picos de europe

[blacksoe]

off to picos this weekend any tips where to visit anything appreciated:thumbright:

[PerfectStranger]

One of my short-term list destinations!:thumb:
You definitely want to check out Cangas de Onis, Covadonga (Pelayo statue and a chapell in a cave ), Fullnes, Sotres, Pans, Potes, Mirador del Corzo (Corzo viewpoint), Ribadesella, Desfiladero de los Beyos (Los Beyos gorge), Enol e Ercina lakes, etc.
Here's a vid on a Portuguese CBF forum (can you read Portuguese?)
http://www.cbfportugal.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=1032&forum=27
This is not me on that trip, I just did a search on some local bike foruns...

You can do a google on some of the place names I mentioned, specially Los Beyos gorge ;-)

Here's a few more links:

http://twowheelstouring.uebdizaine.com/docs/viagem_6.pdf

http://twowheelstouring.uebdizaine.com/GMap_test.asp?v=6

http://www.motoclubevirtual.pt/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=71&topic=32764.0 (portuguese but with LOTS of cool pix)

http://gregoris.blogspot.com/ (also in portuguese but also with lots of pix - you can spot the places name within the text ;-) it's not hard, they invariably start with a CaPiTaL LeTtEr)

http://www.picoseuropa.net/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picos_de_Europa

Enjoy it and don't forget to post some pix :thumb:

[Xander]

Was there last year,,

Get out of santandar or bilbao as fast as possible.. head towards Potes, go to la fuenta de (take the cable car up.. unless you are scared of heights)... The ride though the valley of La Hermida is unmissable.. we turned around 2x just to ride it... PS got the rest.. best thing we did was buy a really cheesy tourist map on the ferry.. it had all the tourist things on it.. so we just jumped from one to the other.

here a thread with my pics on them....
http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=17052&highlight=spain

enjoy mate

[stageonesimmo]

Fantastic part of the planet - spent 3 weeks mountian biking there in the late 90's. Great people and living is cheap as well.

I'm gonna go back there as soon as I can manage it. Enjoy.

[jealous mode: ON]

[1gear1brake]

I was in the Picos last year and I'd like to add Riano to your list. Arrived in the dark, had a fine meal in the campsite restaurant, and then woke up to this view in the morning

http://www.xrv.org.uk/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_1018.jpg

[davsato]

im going there in october, to Colombres for the 'moto piston rally of 5000 curves' so you can tell me the best places to go when you get back!:D:D

[translap1]

Hi,

Yes agree with the comments made. Excellent place.

I go to a place called Cabrales every year. It is on the mountain road that leads to Cangas de onis. It is not touristy like Cangas. Around 10 bars in the village....all very different characteristics....proper boozing locals to music bars and nightclubs (nothing like UK ones...still civilised).

We stay at a place which is a 300 yrd walk up a hill at the end of the village. It is run by a British guy called Jim and his spanish wife...I think he has lived there for 20 years or so. There are always a couple of bikes parked up outside. Great place to stay and the best view in town.

When riding in the area watch out for goats, rocks in the road (most roads are blasted through rocks) and local heroes on sports bikes at the weekend.

Cheers

Paul

[blacksoe]

thanks for replies , ithink i will have to book some more time off. looks fantastic from pics will try to take some pics and post them. cheers:cool:

[blacksoe]

paul could you post name of hotel/bb please could just drop in for bier r if you a phone no

[blacksoe]

mate of mine has cbr1100 with ahome made rack to carry his mountain bike on the back santa cruise super lite.sould borrow it .take my bike and have best ofboth worlds

[translap1]

Hi,

I need to speak to a mate of mine who has the name of the hotel I mentioned. Will get it in a day or so.

What they do have at the Hotel is free mountain bikes to use. They have around 10 bikes (pretty good ones...specialised rockhoppers I think)...and as long as they dont have a pre booked tour they are nearly always available.

There are some fantastic routes................and every road ultimately leads to a bar for a bit of high altitude drinking.

Will get back to you.

Paul

(The full name of the village is Arenas de Cabrales)

[Yeti]

Been here twice now on the bikes. You will not regret going.

Anywhere west and south of Santander is great. I fact you can spend a week easily without going more than half a days ride from the port.

If you fancy using a coastal spot as a base I can recommend this place in Pechon about 1hr from the port along the coastal road.

http://www.cantabriarural.com/esp/turismo-rural-cantabria/alojamientos/posadas/posada-fuente-de-villa/

€48 a night for a double or twin.

They don't speak any english really but you can get by. Loverly family run place and the village has some great little restaurants. (be warned though everything in the village shuts on thursday?!?)

It made a fantastic base for us this year.

Another place that is very nice with a restaurant downstairs is a place in La Vega. Cant remember the name of the place but just before you come out of La Vega travelling away from Potes, it is on the left next to the bridge and stream, and has a big wooden information board opposite on the bridge.

All the roads are good generally but if there has been any rain watch out for piles of rocks on the road in the early morning.

There is one road that is currently being rebuilt which is the connecting road between Salceda and Rionansa. It was surfaced with stone so is passable on anything you feel confident with on loose stone. Only the Rionansa side was affected all the way up to the dam when we were there in April.

Have a good trip.

[translap1]

paul could you post name of hotel/bb please could just drop in for bier r if you a phone no



Blacksoe,

Link for Hotel discussed in Arenas de Cabrales

Regards

Paul


http://www.fade.es/torretours/home.htm

[beep]

Blacksoe,

Link for Hotel discussed in Arenas de Cabrales

Regards

Paul


http://www.fade.es/torretours/home.htm

I've stayed there too, nice place run by a slightly mad English bloke and his wife. He's keen on caving and can arrange just about any other activity you can think of. A lot of the guest staying there are doing walking, cycling or multi-activity holiday booked with Exodus.

I've also been on a road cycling trip around the area - some fantastic scenery and challenging climbs! Potes is also a good base.