Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Planning, Trip > Route Planning
Spain in December Spain in December
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Like Tree6Likes

Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 2 Nov 2019
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ireland
Posts: 69
Spain in December
Having lost my house and almost everything thing I own in a fire during the summer, I need a trip to get me back on track.
I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger on a ride through Spain to get to a ferry to bring me to the Canary Islands. Spend a month or so, island hopping on 1150Adv.
How's the weather through Spain in December?
I'm sure, however bad it it is, it'll be worth it to get to the sun on my own bike.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2 Nov 2019
K K is offline
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Spain
Posts: 24
Most of Spain, weather wise (except probably north of Valencia, Aaragon up to the Pyrenees) is nice and sunny with the odd few days of rain. But as soon as the sun drops it's cold almost immediately. The further south the better.

Around the Alicante area which is central mainland you can get away with jeans and a light jumper in the day mostly to give you an idea. Can't really comment about the surrounding islands personally but have been told they are warm in December
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2 Nov 2019
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ireland
Posts: 69
A bit of rain never hurt anyone
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 3 Nov 2019
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,982
My December experience was cold in the mountains, including the south around Granada, some snow and often ice. And you may not mind rain, but a cold rain combined with ferocious winds can be awkward.

But I also saw fine temperatures and lowered prices along the southern coast, so you never know...
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 3 Nov 2019
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 448
Sorry for your troubles.
Away from the coast Spain is a very mountainous country, which means very cold and a high possibility of snow in winter - so pick your route well. You could hug either coasts - Atlantic may possibly be a bit wetter, or plot an inland route following river valleys.
As said it gets cold early so your riding time may be short but it sounds like you’re in no hurry.

My sister spends 3 months of the winter in Lanzarote - nice and warm.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 3 Nov 2019
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Oxford UK
Posts: 2,116
I've ridden down there (from the UK) in the winter a few times over the years and it can be a bit of a lottery depending on what weather pattern you hit. For me, starting from Calais, it's around 2000 miles and if it's 2k of dry, cold and sunny it can be a real pleasure. If, however, it was like my last attempt in Dec 17, 2k of wet, windy and dark + snow at times it's more like a survival expedition than a trip to be enjoyed. If you've got any leeway on timing try to second guess the forecast and pick a departure date that'll dodge the gales.

I'd guess from Ireland you'll be taking a ferry to north west France, riding down the west coast, around the Pyrenees and then diagonally across Spain (?) The plain in Spain is cold in winter!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 3 Nov 2019
Tim Cullis's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,124
After Switzerland, Spain is the most mountainous country in Europe. I live part the year in the mountains of the Granada Altiplano and in past years have ridden through the country many times in winter, setting off to follow the Dakar rally in Morocco. One year seven of us rode together, six of us had electrically heated jackets. The seventh guy phoned his wife and got her to buy a jacket and ship it to a hotel for the return trip.

Don't look at the forecast for Santander or Bilbao for temperature guidance as these are at sea level and get the benefit of the warmth of the sea. Instead look at Valladolid: https://weather.com/en-GB/weather/te...cb227a66bbc471

Bear in mind that if the overnight temperature at Valladolid is, say, -1ºC, this is what it will still be at 0930 and won't be much warmer for a couple of hours. I use handlebar muffs in the winter months, you can make your own with not much effort.

When you do the math on hotels, fuel, motorway tolls you will probably find you will be better off using Brittant Ferries' Cork to Santander rather than to Roscoff. The economy service is fine with great food. I would offer you my Club Voyage discount code but unfortunately it's not valid on Irish sailings.
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 3 Nov 2019
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Devon, UK
Posts: 845
I did a trail riding weekend in Andalucia some years ago (flew in and hired bikes), as I recall it was early or late winter back in the UK. Daytime temperatures were cool but didn't require any extra riding gear, though on the second day it rained and was quite chilly. Our guide told us that over the new year they'd been up one of the local hills axle deep in snow. So don't assume it'll be all warm!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 8 Nov 2019
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Bath UK
Posts: 92
+1 on a heated jacket


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Charles CCM450, BMW R90/6, BMW R50
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...a/027_27-1.jpg
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 9 Nov 2019
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Scottish but now in just touring.
Posts: 35
Spain in Winter
I lived in Spain from, April 2017 till April 2019.

