HoSS Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Interesting thread, thanks. I will bookmark this for future use. I am trying to get out of a friend, his routes in the Alps using 'military' tracks. He has done some stunning multi-day trips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkey964 Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Interesting thread, thanks. I will bookmark this for future use. I am trying to get out of a friend, his routes in the Alps using 'military' tracks. He has done some stunning multi-day trips. I'd be interested in any routes in the alps Hoss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4x4 nut Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 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 Chris - I've known about the excellent western smuggler's route to/from Andorra (via Tor as mentioned within this thread) but I believe there is one in the south as well. Tried to find it last time I was in Andorra, but as I'm sure you are aware, trying to find it driving south is a nightmare. Would be better heading north, that way you haven't got a city in the way! As it happens, later this year I will be travelling from Spain up into France, so this would be the ideal opportunity to find this "southern smuggler's route". Do you know of this route, or have you any idea which map I could purchase which shows the route ... that's if it exists at all that is! Any assistance would be appreciated. BTW, if you don't want to make the route public knowledge, then I can be emailed on 4x4trading@talk21.com Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4x4 nut Posted March 4, 2016 Share Posted March 4, 2016 An open invitation to lr4x4 forum members:- Having escaped cold dank England, I now live in a little village called Sant Boi de Lluçanès in Catalonia, Spain, midway between Barcelona and Andorra. Christmas Day was 17 degrees, that in itself speaks volumes! Therefore if anybody wants to drop in en route, it's open house here. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and plenty of room to pitch roof/ground tents. I recently checked out the local tracks in the mountains just surrounding the village. Starting only two streets from the casa, 49 miles of off-road bliss later, I completed a rather large circle and ended back at where I started! And BTW, for wine you go to the local village shop, massive barrels of red, self-service into your own plastic bottles, all for 1.60 euros a litre!!! Happy days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Chris - I've known about the excellent western smuggler's route to/from Andorra (via Tor as mentioned within this thread) but I believe there is one in the south as well. Tried to find it last time I was in Andorra, but as I'm sure you are aware, trying to find it driving south is a nightmare. Would be better heading north, that way you haven't got a city in the way! As it happens, later this year I will be travelling from Spain up into France, so this would be the ideal opportunity to find this "southern smuggler's route". Do you know of this route, or have you any idea which map I could purchase which shows the route ... that's if it exists at all that is! There are a couple of routes between Bescaran or Estamariu ES and Refugi la Rabassa AN. Have a look on Google aerial photos, most of the tracks you can see appear to be publicly accessible and, in my experience, in a good state of repair. I do not know if you use an iPad or similar, but I use Viewranger who sell excellent 1:25k electronic mapping of the Pyrenees in general and France and Spain at sensible prices - in small, cheap, pieces too. The tracks are obvious on those maps. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie64 Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 4x4NUT that's a very interesting offer, I will be heading off to the Pyrenees in mid September for two weeks with the plan of completing RB1&2 but I was looking at pottering around your way towards Barcelona dependant on time, I may give you a shout while I'm out there thanks tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 There are a couple of routes between Bescaran or Estamariu ES and Refugi la Rabassa AN. Have a look on Google aerial photos, most of the tracks you can see appear to be publicly accessible and, in my experience, in a good state of repair. I do not know if you use an iPad or similar, but I use Viewranger who sell excellent 1:25k electronic mapping of the Pyrenees in general and France and Spain at sensible prices - in small, cheap, pieces too. The tracks are obvious on those maps. Chris Hi Chris I have been looking at the ViewRanger app is it easy to use and is it ok for 4X4 s as looking at it looks like it may be for walkers and cyclists Cheers Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 Hi Chris I have been looking at the ViewRanger app is it easy to use and is it ok for 4X4 s as looking at it looks like it may be for walkers and cyclists Cheers Kev Then it will be perfect for you to follow. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Then it will be perfect for you to follow. Mo Well do you use it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Not yet but I will be this summer, having used a whole variety of mapping systems in the Pyrenees. As a veteran of many Pyrenees trips, as is Chris, it looks eminently suitable for laning to me. But hey, what do I know ? Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Thanks for that Mo I have the Vibrication road book 3 so with that and the ViewRanger hopefully that should get around and see something and not get to lost ! Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 You'll probably find your tomtom will normally know where you are. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Yes probably looking to much into it all its are first time in the Pyrenees and I'm leading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Well enjoy Kev, the Vibraction books are very good. Plotting the route into your mapping programme before you leave will reduce your workload on the trip and make navigating less laborious. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Viewranger is aimed at people who use maps, rather than any one specific group. I suspect they sell it to the walking fraternity as there is a bigger market there... It is not as easy to use/intuitive as MemoryMap but it seems well featured and allows all the functionality I need. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Spoken like a Pro Mo.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Thank you uncle, comes from all that navigational practice I get ? Mo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted May 23, 2016 Author Share Posted May 23, 2016 Well we are all loaded up and ready for the off heading for ferry for Santander on Sunday hope it's back in the water Buy then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Have Fun & be safe. Make sure you fill up when you can - not when you think you need to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Enjoy. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passing Phase Posted June 4, 2016 Author Share Posted June 4, 2016 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 we did the trade up to the refuge yesterday what a lovely spot we put are names in the book but looked hi and low but didn't fined the abandoned Land Rover but we are haveing a greet time these routes in Vibrication RB 3 are awesome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkey964 Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Glad your enjoying yourself. Maybee the series 2 has been moved,ater all it is 2 or 3 years since I was on that track. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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