Portugal via Los Picos
Ride through the Picos, across Northern Spain and down into central Portugal,
over 13 days, covering 1,800 miles. Camping in various locations, we take in 11 National Parks, the Asturias Mountains and climb Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain in Portugal, to a height of 6,500 feet!
Tour Highlights
2025
Sunday June 15th -Friday June 27th
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 favourite spot in Potes.
Day 5 and 6
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. Campsite for 2 nights
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.
Day 9 and 10
Monday: A short but full-on day of twisty roads that delight for almost the full 100 miles of this route. We head back to a campsite we stayed at on the way down (the pen knife camp), a favourite of ours, and the Wild Boar Stew is spectacular.
Tuesday: Back into Spain today, crossing the border via a simply spectacular route of beautiful tarmac, empty roads and sweeping corners. We head for another national park in the Cantabria mountains and camp by the Rio Luna (Moon River), but not before visiting some of our favourite street art locations - a portion of our wonderful Graffiti Route.
Day 12 and 13
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 1800 mile journey of smiles, wonders and laughs.
Friday: Santander to Plymouth.
Arrive in Plymouth and head home :-(
Day 3 and 4
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'!
Day 7 and 8
Saturday: 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 to our next 2 night campsite.
Sunday: Optional rest day or join us, luggage-free, as we head out in a loop to explore the north western part of Portugal. We take a lovely route West to find the N-130. Riding 70 miles of this cracking road, following the Rabagão river for a large part, we finally join the N2 for the 20 mile trip back to the campsite.
Day 11
Wednesday: Following the banks of a stunning lake, we leave the first national park of the day and pass through 4 more, to arrive in Potes. But not before riding some stunning roads, passing 2 more lakes and visiting the biggest bench in Northern Spain (of course with a lovely view included!). Then a return through Riaño and a mega road covering much of the best of the Picos.