I lived in Reus, near Tarragona on the East coast and made regular trips across country to the West of Spain to see my friend during these two years. The centre of Spain sits at altitude, so as previous members have pointed out, the temperature in Winter (October-end of February) regularly drops below Zero overnight.

I rode my bike from Scotland to Reus and then Galicia on the West coast during December 2016. When I left Reus it was about 7 degrees at 7 am, two hours later, near Zaragoza it was well below zero.

Coming from Ireland you should be making a similar journey. As far as I remember, ferries to the Canaries leave from Valencia, therefore, I would suggest that you avoid any route that has you crossing the Pyrenees.

I rode down through central France and entered Spain via Perpignan on the mediterranian coast. The only issue here is that the motorway from the Spanish border to Valencia is one of the most expensive toll roads I have ever ridden on. My advice would be once South of Barcelona, get off the motorway and on to N class roads.

Hope this helps.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 9 Nov 2019
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Bath UK
Posts: 92
Remember that you will be coming back in February when temperatures will be lower and you will need to plot a low altitude route to avoid snow.

I think that a heated jacket is absolutely needed for long days at anything below 5c


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
__________________
Charles CCM450, BMW R90/6, BMW R50
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f1...a/027_27-1.jpg
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 11 Nov 2019
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ireland
Posts: 69
Great info, thanks.
All I can do is gamble.
I'm giving myself 6 days to get from Santander to Huelva.
Landing in Santander from Cork on the 1st of December.
I'm hoping that the forecast for snow in the coming week in the north of Spain is accurate. Chances are it will be snowed out by the time I get there.
Heated vest will be used, I have heated grips.
Out of the 6 days, I'm hoping I'll get 2 good long dry days riding to get where I'm going.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11 Nov 2019
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: UK
Posts: 448
We went down through Spain at the end of March 2 years ago and there was snow to be seen everywhere until south of Madrid - still there 10 days later, on our return journey.
We took heated jackets for the high Atlas but needed them in Spain - We wished We’d kept our bar muffs on
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 19 Nov 2019
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Granada
Posts: 3
De Santander a Huelva tiene una distancia de 1000km; si como dice, dispone de seis días para hacer la ruta, tendrá la posibilidad de recorrer bellos paisajes y visitar bonitas ciudades.
De norte a sur, tendrá más frío y lluvia en la zona norte hasta la altura de Madrid, más al sur, las lluvias son escasas y las temperaturas algo más suaves, pero no de confíe. Pasará frío en la mañana y al fin de la tarde.
Horas de luz para conducir de día tendrá desde las 08:00h hasta las 18:30h aproximadamente y una vez que cae el sol, baja pronto la temperatura.

Tráigase el traje de agua, por si lo necesita.

Buen viaje.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 21 Nov 2019
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ireland
Posts: 69
Thank you very much. Exactly what I needed to know.
Always good to practice my Spanish.
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
SPAIN: Intercom/Bluetooth/GPS Devices - Legal or Illegal? scott_walker_1 Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else 10 27 May 2016 22:09
Spain, A Coruna - Galicia xfiltrate Travellers Seeking Travellers 1 29 Sep 2014 13:33
Spain, A Coruna- Galicia xfiltrate Sleep and Eat, Europe 0 20 Sep 2014 11:01
To Central America Tom Udulutch Ride Tales 1 5 Feb 2013 19:34
Southern Spain back to UK Sept 19th-30th jc_bromley Travellers Seeking Travellers 1 17 Aug 2012 00:48

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 19:30.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top