Passing Phase Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 Hi there from a newbe has any one on here been off roading in the Pyrenees mountain range a couple of us are looking at going that way next year. October time and then making are way to the Land Rover Party in Spain has any body got info on maps ,routes or gps stuff . Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted December 20, 2015 Author Share Posted December 20, 2015 Also l have herd of some smugglers routes around Andora if anyone has any info on them that would be great thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkey964 Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 Have a look here http://vibraction.pagesperso-orange.fr/ I have a few or the road books,the routes are good and easy to follow. We have done lots in the Pyrenees,Spanish side is better than the French side. The next trip we are planning will be,spring next year. Drop me a line for routes in specific areas. kalujo24@yahoo.co.uk Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted December 20, 2015 Author Share Posted December 20, 2015 Thanks for that we re looking at trying the smuggling routes around Andora if you had any info around there Marc that would be great cheers Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbj Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 We agree with Marc.We have used roadbooks from Vibraction a few times in 2003 and 2012. The first time with our daughters age 9 and 11, and the second time with some Dutch friends. Very good and easy to follow. Very recommendable. Inge & Lars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 Have a look here http://vibraction.pagesperso-orange.fr/ I have a few or the road books,the routes are good and easy to follow. We have done lots in the Pyrenees,Spanish side is better than the French side. The next trip we are planning will be,spring next year. Drop me a line for routes in specific areas. kalujo24@yahoo.co.uk Marc Thanks for that Mark when I have worked out were we are heading Iwill drop you line probably looking at the smuggling routes around Andora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 There are only about 6 roads in and out of Andorra, three of them are main roads with customs/passport control. At least two of the other three are 'smugglers' routes - rough tracks, no authorities - and they are all marked on Googlemaps. 5 minutes 'homework' will find them. Just in case, if you were thinking of 'smuggling' anything, I *almost* always meet Guarda Civils patrolling when I use these tracks, so be advised. IIRC limits are 200 fags and 1l spirits (yes, the 3l bottle of JD in the supermarket is tempting!). Best you find out before travel. I always leave Andorra with a full tank of fuel, it is usually super cheap but be warned that the quality of the fuel may not be what you are used to. It works fine but I get black smoke, not helped by altitude. Have fun Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted December 24, 2015 Author Share Posted December 24, 2015 Thanks for that I will have a look at google maps Chris and put a pane together cheers. Kevin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Revise that to two main routes have border controls, I seem to have mis-counted. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 wikiloc.com has a lot of Pyrenean routes, and if you can get the 25k mapping for Spain then you will find loads of routes - most white roads are unmade and drivable. I use ViewRanger on my iPad and you can buy a Pyrenees map for not too much money... Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkey964 Posted December 25, 2015 Share Posted December 25, 2015 As GBMUB said there arn't many smugglers routes into Andorra, though the one from Alins up through Tor is worth doing. The other one I would recomend goes from Tirvia over a couple of passes,ending up at Os de Civis in Andorra. If you order RB 3 from Vibraction,that is a great 3/4 day tour through the Val d' Arran which finnishes on the smugglers pass from Alins to Andorra. A deviation on that track worth a look,when you leave Tor & start the climb,there is a bridge over the river on your right.Take this track,it will take you up to a little refuge built into the hillside & comes out round the back of the saddle,see if you can spot the abandoned series 2 forward control. Enjoy. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted December 26, 2015 Author Share Posted December 26, 2015 Thanks Chris And Marc for the info I will need to get on the web And order the maps you recommend,and load ViewRanger on my IPad.The local knowledge is very useful Marc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted December 26, 2015 Author Share Posted December 26, 2015 As GBMUB said there arn't many smugglers routes into Andorra, though the one from Alins up through Tor is worth doing. The other one I would recomend goes from Tirvia over a couple of passes,ending up at Os de Civis in Andorra. If you order RB 3 from Vibraction,that is a great 3/4 day tour through the Val d' Arran which finnishes on the smugglers pass from Alins to Andorra. A deviation on that track worth a look,when you leave Tor & start the climb,there is a bridge over the river on your right.Take this track,it will take you up to a little refuge built into the hillside & comes out round the back of the saddle,see if you can spot the abandoned series 2 forward control. Enjoy. Marc Hi Marc I have just found the Vibraction maps do they translate well are they easy to follow I have a limited grasp of French cheers Kevin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 If you can find any books in the series by Santi Flaquer, 'En Coche por la Montaña' (also titled in Catalan, En Cotxe per la Muntanya), they have great roadbook type routes for the Pyrenees, I had a quick Google buy failed to find much. I guess they are out of print. