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Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 24 Aug 2009
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UK To Portugal
I have decided next year that I am going to ride my vespa from the UK to Portugal for the World vespa days in Portugal in July next year.

Anyone done a trip from the UK to Portugal before? What route would you suggest. I was thinking portsmouth to Bilbao then on from there its northern portugal im heading to (Fatima).

What are the roads like from Bilbao? As I will only have a top speed of about 60mph which I dont want to ride at constantly I would prefer to stay off the motorways and more on the "A" + "B" Roads.

Ill take a couple of weeks in total for the trip there and back so any ideas for places to stop off at along the way.

Thanks in advance.
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  #2  
Old 14 Sep 2009
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UK to Portugal
Hi stu1, I did similar trip last April. Went from Plymouth to Santander, Brittania Ferries brilliant. It is worth booking a cabin if you can afford it and defo book a table in the main restaurant as soon as you get on board ..good value and better than the cafe alternative
Leaving Santander we headed for Salamanca [200miles south] .The road tracks thro fabulous scenery and many tunnels thro the Sierra somthing.
From Salamanca plenty of signs for Portugal heading west. Good thing to avoid the motorway costs a fortune at the other end. There are alternative A roads running south . If you had the time the west coast road in Portugal I believe is amazing Good luck with your trip Chef Jules
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  #3  
Old 15 Sep 2009
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Brittany Ferries offer a superior service to P&O. The crossing from Portsmouth to Santander is also faster than the competition. If you book early, the 2010 timetables should be out late this year or early next, you can get a reasonably priced fare.
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  #4  
Old 15 Sep 2009
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My girlfried and I are planning a trip down through spain and into Portugal. At the moment we are looking at Bilboa, but only because the timetable for Santander is not out yet.

Though we will be on bigger bikes we also try to avoid motorways as much as possible and we will keep the mileage down to around 200 miles per day. This gives plenty of time to stop along the way and samples the scenery and food, can't beat a nice long 2 hours for lunch . I will be planning the route using Michelin national & regional maps. They highlight scenic routes with a green line following the road. So far they have been really usefull at giving decent roads.

We will eventually arrive in Gibraltar to spend three nights in Morocco and subsequently return via Portugal. I will keep you posted of the route we take using google maps.

By the way take a look at a book called - Vroom with a view. It's about a guy who rides around Italy on a Lambretta I think. You might not like it but always worth a read.
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  #5  
Old 25 Sep 2009
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--
Hello there.

One advice: follow the Athlantic Ocean and don't miss GALICIA, a beautiful region in NW Spain right over Portugal. Food is WONDERFUL and people very friendly. A few highlights:

- North coast (called "costa da morte, the coast of death): Cariño (ask for the Aguillons when you get there, a wonderful cape over the ocean), Serra da Capelada and Cabo Ortegal. San Andres de Teixido, small stone village, magical.
- Center: dont miss Santiago de Compostela. It's worth a day of visit. 100%. Incredible downtown and glorious cathedral.
- Center coast: plan to visit Noia, Muros, Rianxo, Porto do Son, Castro de Barona (old celtic village), Corrubedo (huge dunes) and Monte da Curota (incredible views).

Have fun!
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  #6  
Old 26 Sep 2009
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I agree completely, the north coast of the Spain is full of nice places, like Ribadesella between Gijon and Santander. I spent 2 weeks riding from Italy to all the north Spanish coast, descent to Santiago than the all Portuguese coast to Capo da Roca, where I enjoied the the spectacle of the most occidental cape of the european continent. Take a look to the Pausadas de Juventude (portuguese hostels) they are very cheep (you can find a bed for 8 euro/night with breakfast! also true for the spainish hostels).
You will find that the north is very green and the south is similar to a desert.
Nice!!!
Enjoy your trip!
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  #7  
Old 21 Apr 2010
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Hi there!

In july I would go to Fatima following the coastal line both from Spain and Portugal. Both of them have great roads and good scenery.
I actually live in northern Portugal and also ride a Vespa, but I wont be able to join you at Vespa World Days.
Feel free to ask me anything about your Portuguese part of the trip
Sergio
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