the stunning Gorges de Ainso.

Route 2 Part 2. http://goo.gl/maps/sRbCx This is an easy going day crossing back into France via Port de Bielsa, a beautiful road, check out the Knights Templar chapel on the French side. Stop off for a walk around Ainsa if you can for coffee/lunch, the old part of town on the hill is a beautiful walled citadel. Night 2 will see you in Le Chapeau Bleu in Saint-Beat. The it’s up home via Millau, Tarn and plenty of time to ride up through central France.

Whatever route you choose you can’t go wrong, both are brilliant.

Hope this helps,
Denis

Cheers Paul

7 days is a bit tight, but do-able if you for example took the 22:30 sailing from Portsmouth say on a Sunday, you’d then arrive in Bilbao at 07:30 on the Tuesday morning and shooting distance to the Pyrenees. If Sunday is not counted as part of your 7 day limit (practice your arguing skills to work around the wife on that one) you would have 5 days to mooch around France with a day left over to get home before divorce proceedings begin But you would probably have to accept one or two days riding a bit more than 200 miles, especially the run back up to the channel tunnel for e.g..

Alternatively, you can also ride the Picos de Europa and a the west coast of Spain, and return via Santander/Bilbau without running up big miles, enjoying yourself at a peaceful pace. Spain is also a heck of a lot cheaper than France…

Either way, a lot depends on the time of year you plan on taking this trip, for the Pyrenees/Picos it’s best seen in late May to mid October, so what month were you thinking of doing it?

Denis

Since then I have changed to a Triumph Tiger 1050 and fancy another bash this year, this time I have a 7 day pass issued by the wife for Whitsun and will be going solo. I have looked at several possibles including Ferry to Santander then riding the Pyrenees and heeding back up through France, but realistically not sure what I can achieve in 7 days. I am thinking perhaps 200 miles per day so you get a bit of time to enjoy the odd Cafe etc.

Would you be able to give me a general idea of where to head for some decent scenery but based on the time scale I have? I will be travelling from the West Midlands in the UK so any Port on the South Coast would be ok to go from.

Again, well done our your very informative site.

Many thanks Paul

All the best
Denis