Santander to Algeciras
 

I've sure this has come up before, but can anyone suggest the best route from Santander to Algeciras on a motorbike (KTM 690 Enduro)?

The ferry lands around midday in Santander, I was undecided whether to:
a) ride hard and try and make it in a day, for an early ferry over to Ceuta or
b) take 2 half days to do it with a stop over somewhere mid-Spain for a few drinks.

I am leaning towards a) since my time is fairly limited in Morocco (2 weeks) and I would rather have the time there, but don't want to start the trip knackered!

Any reccomendations?

I've done it in a day in a very underpowered old Land Rover, and it wasn't pleasant - it is doable, but we decided not to do it on the last trip and made the best of the drive through Spain instead.

in May we used the Brittany ferry (only choice soon) which drops you off in the afternoon. We drove down to a nice camp site at Burgos ( http://www.campingburgos.com/ ) which we reached just in time to enjoy the last of the afternoon sun. Burgos is a good stop off point and takes a nice chunk out of the run the next day.
Next day, up and off early and drove down to Estepona, which again we got to in time for a chillax, bbq & beer in the last of the sun - camped overnight (loads of campsites there) and off at dawn for the first ferry.

Not sure if it will still be feasible to do the run in a day due to the Brittany ferry crossing times, unless you want to drive through the night??

Me and a mate are leaving this Sunday Plymouth to Santander, we havent planned how far we will get through Spain we are just intending on getting as far south as possible ( With out been to tired ) to allow us to get an earlyish crossing to Ceuta, So we get a desecnt days ride under our belt to make it to Volubis for first camp then on from there. When is it you are leaving?:thumbup1:

Leave in 5 weeks - not soon enough!

Where are you heading after Volubis - and what are you riding/driving? Are you planning off road or tarmac based fun?

we be going to midelt then hitting the routes from Chris scotts book, as much as we can off road MH ME &MS routes mainly, There will be 2 of us on XT660z, we will be mainly camping prob stop in hotel may be 2 times but the rest is in the great out doors all part of the adventure! When we get by Erg Chebbie ( Spelt wrong but you know where I mean) we will prob get the hotel here so we can off load all the gear and play in the dunes, more than likley hire a smaller bike for the day!, I find the Yam just right I have done a lot in wales and the peak district green laning and have got used to the weight of it, Have you done much off road? If not I would definatley recommend visiting simon Pavey and his crew in wales for a weekend great fun and you learn so much, Well enjoy your trip I'm almost ready for the early start sunday Morning, Cant wait seems to have dragged the last month, If you want when I gewt back Ill email you the routes from the GPS and let you know of any problems on the routes, May be useful as your going so close to me returning, PM me your email address if your interested.:thumbup1:

For routes through Spain take a look at the Knowledgebase in my signature--post #19 in the thread.

Tim

Thanks Rossco. I have PM'd you my email address. Have a great trip and look forward to hearing from you when you're back.

Tim, ever present as always to give advice and to point in the right direction. I am always referring back to your info and greatly appreciate the reply. Are you back from Morocco now? Hope all went well and the weather stayed clear. What sort of temperatures did you see? The forecasts I've seen say it's as high as 31 deg C in Marrakesh - I'll be leaving the thermals at home and taking the speedo's instead!!

My father-in-law is seriously ill so I've had to leave the bike in Morocco and fly to Scotland. I'm expecting to fly back in a few weeks and resume.

Whilst I was there the highest temperature was 29c and the lowest (with wind chill) about -5c, but then I was over 9000 feet at the time.

This video is of another of the pistes I was on. The guy with the bucket cleared a path through the debris for me.

Tim

only 9000 feet Tim? You're missing the best part at Jebel Toukbal at some 13,665 feet!:innocent:

I'd look to get to Toledo (Hotel Alzamara-recommend) 1st day, via Vallodolid and Avila (avoid Madrid)
2nd day early start after breakfast you can make Algeciras easy, or stop in Spain and cross early next day.:D

I did a couple of weeks trekking in the High Atlas with mules in 2003 and climbed Toubkal by the south cwm (and many of the other surrounding peaks) at that time. It was a bit windy on top. :)