Crossing the Pyrenees
 

Hi,

I have been looking around on some threads and read a few good posts but I am planning on traveling from Santander to Barcelona in about 8 weeks time. I have about a week to get there so am in no rush at all but am looking for suggestions on places to visit, good roads, nice local places to stay, especially at that time of year. Does anyone have any good ideas?

Many thanks in advance.

Adam

There's a good campsite at Erratzu, Camping Erratzu would you believe, at the western end of the mountains.

Would it be fair to say that you're going to traverse the southern side rather than actually cross them? Or not?

Either way you're going to have a great time.:thumbup1: Can't really recommmend too much 'cos I was travelling in a right angle to what you propose. However as I've said before the Pyrenees are very underrated, especially the unspoilt and under-populated southern side.

One minor benefit on the spanish side is that most service stations are attended rather than on the North side in France where you often find unattended supermarket petrol outlets are the norm. In which case you need to make sure you have a card that will be acceptable to them, e.g. Nationwide Flex combined with PIN number.

If you have enough time I'm sure you would enjoy crossing over to France at one point and then crossing back again later.

Have fun!

Follow the roads along the spanish side and you will have an excellent ride. Take a telescopic fishing rod with you. Some of teh mountain streams have huge trout.
Warning, do not jump into any deep streams until you have checked the water temperature, it can be close to freezing :)

Hi - i am planning a 2 week trip early next year, same start and destination - so would also be interested in hearing about any other good routes.

Also, what is the best time to travel through that bit of Spain? Is April quite a wet month?

Ex

The pyreneese are perfect for riding (In June anyway - not sure about April)
I zigzagged across the border Filling up in Spain and camping in France - saves money.
I found the Bielsa route to be very impressive. Plenty of campsites and places to stay especially in France

Try France for a day
 

Go over through Andorra then down into Aux la Therme. Good wee hotel as you enter the town on the right. Secure courtyard for the bike. It is a natural spa town with hot public pools and health spas. Nice visit and a cool road

The coast road from Saint Feliu De Guixols through Tossa to Lloret De Mar is superb & not to be missed

Anybody have experince going through the Pyrenees in October? Is it a good idea?

I second that. I rode from Saint-Gaudens in France to Madrid yesterday. The A138 from the Bielsa tunnel down to Barbastro is spectacular. The bit on the French side isn't bad either. A few days earlier I had crossed over a bit further west at Canfranc, coming from Jaca. Also very nice. Everywhere in Aragon is beautiful, simple as that!