To Northern Spain and the Paradors

[carnut]

Brittany ferries are doing a fantastic deal for a trip to Santander and 4 nights in the Paradores so Ive booked it. The SL will be the perfect tourer again!

Does anyone have experience of the area 150 miles around Santander and suggestions on good driving/touring roads or places to visit? (I am staying on the south of the Europa Park at the Parador Cervera de Pisuerga) in late September

Any ideas and comments welcome

 

[st13phil]

You're in a fantastic area for scenery and roads - as long as the weather cooperates! (It's not called Green Spain for nothing...) You can point the car in just about any direction and not be disappointed. If you haven't got one yet, pick up a Michelin 572 map and just follow any road with a green edge

The Desfiladero de la Hermida (N621) from Potes to Panes is pretty spectacular, as is the Desfiladero de los Beyos (N625) south of Cangas d'Onis, but it's difficult to find a "pedestrian" sort of road in that area. If you fancy something a little different and the weather's good, lots of places offer Quad hire with guides that will take you over some of the mountains. Angie and I did this when we were last in Cangas d'Onis a few years ago and the views you get from the trails are stunning. The cable car at Fuente De is supposed to be well worth a visit too.

Have a great trip

 

[carnut]

Thanks ST13Phil PM 'd you

Is there realy a road from Pots to Pans?

 

[st13phil]

Is there realy a road from Pots to Pans?

Yup

PM returned...

 

[killwilly]

Brittany ferries are doing a fantastic deal for a trip to Santander and 4 nights in the Paradores so Ive booked it. The SL will be the perfect tourer again!

Does anyone have experience of the area 150 miles around Santander and suggestions on good driving/touring roads or places to visit? (I am staying on the south of the Europa Park at the Prado Cervera de Pisuerga) in late September

Any ideas and comments welcome

See my reply on the other forum. I would be very interested in your comments re the hotel of your choice.

 

[Druk]

We're staying here as I type and it's fantastic...

Hotel Posada del Valle - Welcome to Asturias, North Spain, and The Picos de Europa

 

[st13phil]

We're staying here as I type and it's fantastic...

Hotel Posada del Valle - Welcome to Asturias, North Spain, and The Picos de Europa

Looks great, Derek! Hope you're having a great time

 

[st4]

I can give a nod to northern Spain. Take a nosey down to Barcelona, great city and night life. I had fun driving in Spain.

 

[carnut]

Just one of your shorter journies I suppose Steve

 

[Mike Walker]

Our Daughter and her boyfriend have just moved to the area from Argentina. Looks fantastic.

 

[Druk]

Looks great, Derek! Hope you're having a great time

Fantastic Phil: thanks for asking. Here's a taster...full report when I get home in a week or so.

.

 

[st13phil]

I see you got to Segovia, then Did you go up to look round the Cathedral and the Alcazar while you were there?

Looking forward to a full trip report and lots of pic's on your return

 

[crockers]

Crossing the Bay of Biscay in late September -- hope weather holds out..

 

[Colin_b]

It a beautiful part of Spain. Gijon (or Xixon) is well worth a vist. Nice beach, excellent places to eat for not a lot of money. Drink plenty of Sidre (Cider), around 2 euro a bottle in a sidreria, and learn how to escanciar

 

[st13phil]

^ Mmmm... Sidre

Crossing the Bay of Biscay in late September -- hope weather holds out..

I've had crossings with the sea like a mill pond and others with waves the height of a house on the UK / Santander or Bilbao routes. There seems to be no particular seasonal pattern, so I just take it as it comes.

At least it's easy to get a seat in the restaurants if the sea's particulary heavy

 

[C43AMG]

When i first got the C43 we did half a dozen Paradors all over Spain, absolutely amazing. One of Franco's better idea's.

 

[James1976]

Crossing the Bay of Biscay in late September -- hope weather holds out..

+1. I don't think I've ever been so sick in my life! To the extent that I was going to do northern Spain and paradors last year and was planning to drive there through France! Never again am i going over the bay of Biscay....

 

[st4]

Fantastic Phil: thanks for asking. Here's a taster...full report when I get home in a week or so.

.

Nice one Derek, and good to see the 107 in action

 

[st13phil]

+1. I don't think I've ever been so sick in my life! To the extent that I was going to do northern Spain and paradors last year and was planning to drive there through France! Never again am i going over the bay of Biscay....

Fortunately, I'm one of those people who doesn't suffer but my wife isn't so lucky in that respect so you have my sympathy.

Out of several trips I'd say that I've only ever experienced one really bad crossing, and on that one you could feel yourself go almost weightless in your bunk as the ship pitched downwards. I must say that despite the ship being almost full the passenger decks were pretty quiet, but my biggest problem was not spilling my drink

 

[w124nut]

On Saturday I booked a Brittany Ferry trip from Plymouth to Santander and return so find this thread a coincidence. I am awaiting an e.mail from BF to see if the hotel I've booked is available. Problem is, I do not speak any Spanish - DOH!