Back from nearly 3 weeks in the Picos

[Easyrider5258]

Been back a few days now and am currently in quarantine which ends on the 7th October, so have been editing the 1000 photos i took during the trip (Link below for Album)


I have never been to the Picos before and trip planning started end of last year, I'm a photographer (Aviation) but want to explore landscape / street so the focus of the trip was to enjoy the area and take plenty of photos!


Original plan was 1 week in Hotel Del Oso near Potes on the Fuente De road and then move for another week in the Pyrenees and finally 3 nights in Bilbao before the ferry home


Brittany ferries were offering a deal ant the beginning of the year for a week Half Board at the Hotel Del Oso  including return ferry crossing for about £1100 which when working out alternatives seemed a deal to me, Hotel Del Oso is excellent, could not fault my stay, the room, the staff, the food, all top class, so much so I cancelled the Pyrenees part of the the trip and booked another week at the Hotel Del Oso, there was so much to see around the Picos that a week was not long enough


The bike performed great on the trip which was about 1500 miles in total, did use half a sight glass of oil though


Roads were almost empty of GB bikes but plenty of other nationalities, advantage was I seemed to have the roads to myself at times


Bilbaos's  old quarter was great as well,  Guggenheim museum amazing and some beaches and roads up on the coast near Sopela also brilliant


Weather the whole time was perfect


I'll let the pictures do the talking now Here's a link to the album, (I'm still adding to it)


https://www.flickr.com/photos/65081372@N04/albums/72157716008439876


Mark

[PeteM]

We did a ride through the Picos a couple of years ago with Motorrad Tours, Great place with brilliant roads

[Old-Git]

Nice pics. Have you any routes you can share? Thanks

[Easyrider5258]

Nice pics. Have you any routes you can share? Thanks

I didn't create routes, I used waypoints on Nav 6 to create favorites of photo stops I wanted, the beach was at la franca near the very nice hotel Miriador
The surfing beach was at Sopela
The famous "Potes Triangle" is start at Potes, down to Riana, up to Cangas visit Covadonga if you want to bear in mind only mini coaches to take you to the lakes
Back along the AS 114 to Panes then back to Potes
Its about 150 miles all day and quite demanding but fantastic roads

[Old-Git]

thanks.

[Tiedend]

I’ve been to the Picos 5 times.

You absolutely cannot go wrong with the route Easyrider suggested.

It’s a circle & you can do it in either direction & you will not be disappointed.

You can also go up to Bulnes where there is a funicular railway. If you’re adventurous you can walk to Fuente de from the top.

[MikeS]

Lovely photos.


Very jealous.


Mike

[scunny12]

Super photos. Looks an excellent region to tour.

[simbo]

Great photo's, glad you had a good time. I wish I'd been somewhere nice this year    be sure to do the Pyrenees though, just like the Picos but more of it.

[Easyrider5258]

Great photo's, glad you had a good time. I wish I'd been somewhere nice this year    be sure to do the Pyrenees though, just like the Picos but more of it.

Already done the Pyrenees and French Alps & Dolomites used to organise group tours for BMW club for many years, up to 60 bikes on some, doing D.Day / Normandy next year  as posted elsewhere on this board if anyone would like to join us (It's free and have about 10 booked in so far)

[simbo]

doing D.Day / Normandy next year  as posted elsewhere on this board if anyone would like to join us (It's free and have about 10 booked in so far)

Sounds great! well worth a visit & very humbling for sure...We did the Normandy landings back in 2013 & 14 and based ourselves in Honfleur, It's just a nice place to be 
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[jackronner]

Wow.  Have been thru the French Pyrenees but was unaware of the Pico range.  I'd planned to buy an RT in France this summer, then visit Bilbao for a friend's birthday.  Hopefully, I'll do it next summer, then visit the Picos (thanks to you!).

[Global Tourer]

Hi Mark,


Many thanks for sharing there are some terrific shots in the album.
Like others who have posted, the Picos is one of those bucket list items, (I liked it so much and it was so accessible that I have been five times now.)  Again, as said by others, it won't disappoint.


Must admit, I hadn't considered a longer stay in Bilbao, but will certainly make that a priority for the next trip as it seems well worth a couple of days. Also many thanks for the hotel recommendation, I'll check that out also.


Once again, many thanks for sharing your trip, much appreciated.