The Pyrenees

[nelmo]

Hi,

Planning a trip, sailing to Bilbao, then 2/3 nights somewhere in the Pyrenees.

I've never been to the area before and everywhere looks awesome on StreetView but does anyone have any suggestions about a good base and any specific roads/passes to go to?

I want to stay in one hotel and I plan daily driving routes of around 200 miles from that hotel. I don't want to go any further east than Andorra either.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[CarbonXKR]

nelmo said:

Hi,

Planning a trip, sailing to Bilbao, then 2/3 nights somewhere in the Pyrenees.

I've never been to the area before and everywhere looks awesome on StreetView but does anyone have any suggestions about a good base and any specific roads/passes to go to?

I want to stay in one hotel and I plan daily driving routes of around 200 miles from that hotel. I don't want to go any further east than Andorra either.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Hi, done the Pyrenees a few times now. Look at the N260, goes all the way across from West to East on the Spanish side. Jaca would make a good base, some nice hotels a little disctance from there if you don't like it too busy. Biescas is nice https://hoteltierradebiescas.com/en/

[Big E 118]

2/3 nights will be a bit tight to really explore the Pyrenees. We've done a few road trips to the Pyrenees and usually do a good 6/7 days there.

As mentioned above base yourself around the N260, also the road Sort to Viehla is great. There are a few Parador's along the route, one near Bielsa and one near Viehla. Also recommend Hotel Alma Pamplona which is quite cool and an easy base for a walk into Pamplona to explore if you want to spend a night there. The medievil square in Ainsa is a lovely place to stop for tapas.

For a shorter tour from Bilbao you might look at 2 or 3 days in the Picos de Europa mountains as they're closer and a lot smaller range, again look at the Paradors including Parador de Fuente Dé. It's also a lovely scenic drive along the coast west of Santander.

[nelmo]

Thanks, I'll take a look at those places.

I am doing 2 days in the Picos as well, which is why i only have 2 or 3 days in the Pyrenees - don't have enough holiday from work for more.

[plenty]

Suggest Picos or Pyrenees, not both. Save it for the next trip. You'll enjoy exploring one area for five days more than trying to do both.

The Pyrenees are fabulous but the roads from the Picos across to Asturias, Leon, Cantabria and NE Portugal are even better. In fact, probably the best in the world. Although there are fewer 'sights' if your trip isn't purely to drive.

[nelmo]

Oh really? Not heard that before...

Not interested in sights exactly but I prefer mountain roads rather than just flat twisties. I'll take a look at that area...any particular suggestions?

[plenty]

Not high passes like the Pyrenees but northern Spain is full of mountains and passes. PM me for a detailed discussion.

[Wozy68]

nelmo said:

Thanks, I'll take a look at those places.

I am doing 2 days in the Picos as well, which is why i only have 2 or 3 days in the Pyrenees - don't have enough holiday from work for more.

With your time limit I’d take the Spanish side of the Pyrenees any day over the Picos.

The Pyrenees have road after road off each other that will take you to somewhere else and you can do many different round trips …. The Picos not so much.

Personally I’d base myself in Vielha …. In Vielha you are central to some absolutely amazing roads.

Enjoy….. it’s a fabulous part of the world with epic epic roads .