Our trip to the incredible Pyrenees was also covered in an article in ABR magazine (Issue 78), so if you want to get a great feel for the trip and see some amazing images of some of the places you will ride, have a look at pages 80 - 89: 

https://adventurebikerider.com/digital-issues/ABR78/ABR78/index.html?r=78

This trip is a combination of our adventures in both the Pyrenees and the Picos mountains. We feel that the opportunity to ride both these exquisite mountain ranges is just to good to pass up, so we matched the dates accordingly to make it easy to run one trip into the other…

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The Pyrenees are without doubt one of the world's finest places to experience on two wheels.  The roads are generally very well maintained and the views are some of the most dramatic that you will ever find in Europe.  It is quite hard designing a route through these magnificent mountains, not because it is difficult to find decent tarmac, but because there are so many glorious roads to choose from.

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We believe that we have found a great mix that will give you a proper Pyrenean experience with breathtaking views, twisty roads and some wonderful little villages to recharge after a hard day in the saddle.  As always, we have sought out some great and often quirky restaurants to enjoy the local Basque Country cuisine. 

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There is no doubt that the twisty, winding roads will test your cornering skills, but speed is definitely not the thing in this part of the world as you need as much time as you can, simply gazing out at the view! You will have plenty of opportunity to enjoy both the Spanish and French sides with some immaculate roads and some wonderful riding.  Truly a place to find your soul...

The Picos de Europa were named by the sailors of the 16th century as these towering peaks were the first thing they saw as they approached northern Spain on their return from the Americas. This small mountainous area situated in the regions of Asturias, Cantabria and Castile & León is home to some of the most extraordinary landscape in Europe. Some of my best days on two wheels have been enjoyed meandering through the twists and turns on these idyllic roads, enjoying some of the most dramatic landscape that you will find on the Continent.

As this is a relatively small area, we have found it best to explore using our favourite hotel as a base for three nights, which makes life much easier each morning and saves time and effort getting the bikes loaded up with luggage, ready for the next destination. The views from the hotel are sublime and it has the added bonus of being in walking distance of one of our favourite restaurants in the area! Also, we have added in a couple of surprises to the trip which are guaranteed to put a wide grin on your face...

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If you have not ridden in the Picos before, you should put it on your list immediately! The Picos part of this trip takes in the best roads over five breathtaking days and we are confident that it will possibly be some of the best riding of your life..!

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We leave in the morning at 8.00am - 9.00am and aim to be at our destination by 6.00pm in the evening.  This equates to around 6 hours in the saddle - we typically ride for an hour and a half before a break for coffee or leg stretch with a stop for lunch and another break in the afternoon. We are definitely happy to stop to admire the view and for photo opportunities along the way.