Thanks for recent replies folks, Iv'e been checking dates and route of this years tour de france, dates do clash with the time i plan on been there but looking at the route hopefully shouldn't be a problem, hope to be based on the spanish side of Pyrenees by the time it gets there, not a big cycling fan but might even go and give Wiggo and the British boys some support for the day.

Mornin' all,

BipBip, thanks for linking to my blog, I hope it's been useful.

ULLUKK: the Pyrenees are indeed stunning but you're looking on the wrong place in 'The Basque Country', which is quite built up by local standards. Instead try looking for digs in 'Navarre', which is the region just at bit further east, especially the towns and villages in the Roncal and Salazar valleys, if you want to base yourself in one place and specifically want to stay at the western end of the range. But unless you're completely hooked on the western end you'll find there are more routes on the Spanish side in the so-called 'Pre-Pyrenees' the further east you go.

The Tour is a pain for a much longer period than when it's actually there as so many groups of cyclists and general tourists clog up the 'Col' routes during the whole summer season. But if you're stuck for your holiday time you can at least make a small difference by planning to ride over the Tour passes in the evenings when the French are all home waiting for supper at 7.00 pm sharp - this is 'dead' time in Spain as you have to wait until 9.00 pm to eat out :)

Yo'll find many more routes in the Michelin 1: 150 000 'Zoom' series, Nºs 144-5-6, if you like maps these are a great buy but for some obscure reason they don't mark camp sites on the French side; maybe it's because there are so many!

To judge from your comments you're looking for digs rather than camping, so take a check at my page regarding rural accommodation and 'hostales' July is peak season and this sector hasn't been affected by the crisis, quite the reverse as the Spanish are now tending to stay on home territory for their holidays.

Have fun

Simon

If you want a road to ride. try this one. You wont be disappointed.

Google Maps

John933

Hello Simon,
Thanks for reply mate, think i might just take your advice and base myself further east than originally planned, my dates not only clash with the tour de france but also the bull running festival in Pamplona, prices for the week early july round that area are out of my price range. The idea of Western Pyrenees only came to me because its somewhere iv'e never been before, i'm never usually too fussy no matter where i stay, think i'll go back to my usual disorganised set off and see where i get to self, all this planning in advance doesn't suit me!! Ha ha!!.
Nice blog mate.

Cheers,
Keith.

Try and beg, borrow or even buy a copy of Toby Ballentines ''Motorcycle Journeys through Western Europe'', very good section on the Western Pyrenees and the north coast of Spain with day rides, accommodation, places to eat, camp etc. I used it last year to plan my trip. I camped in Tardets ( French side) and made daily sorties out over the top into Spain, using several of the recommended routes.

Thanks for the heads up on Toby Ballentines ''Motorcycle Journeys through Western Europe'' I managed to locate one on an auction site for an extravagent £2.50, so the planning for our trip is underway.

For the Pyrenees is it best to base ourselves in France or Spain. I know the economic climate can change and it is all down to personal preference but fuel (biggest expense) and campsite fees which is the cheapest??

We have a soft spot for France and the food but also like to have new experiences.

Stick this in to Googol map's.

municipal camping Lannemezan

A good place to start looking from. If you are going to use one of these. Try booking for three day's or more. Get a discount if you ask. Petrol in Spain is cheaper than France. But not by much, just a few penny's a litre. It about half way along the Pyrenees. So you can ride to the north or to the south. Easy.

France is much cheaper to camp than Spain. If you are going to up stick's after a few day's have a look at Perpignan on the lower south French coast. Then looking in to riding some of Spain. The road's and place's around there are great. Could even get away with a bit a fly camping in the back road's of Spain.
John933

It all comes down to preference these days. Fuel is pretty much the same nowadays but the camping issue raises its ugly head time and again!

The problem is trying to compare like with like: Spanish campsites have bars/restaurants that are usually open from 08.00 - 23.00, swimming pools as often as not, always hot water in the showers and absolutely always free wifi!

Municipal campsites in Spain hardly exist but when the do they are usually the same as commercial ones, but some tikes they are managed badly. One that I wholeheartedly recommend is at Ochagavia in Navarre - an outstanding location to explore the western end of the Pyrenees.

Luxury campsites in France are pretty much the same in my experience and bar bills there are horrendous :)

There's loads more on my blog - see below. But the important thing is just get here and have fun finding out for yourself!

Enjoy

Simon

I'm currently reading Toby Ballentines book as well at the moment, had to pay far more than two and half quid for it though!!, Good old amazon! Ha ha!.

Iv'e got myself booked on the Plymouth/Roscoff ferry for a fortnight trip in early july, plan on spending about 3 days riding down the west side of france then spending week in the pyrennes before meeting up with some friends for last few days in Perpignan. Iv'e been scanning for apartments for the week in the pyrennes recently and found some good links via The Spanish Biker's blog, Cheers!. Any tips/links on legal requirements whilst riding in France or Spain would be appreciated, i.e hi-viz, lightbulbs etc, just read thread on reflective stickers on helmets with deep joy!!

Thanks in advance.

Keith.

For riding tips and legal requirements for France, you might like to have a look at this forum, which has a section on the legal requirement and tips for France in the download section. ( how do I know?? Well,- I put it together!).

Bike Club France • Portal

Hi Keith,

Thanks for the kind words about my blog :)

Hope you're having a great time despite the weather :(

Regs

Simon

There is a shopping mall between France and Spain called 'Andorra', it is worthwhile to stop in there to get a cheap tank of gas and some low-priced cigarettes and hooch.

Don't buy the gas at the first station you see, the fuel is always much less expensive in the center of Andorra than it is at the stations near the border.

Thanks for the link mate, good stuff!!

Thanks for the advice on Andorra mate, i was thinking of maybe spending a couple of days there during my week or so round the Pyrennes so i'll be stocking up!!

Hi,

I don't think PanEuropean was recommending Andorra as a place to stay - it's an incredible dump! Meanwhile in both France and Spain you can stay at lots of lovely places within an hour's good riding of the frontier.

If you do go in though the best place for bike shops is in Santa Coloma - there are brilliant bargains there if you just turn up on spec, but you'll be disappointed if you are looking out for something in particular as the range isn't very wide.

You can get smokes anywhere - some shops have pallet loads of the popular brands in the foyer!

Regs

Simon