Hammy1 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 16, 2018 9:41 am
Thx so much Simon_100 great info you can’t beat local knowledge; in Sort we are booked into the Hotel Florido the thinking being its was big enough to stay in for a couple of nights and was hoping that the few bars in Sort could provide a few hours entertainment, we need to be based near Sort but could you suggest where might be a better option (Tremp)?
As for staying in larger places the reasoning there is again so we can get out for an evening of food and drinks, with your local knowledge if you could suggest alternative places near those places booked I would be very grateful.
Thx again Hammy
Some options, not Tremp really either. To help me think, why do you need to stay near Sort?
Meanwhile:
Day 1 - Leon - 4.00 - 160 - Leon is OK, have your drinks in an area called the 'Barrio Humido' literally the wet district, for obvious reasons '
hic'
Day 2 - Vitoria Gasteiz - I don't really know Vitoria, just wasted a lot of time driving round it going elsewhere. Think about Logroño, which I do know a bit and is really nice. It's also the 'capital' of the La Rioja wine region '
hic'
And it's more direct line to Zaragoza from Leon but passes through ore mountainous country. Possibly better to cut down from Burgos to El Burgo de Osma, which is very picturesque and even more mountains to ride through.
Day 3 - Zaragoza - Hmm I haven't had time to look at your routes yet but I guess one Day 4 you plan to cross the Bardena Blanca 'desert'. This takes less than an hour and it's really worth doing it very early in the morning while the sun is low, so stay nearby. Tudela is said to be nice and is only fifteen minutes for the entrance to the Bardena.
Day 4 - Sort This leaves a really long slog to Sort on the N-260 so I'd go via Huesca and Barbastro and Benabarre. The first two sections are one and rather boring - well not too bad if you take the old national road from Huesca to Barbastro and on to Benabarre is a nice empty fast road with views of the high Pyrenees in the distance. From Benabarre itself you could go via Tremp on the C-1311, which is one of the best roads in Europe - I should know, my cottage is in a village half way along!
- and then up to Tremp or if you feel good and can't wait to get into the big mountains head up the national to Pont de Suert and join the N-260 for one of its best sections to Sort.
Day 5 - Sort See my first comment above
Day 6 - Jaca Many ways to do is, all good but IMHO the best way to 'do' Tourmalet is west to east ...
Day 7 - Pamplona - another large city, if you stay there head for the oldest part of it. If your plan is to ride the Bardena on Day 8 then start at Sos del Rey Catolico. It's quite lovely but rather 'touristy' but actually none the worse for that and it's only 30 minutes away for the Bardena - but note that the northern entrance is quite had too find!
Day 8 - Potes best place to stay in the Picos but avoid the 'Desfiladero' road from Panes. Best route into the Picos is from Cervera de Pisuerga, which is actually another lovely place to stay ...
Day 9 - Ribadesella - I haven¡t any opinions on the northern coastal towns apart from recommending my favourite, Comillas, which has splendid architecture from the 19th century when the steel/coal/shipbuilding magnates from all over spain built fabulous summer mansions there. Otherwise a lit of these towns are a bit much of a muchness, lovely as they are ...
Day 10 - Santander - are you staying in Santander for a morning ferry?
Simon