Portugal via Los Picos

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 favourite spot in Potes.

Thursday: Today is what we've come to Portugal for. We go full on into the Duoro river valley and I can tell you that it is just beautiful. We have some jaw dropping viewpoints, for one of which we pop over the border to Spain and back again! Oly has returned here many times and is always blown away. Luggage free tomorrow!! This camp is for 2 nights. Wahey!

Friday: Today we ride around the circumference of Portugal's highest mountain, Serra Estrela. We head up to the peak, of 6500 feet, for views that you will remember forever. if you thought yesterday's roads were fun, hold on to your steel horses! This can also be an optional rest day for those who wish.

Monday: After leaving our tranquil campsite, we spend much of the day getting to know the legendary N2, riding it for over 100 miles. We divert off the N2 to follow the foothills and banks of the Douru River valley for a spectacular ride and lunch stop, before rejoining to continue North.

Tuesday: We leave the campsite and head up through Montesinho Natural Park for our crossing back into Spain, covering some lovely roads. Once we hit Spain, we have some longer, faster stretches with plenty of lunch and coffee opportunities. Contrasting scenery takes us within striking distance of the foothills of The Picos.

Thursday: Leaving Potes, we have a wonderful last hurrah through some very twisty forest roads, then viewpoints, clear open bends and mountain passes to finish off what will have been a 1750 mile journey of smiles, wonders and laughs.

Friday: Santander to Plymouth.

Arrive in Plymouth and head home :-(

Tuesday: Riding the Picos, today we visit the iconic deer statue and continue on to stunning Riaño, which treats us to incredible lake views and mind blowing scenery.

We ride fast, sweeping, virtually empty roads through 6 National Parks and Nature reserves, hugging 2 more beautiful lakes and passing through a gorge.

Wednesday: Today we drop down through the 2 regions of Castilla y Leon and Galicia, ready to enter Portugal. Our campsite tonight is set in a stunning National Park and boasts the Guiness Book of Record holding 'largest penknife in the world'! 

Saturday: Today we go wiggly, wiggly, wiggly, making our way down south, more than half way through Portugal, to another sensational Natural Park and we'll be camping below Marvao castle which is perched atop a hill nearby.

Sunday: There is so much to see today, we hope to fit it all in. We visit a *3,500* year old olive tree!! And not far past that is the most beautiful mural painted on a long wall. It truly is a piece of art. Among this are some fabulous viewpoints to stop at and a particularly beautiful mirador, overlooking the river Isna that forms some gorgeous lakes, surrounded by pine trees. We finish at our campsite, tucked away among fields of olive trees.

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Wednesday: Today we have a spectacular treat for our penultimate day's ride. We stop to view the stunning lake of Porma, following its banks, also with beautiful views from the road. We visit the Chamois goat at a sweet little village off the main road, then the biggest bench you will have ever seen (of course with a lovely view included!). Then a return to Riaño for lunch and a mega road covering much of the best of the Picos. We will have completed the iconic Picos triangle by the end of the day, camping for our last night in lovely Potes.