Cycling UK Forum

I am planning a tour from Caen to Bilbao. Initially we will head to Royan, cross there and head down the coast. Depending on time we would like to loop inland then to the Pyrenees (keeping this bit flexible) and pick up some of the Raid route before crossing into Spain.

My difficulty is the Spanish section. I had initially planned on crossing over the Col D' Ispeguy to Ordoki and then following the N-121(or hopefully smaller roads parallel to this) via Donetzebe then the N-170 to Leitza before looping up to the coast near Zumaia. My concern though is that the roads here may be very busy?

The main alternative I have come up with is doing more of the Raid route and then either crossing at Irun or south of there at Garraitereta. The roads around Irun look even busier though 0 unless we could follow some of the Camino del Norte?

Background info - two of us, fit, self supported and camping, Roberts Roughstuff's bikes so not afraid of some moderate off roading.

Any info greatly appreciated!

Avoid the coast road around Irun, very very busy.

Two years ago I rode out of Bilbao, so I will try to write the reverse of where I went.

From Cambo les Bains via Espelette and D20 to the border near Ainhoa where turn left onto the N121B. This is a quite and well surfaced road descent to Santesteban where NA-170 through Leitza to the GI-2130 and Tolosa. GI-2634, GI-631 through Azkoita to Elgiobar. BI-2636 through Extebarria to Markina. If you want to head towards the coast I imagine you would do it from here - or you can go straight on as I did, but the next bit has some very severe gradiants (only short though) and will test map reading because some ofthe roads look just like concrete farm roads. In Markina, turn left on BI-633 for a couple of km then right to Bolibar, Muntibar, BI-2224 to Lolola and Genika-Lumo. Here you rejoin the mainstream. BI-2121 to Mungia then filter through the lanes to Elexalde which aligns you nicely to use the transporter bridge across the river to Portagulete where you are only a mile or two from the ferry port at Santurtzi.

Not like France - Spanish campsites seemed a bit thin on the ground when we did this. Would do a bit of research if I was going again.

wearwell wrote:Not like France - Spanish campsites seemed a bit thin on the ground when we did this. Would do a bit of research if I was going again.

Absolutely right.

There are many campsites around the coast, but very few just a little inland. There is one at Sunbilla, a little west of Denztebe/Santesteban. Very friendly, they have a basic restaurant and the daughter speaks French if your Spanish isn't up to it. Further towards Bilbao I found nothing. There is a hostel in Leitza, very clean and quite cheap. It is near the square in the middle of town and run by the bar next door. I stayed in a hotel in Elgiobar. As far as I can figure out it is the only one in town. The hotel has a hostel side to it as well.

Thanks for the info - useful stuff.

Use this camping guide which covers France and Spain. This site has been updated, but there are a few glitches.

For Spain search provinces using the map ie Navarra. A map will open, but it does not show all the campsites, just the most popular. Click in the margin where a link takes you to all the campsites in the province ie Navarra (23 campings). The map that opens next shows all the campsites, but you have to identify the site and find it in the margin and click on it to get all the information. The information shown is very comphrensive. In the opening dates (abierto) S/S means Semana Santa (easter). The campsite may close again until later in May.

megilleland wrote:Use this camping guide which covers France and Spain. This site has been updated, but there are a few glitches.

For Spain search provinces using the map ie Navarra. A map will open, but it does not show all the campsites, just the most popular. Click in the margin where a link takes you to all the campsites in the province ie Navarra (23 campings). The map that opens next shows all the campsites, but you have to identify the site and find it in the margin and click on it to get all the information. The information shown is very comphrensive. In the opening dates (abierto) S/S means Semana Santa (easter). The campsite may close again until later in May.

Brilliant stuff - thanks!

I'm planning on doing the same trip, but solo, and on a Roberts road bike rather than a Roughstuff, so this thread is very interesting to me too.

clanton - I'm going out 22/4 and returning 7/5 - when are you travelling?