Pyrenees Road Trip

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Conquer

Conquer

Member
Posts
37
Location
Devon
Tickets are booked and I have a plan but I could do with any advise that you could throw my way.

Plymouth to Santander / Ferry
Sunday 1/10/17 Out
Wednesday 11/10/17 Back

4 Vehicles
2 x Series 1s
1 x Army Lightweight
1 x D90 300 TDI

We are seasoned drivers that have a lot of experience green laneing and off roading, but my friends wanted some thing which was non damaging with plenty of scenery. So I have come up with a Santander to Barcelona route,

Santander to San Sebastion via N634
San Sebastion to Saint-Jean-der-Luz via A63
Saint-Jean-der-Luz to Ascarat via D918
Ascarat to Larceveau-Arros-Cibits via D933
Larceveau-Arros-Cibits to Arudy via D918
Arudy to Frontera del Portalet via D934
Frontera del Portalet to Biescas Via A-136
Biescas to Gerri de le sal Via N-260
Gerri de le sal to Ripoll Via N-260 (237 Miles)
Ripoll to Barcelona Via C-17
Barcelona to Santander, well that depends on how much time we have left this does not need to be one of those tips that you have to be some where at a certain time, no need to rush and stress.

I have the marked campsites for the route and surrounding areas, I would like to get a mix with campsites and wild camping, not sure at that time off year the weather is mild low down but can get very cold at higher altitudes.

All are Landy's are up to date and between us we have one chef two mechanics and a medic.

Thanks for your help
 
Hi, just interested. Are you planning much off roading or are you mainly keeping to tarmac? Surprised your leaving it till the beginning of October. You could be unlucky with the weather if your going up high. I'm sure you will have a great time though.
 
Oh yes we are all taking a good amount of spares, the older vehicles are probably in better shape then my 300tdi. The usual alternator starter motor head gasket, seals of many shapes and sizes bearings, tape,cable ties, and magic metal etc etc
 
mikescuba said:
Hi, just interested. Are you planning much off roading or are you mainly keeping to tarmac? Surprised your leaving it till the beginning of October. You could be unlucky with the weather if your going up high. I'm sure you will have a great time though.
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We will be staying mostly to tarmac but if we see something a bit tasty that takes are interest then we'll go for it, we know the weather it's not going to be the best but be prepared for that, it's the only time you that all of us to get together.
 
Colthebrummie said:
Are you taking a van load of spares too.

Col
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Three years ago I and a group of five land Rovers did a trip across Morocco. We also took a load of spares. At the end of the trip we all said we would not take anywhere near as much if we went again. The only casualty we had was a Defender 90 which broke a diif and drive shaft and that was going over very rough terrain. None of us had any of those.
If you take it steadily and your vehicles are in fair shape you shouldn't have any problems. All these spares take up loads of room and weight, also its not as if your away from civilization. When I got back I gave my Defender a check over, the only thing I needed to do was tighten up the front wheel bearings. I would prefer to take more beer and less spares. Although beer in Portugal should be cheep.

DSC_6549.JPG
DSC_6551.JPG
This gives you and idea what we were trying to cross when a diff and shaft went.
 

You might find the above clip of interest. Skip the first third. Go to around 15:25 on the timer. Gives you a bit of a feel of the punishment Landy's can take. Ours stood this for three weeks.
 
Nice video footage, it reminds me that I need to get some sort of dash mount for my phone for video.

Thanks
 
mikescuba said:
Three years ago I and a group of five land Rovers did a trip across Morocco. We also took a load of spares. At the end of the trip we all said we would not take anywhere near as much if we went again. The only casualty we had was a Defender 90 which broke a diif and drive shaft and that was going over very rough terrain. None of us had any of those.
If you take it steadily and your vehicles are in fair shape you shouldn't have any problems. All these spares take up loads of room and weight, also its not as if your away from civilization. When I got back I gave my Defender a check over, the only thing I needed to do was tighten up the front wheel bearings. I would prefer to take more beer and less spares. Although beer in Portugal should be cheep.

View attachment 123248 View attachment 123249 This gives you and idea what we were trying to cross when a diff and shaft went.
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Looks like you guys had a great time and I know what you mean, you need to take a lot of spares and half time you don't need to, like having a condom in your wallet every now and again you actually need to use it.
 
Conquer said:
Nice video footage, it reminds me that I need to get some sort of dash mount for my phone for video.

Thanks
Click to expand...
That video was taken on a £25 dash came which I bought four years ago. Don't think I would like to use my phone for that. 1) the first opportunity it would get nicked 2) with all the banging around it would get smashed. The other thing I learn was you need to have a good external loud speaker for the CB radio. I only had a hand held set and I couldn't hear when the others were trying to contact me.
 
Conquer said:
Looks like you guys had a great time and I know what you mean, you need to take a lot of spares and half time you don't need to, like having a condom in your wallet every now and again you actually need to use it.
Click to expand...
I'm afraid my condom's are well pass there sell by date. Like tires after so many years the rubber perishes and you have to replace them regardless of how much tread you have left.
Some groups have done the Pyrenees but more off road. Some tour operators make a living out of it but they charge about £1200 per vehicle.
 
mikescuba said:
I'm afraid my condom's are well pass there sell by date. Like tires after so many years the rubber perishes and you have to replace them regardless of how much tread you have left.
Some groups have done the Pyrenees but more off road. Some tour operators make a living out of it but they charge about £1200 per vehicle.
Click to expand...
We will be using the cheap PMR radios I will pick up a battery 12 volt charger.
 
Somewhere you might want to consider is Picos d' Europa,about 1/2 hr South of Santandere,unbeleivable mountains to rival the Alps or Pyrenees.
Marc
 
In my experience, the Pyrenees often act like a weather barrier. Rain on the French side and sunshine on the Spanish.
It may be worth you planning a contingency route taking you rapidly south should you encounter continuous rain on the French side.
 
Conquer said:
Tickets are booked and I have a plan but I could do with any advise that you could throw my way.

Plymouth to Santander / Ferry
Sunday 1/10/17 Out
Wednesday 11/10/17 Back

4 Vehicles
2 x Series 1s
1 x Army Lightweight
1 x D90 300 TDI

We are seasoned drivers that have a lot of experience green laneing and off roading, but my friends wanted some thing which was non damaging with plenty of scenery. So I have come up with a Santander to Barcelona route,

Santander to San Sebastion via N634
San Sebastion to Saint-Jean-der-Luz via A63
Saint-Jean-der-Luz to Ascarat via D918
Ascarat to Larceveau-Arros-Cibits via D933
Larceveau-Arros-Cibits to Arudy via D918
Arudy to Frontera del Portalet via D934
Frontera del Portalet to Biescas Via A-136
Biescas to Gerri de le sal Via N-260
Gerri de le sal to Ripoll Via N-260 (237 Miles)
Ripoll to Barcelona Via C-17
Barcelona to Santander, well that depends on how much time we have left this does not need to be one of those tips that you have to be some where at a certain time, no need to rush and stress.

I have the marked campsites for the route and surrounding areas, I would like to get a mix with campsites and wild camping, not sure at that time off year the weather is mild low down but can get very cold at higher altitudes.

All are Landy's are up to date and between us we have one chef two mechanics and a medic.

Thanks for your help
Click to expand...

Do you know this track? https://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=7388784
 
Have you looked at the Vibraction site? Their road books, though expensive, are the Mutt's Nuts for detail. I've just done the Pyrenees Traverse (although in the reverse direction to the OPs plan) and had a great time, 60% or so off-road. Only downside to your plan might be the availability of campsites at that time of year - wild camping in Spain is technically illegal.
 
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