Los Picos de Europa
and Northern Spain

Day 1 and 2

Sunday:

We use a very convenient ferry departure from Plymouth, which leaves in the afternoon. This allows for a leisurely ride down over the weekend from wherever you are in the country.

The modern ferry boasts live music, quizzes, choice of dining, seasonal swimming pool, cinema and whale watching. 

Monday: Santander to Potes. 75 mile ride. Welcome to Spain!

Stunning roads, twists and turns to ease you into the Spain experience. We travel the Hermida Gorge to a camp site at our chosen spot in Potes, where we'll stay for 3 nights. We can rest and unwind, enjoy our favourite restaurant and Liqor 43!

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Day 5 

Thursday: Potes to the base camp for 3 nights in the Asturia mountains. Today is a 184 mile ride, hugging the banks of 3 different lakes. The views and lookout stops are gorgeous. We stop for the 'claimed' biggest bench in the world, climb up if you can!!

We ascend up and down 4 peaks scaling more than 5,000 feet! Changing scenery here, travelling through National Parks and another cliff-lined gorge, making you feel as if you are in the heart of the mountain.

Day 8 and 9

Sunday: Mountain Base to Beach Camp. 150 mile ride on mountain roads and through forests, aiming for our campsite, next to a local beach. More beautiful miradors today, and I hope you're not fed up with bends, because you are going to be swamped with them today! 

Monday: Beach camp and luggage-free!

A choice of rest day on the beach or another ride. Your call. 

The ride incorporates the fast, sweeping, stunning Fonsagrada to Baleira road with some hidden gems and an interactive water mill experience.

Day 12 and 13

Thursday: Riaño to Santander. We visit the biggest swing in Spain and a leisurely 115 mile ride back to the ferry. We pass through Potes and then make a hairpin climb to a little-known look-out point, which gives you incredible views above the Hermida Gorge, which you have been riding.

Friday: Santander to Plymouth.

Arrive in Plymouth and head home :-(

Day 3 and 4

Tuesday: Completing the Hermida Gorge, we set off to ride the Picos Triangle. Navigating some very twisty, but quiet and stunning roads, in places passing through the heart of the mountains in the form of short tunnels cut through the rock, we are treated to some spectacular riding. We visit a magical place, where we have an optional gorge walk and not to be missed viewpoints.

Wednesday: We climb today on wonderful sweeping corners, heading up to our breakfast point, with gorgeous views and twisty roads. Then onto points for rest breaks at a dam, waterfall and the second less-known deer statue. If time allows, we'll take a small diversion up to a 6000 ft ski resort, the view of which will blow your mind.

Day 6 and 7

Friday: Luggage-free(!), we go in search of 10 amazing Graffiti works of art, some in very obscure, hidden places. Searching for these beautiful murals, we discovered some stunning little villages, with lanes only wide enough for donkeys and steel horses ;-)

Saturday: Just 150 miles today on a river valley ride, with the most beautiful views ever. One of our favourite vistas overlooking the river from atop a mountain side. We scale 3 peaks over 5000 ft and back to camp.

Day 10 and 11

Tuesday: Beach camp to Riaño,

where we will be staying for 2 nights. We travel faster roads, sweeping bends and tunnels today. We also navigate twisty mountain roads, entering Riaño over the iconic bridge. This is a spectacular day.

Wednesday: Luggage free day and our ride incorporates the classic Picos Triangle and bends galore, virtually traffic free. We relax on the 'claimed' prettiest bench view point in Riaño before heading to Covadonga, on some of the best roads you'll ever ride. Here we'll visit a monastery built into the rocks and we stop to admire the view from  the classic deer and bear statues.