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Spain in December Spain in December
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Route Planning Where to go, when, what are the interesting places to see
Photo by Giovanni Lamonica, Aralsk, Kazakhstan.

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Giovanni Lamonica,
Aralsk, Kazakhstan.



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  #1  
Old 2 Nov 2019
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Spain in December
Having lost my house and almost everything thing I own in a fire during the summer, I need a trip to get me back on track.
I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger on a ride through Spain to get to a ferry to bring me to the Canary Islands. Spend a month or so, island hopping on 1150Adv.
How's the weather through Spain in December?
I'm sure, however bad it it is, it'll be worth it to get to the sun on my own bike.
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  #2  
Old 2 Nov 2019
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Most of Spain, weather wise (except probably north of Valencia, Aaragon up to the Pyrenees) is nice and sunny with the odd few days of rain. But as soon as the sun drops it's cold almost immediately. The further south the better.

Around the Alicante area which is central mainland you can get away with jeans and a light jumper in the day mostly to give you an idea. Can't really comment about the surrounding islands personally but have been told they are warm in December
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  #3  
Old 2 Nov 2019
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A bit of rain never hurt anyone
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  #4  
Old 3 Nov 2019
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My December experience was cold in the mountains, including the south around Granada, some snow and often ice. And you may not mind rain, but a cold rain combined with ferocious winds can be awkward.

But I also saw fine temperatures and lowered prices along the southern coast, so you never know...
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Old 3 Nov 2019
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Sorry for your troubles.
Away from the coast Spain is a very mountainous country, which means very cold and a high possibility of snow in winter - so pick your route well. You could hug either coasts - Atlantic may possibly be a bit wetter, or plot an inland route following river valleys.
As said it gets cold early so your riding time may be short but it sounds like you’re in no hurry.

My sister spends 3 months of the winter in Lanzarote - nice and warm.
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Old 3 Nov 2019
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I've ridden down there (from the UK) in the winter a few times over the years and it can be a bit of a lottery depending on what weather pattern you hit. For me, starting from Calais, it's around 2000 miles and if it's 2k of dry, cold and sunny it can be a real pleasure. If, however, it was like my last attempt in Dec 17, 2k of wet, windy and dark + snow at times it's more like a survival expedition than a trip to be enjoyed. If you've got any leeway on timing try to second guess the forecast and pick a departure date that'll dodge the gales.

I'd guess from Ireland you'll be taking a ferry to north west France, riding down the west coast, around the Pyrenees and then diagonally across Spain (?) The plain in Spain is cold in winter!
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Old 3 Nov 2019
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After Switzerland, Spain is the most mountainous country in Europe. I live part the year in the mountains of the Granada Altiplano and in past years have ridden through the country many times in winter, setting off to follow the Dakar rally in Morocco. One year seven of us rode together, six of us had electrically heated jackets. The seventh guy phoned his wife and got her to buy a jacket and ship it to a hotel for the return trip.

Don't look at the forecast for Santander or Bilbao for temperature guidance as these are at sea level and get the benefit of the warmth of the sea. Instead look at Valladolid: https://weather.com/en-GB/weather/te...cb227a66bbc471

Bear in mind that if the overnight temperature at Valladolid is, say, -1ºC, this is what it will still be at 0930 and won't be much warmer for a couple of hours. I use handlebar muffs in the winter months, you can make your own with not much effort.

When you do the math on hotels, fuel, motorway tolls you will probably find you will be better off using Brittant Ferries' Cork to Santander rather than to Roscoff. The economy service is fine with great food. I would offer you my Club Voyage discount code but unfortunately it's not valid on Irish sailings.
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Old 3 Nov 2019
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I did a trail riding weekend in Andalucia some years ago (flew in and hired bikes), as I recall it was early or late winter back in the UK. Daytime temperatures were cool but didn't require any extra riding gear, though on the second day it rained and was quite chilly. Our guide told us that over the new year they'd been up one of the local hills axle deep in snow. So don't assume it'll be all warm!
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Old 8 Nov 2019
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+1 on a heated jacket


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Old 9 Nov 2019
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Spain in Winter
I lived in Spain from, April 2017 till April 2019.

I lived in Reus, near Tarragona on the East coast and made regular trips across country to the West of Spain to see my friend during these two years. The centre of Spain sits at altitude, so as previous members have pointed out, the temperature in Winter (October-end of February) regularly drops below Zero overnight.

I rode my bike from Scotland to Reus and then Galicia on the West coast during December 2016. When I left Reus it was about 7 degrees at 7 am, two hours later, near Zaragoza it was well below zero.

Coming from Ireland you should be making a similar journey. As far as I remember, ferries to the Canaries leave from Valencia, therefore, I would suggest that you avoid any route that has you crossing the Pyrenees.

I rode down through central France and entered Spain via Perpignan on the mediterranian coast. The only issue here is that the motorway from the Spanish border to Valencia is one of the most expensive toll roads I have ever ridden on. My advice would be once South of Barcelona, get off the motorway and on to N class roads.

Hope this helps.
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Old 9 Nov 2019
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Remember that you will be coming back in February when temperatures will be lower and you will need to plot a low altitude route to avoid snow.

I think that a heated jacket is absolutely needed for long days at anything below 5c


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Old 11 Nov 2019
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Great info, thanks.
All I can do is gamble.
I'm giving myself 6 days to get from Santander to Huelva.
Landing in Santander from Cork on the 1st of December.
I'm hoping that the forecast for snow in the coming week in the north of Spain is accurate. Chances are it will be snowed out by the time I get there.
Heated vest will be used, I have heated grips.
Out of the 6 days, I'm hoping I'll get 2 good long dry days riding to get where I'm going.
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Old 11 Nov 2019
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We went down through Spain at the end of March 2 years ago and there was snow to be seen everywhere until south of Madrid - still there 10 days later, on our return journey.
We took heated jackets for the high Atlas but needed them in Spain - We wished We’d kept our bar muffs on
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Old 19 Nov 2019
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De Santander a Huelva tiene una distancia de 1000km; si como dice, dispone de seis días para hacer la ruta, tendrá la posibilidad de recorrer bellos paisajes y visitar bonitas ciudades.
De norte a sur, tendrá más frío y lluvia en la zona norte hasta la altura de Madrid, más al sur, las lluvias son escasas y las temperaturas algo más suaves, pero no de confíe. Pasará frío en la mañana y al fin de la tarde.
Horas de luz para conducir de día tendrá desde las 08:00h hasta las 18:30h aproximadamente y una vez que cae el sol, baja pronto la temperatura.

Tráigase el traje de agua, por si lo necesita.

Buen viaje.
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  #15  
Old 21 Nov 2019
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Thank you very much. Exactly what I needed to know.
Always good to practice my Spanish.
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