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkey964 Posted December 26, 2015 Share Posted December 26, 2015 Hi Marc I have just found the Vibraction maps do they translate well are they easy to follow I have a limited grasp of French cheers Kevin Hi Kevin Tha Vibraction books are all in French,but the info on the actual roadbook routes are all symbols which are pretty self explainitary. Though the distances are marked in Kms not miles.I use a Terratrip which makes counting down the distances very easy and accurate. Having said that,the first time I used a RB,I spent a couple of evenings converting all the distances into miles,then used the mileometer on my truck to measure the distances,not exact but there were only a couple of instances when we missed the turning. The Vibraction RB's have lots of other info in them,like hotels,campsites,resteraunts etc. I would recommend getting RB3,it has everything form forest tracks to high mountain passes with views like you won't believe. Go for it you wont be dissapointed. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 I have just ordered RB3 from Vibraction so let's see what comes thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 The Vibraction books are very good, you'll not be disappointed. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted January 9, 2016 Author Share Posted January 9, 2016 The Vibraction books are very good, you'll not be disappointed. Mo Vibraction road book came today looks good, a bit of translating to do now should be interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkey964 Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Good to here it's come,& your excited. A few translations that will help. S.P.R.P. = Follow the main small route.(there may be more than one route,follow the most obvious one) S.P.P.=Follow the main route. Barriére passage canadien partail.= Gate with cattle grid. V.T.T = Mountain bike. On page 87,instruction 229 says not to take the right turn over a bridge crossing the river.Its worth a detour up this track which takes you to a refuge,see if you spot the abandoned Series 2 forward control.Then comes out at the saddle,Instruction 230. Enjoy, Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 Marc you are a star thanks for that saves me asking Google . Cheers Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 Ferry all booked for end of May down to Santander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkey964 Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 If your sailing into Santander,it's worth a detour to the Picos de Europa,about 1/2 hour south of Santander. Head for Potes,good camp site just outside of Potes,can't remember the name,but if you want it I could root it out. There is the famous Jeep track from Espinama to Sotres.Not too technical but good all the same. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted January 18, 2016 Author Share Posted January 18, 2016 I have drove throu the Picos de Europa but not stopped there so any advice is worth considering cheers Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkey964 Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Hi, Kev, If you decide you want to visit the Picos before heading for the Pyrenees,head for Le Hermida,then on to Potes.This route will take you up through an absolutely stunning gorge(tarmac).The best campsite,IMO in Potes is http://www.campinglaviorna.com/actividades.html Not he cheapest but spotlesly clean with a good resteraunt & little shop that sells all the esentials & maps of the Picos. The official jeep track goes from Espinama to Sotres,but a better route we found starts at Mogrovejo but comes out on the same track from Espinama,it's a bit more technical. It's then up to you which route you would want to take for the start of RB3 at Fos. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbeaumont Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 If your sailing into Santander,it's worth a detour to the Picos de Europa,about 1/2 hour south of Santander. Head for Potes,good camp site just outside of Potes,can't remember the name,but if you want it I could root it out. There is the famous Jeep track from Espinama to Sotres.Not too technical but good all the same. Marc Lovely area! Only been a short way up the Sotres end of (probably) that trail as a passenger in a Land Rover. We were looking for a middle entrance to a large cave system that starts up in the mountains there and comes out down in the Urdon Gorge near Tresviso, and wild camping near the end of the trail (the area is now part of a national park and wild camping is illegal - there are rangers). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.