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big ives



Member Since: 24 Dec 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 123

United Kingdom 
planning a trip coast to coast Pyrenees September 2018
I am thinking of planning a coast to coast trip through the Pyrenees next year July 2018

change of plan now going 9th September 2018

Something along the itinerary I have kind of planned but not set in stone.

1) Is this doable as a single landrover?
2) What’s the best tour group for this type of run?
3) Any suggestions or advice gladly welcome?
4) Not planning on any wild camping so hotels in these areas again any advice?
5) its a defender 90 CSW V8 Whistle Whistle

SANTANDER TO IRUN 134 MILES

IRUN TO SAINT JEAN PIED DE PORT 50MILES

SAINT JEAN PIED DE PORT TO ISABA 57MILES

ISABA TO JACA 68MILES

JACA TO ANETO 89MILES

ANRTO TO ESPOT 74MILES

ESPOT TO SORT 21MILES

SORT TO ANDORRA LA VILLIE 55MILES

ANDORRA TO BERGA 59MILES

BERGA TO BESALU 62MILES

BESALU TO COLLIOURE 54MILES


Last edited by big ives on 19th Nov 2017 5:12am. Edited 1 time in total
Post #652403 24th Sep 2017 10:10am
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gcc130



Member Since: 05 Jun 2015
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 678

Have a look at landtreks.com
Post #652409 24th Sep 2017 11:53am
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big ives



Member Since: 24 Dec 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 123

United Kingdom 
just looked at there site very impressed
Post #652412 24th Sep 2017 12:07pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8578

United Kingdom 
Re: planning a trip coast to coast Pyrenees July 2018
big ives wrote:
I am thinking of planning a coast to coast trip through the Pyrenees next year July 2018


1) Is this doable as a single landrover?
.....




Why not?

Is your Defender well maintained and reasonably well equipped?

Can you read a map, follow a tulip diagram, follow a sat nav?

Do you have some common sense?

If in doubt about the next section of track then WALK it!

After walking it you still have doubts about it find a different route!


Travelling/overlanding is not a determination about driving a particular section (unlike a challenge event) but about the journey.

YES it is doable by a single vehicle with a competent driver/navigator.


Brendan
Post #652446 24th Sep 2017 4:59pm
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xcentric



Member Since: 17 Jan 2016
Location: Midlands
Posts: 247

Quote:

1) Is this doable as a single landrover?
2) What’s the best tour group for this type of run?
3) Any suggestions or advice gladly welcome?
4) Not planning on any wild camping so hotels in these areas again any advice?

1. Yes - we did it in 2 halves over the past 2 years, one half in a Disco 4 and one in a Defender
2. Don't know, but you can do it yourself easily enough. I went with wife, 3 kids, and 3 dogs..... There are plenty of tacks everywhere, most are marked on the map, and unless they have a rope or chain across with 'prive' or similar, you can generally use them, so it's easy enough to explore by yourself. Some may find you reversing to avoid, but most are perfectly doable. Take decent tyres, and a decent tool kit for common stuff - though you'll find garages who can help if needed.
3. Don't rush it, get the Vibraction route book(s), get some off-road mapping software and the Spanish topographic maps (I used Gaia but others are available)
4. Camping in campsites is what we did - there's enough mobile coverage to type 'campsite' into Google maps and get a list of local ones. Ditto hotels.

It's a great trip - spectacular scenery, she wonderful routes, though some parts are less interesting. But it's a good trip to do, and I'll be going back there for another explore.....
Post #652447 24th Sep 2017 5:03pm
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big ives



Member Since: 24 Dec 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 123

United Kingdom 
Re: planning a trip coast to coast Pyrenees July 2018
leeds wrote:
big ives wrote:
I am thinking of planning a coast to coast trip through the Pyrenees next year July 2018


1) Is this doable as a single landrover?
.....




Why not?

Is your Defender well maintained and reasonably well equipped?
Yes very well maintained and has a front winch, and i will have enough spares and tools should i require them

Can you read a map, follow a tulip diagram, follow a sat nav?
yes

Do you have some common sense?
NO but i can get some before i travel Rolling with laughter Rolling with laughter Rolling with laughter

If in doubt about the next section of track then WALK it!

After walking it you still have doubts about it find a different route!


Travelling/overlanding is not a determination about driving a particular section (unlike a challenge event) but about the journey.
totally my thinking as well

YES it is doable by a single vehicle with a competent driver/navigator.
very competent driver Bow down Bow down navigator not so sure my wife can read a map Rolling with laughter Rolling with laughter Rolling with laughter

many thanks for the tips
Brendan
Post #652537 25th Sep 2017 12:39am
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big ives



Member Since: 24 Dec 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 123

United Kingdom 
xcentric wrote:
Quote:

1) Is this doable as a single landrover?
2) What’s the best tour group for this type of run?
3) Any suggestions or advice gladly welcome?
4) Not planning on any wild camping so hotels in these areas again any advice?

1. Yes - we did it in 2 halves over the past 2 years, one half in a Disco 4 and one in a Defender

what half did you do in the disco 4? i too have a 4
2. Don't know, but you can do it yourself easily enough. I went with wife, 3 kids, and 3 dogs..... There are plenty of tacks everywhere, most are marked on the map, and unless they have a rope or chain across with 'prive' or similar, you can generally use them, so it's easy enough to explore by yourself. Some may find you reversing to avoid, but most are perfectly doable. Take decent tyres, and a decent tool kit for common stuff - though you'll find garages who can help if needed.

planning me and the wife doing the run, a lot of the tour dates don't suit me leave schedule hence going solo

3. Don't rush it, get the Vibraction route book(s), get some off-road mapping software and the Spanish topographic maps (I used Gaia but others are available)

i have view ranger and just goggled the maps for these routes so should be no problem

4. Camping in campsites is what we did - there's enough mobile coverage to type 'campsite' into Google maps and get a list of local ones. Ditto hotels.

yes i thought this as i have toured france many years

It's a great trip - spectacular scenery, she wonderful routes, though some parts are less interesting. But it's a good trip to do, and I'll be going back there for another explore.....


only had the idea several days ago and doing a lot of research

again thank you for the info Bow down Bow down Bow down
Post #652538 25th Sep 2017 12:51am
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LR90XS2011



Member Since: 05 Apr 2011
Location: bickenhill
Posts: 3602

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
exactly what I would like to try , I have looked at most of the tour sites and they all appear to camp, SWMBO is more of a Hotel person so will be interested to see how you get on. DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS,

I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy
Post #652549 25th Sep 2017 5:30am
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2062

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Pennine Grey
It's a piece of cake, we do it nearly every year, in fact I'm typing this in trap one of the toilet block of Camping Val Paradise 😆.
It's not overlanding or an expedition it's greenlaning, there is fuel, supermarkets and cafés all over the place. Don't drive the tracks with chains across them with a privado notice.
Easy peasy, go enjoy yourself.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.
Post #652550 25th Sep 2017 5:32am
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big ives



Member Since: 24 Dec 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 123

United Kingdom 
Thank you Mo, as i said its an idea thats just stared in my head only a week or so ago for next year, but the more i read about it the more the idea appeals to me

my wife and i have always toured France but with the caravan on tow for the last 20 years+/-, this year i was thinking of something different

i am abroad working (well supposed to be) and i have been reading all i can about this

i get back to UK on Friday where my internet will be faster so i will do more trolling about this subject

thanks to everyone for there advice Bow down Bow down Bow down 2016 Discovery 4
1989 90 CSW V8 (fully rebuilt and running like a dream)
1996 defender tray back fully rebuilt/loaded for challenge events
Post #652553 25th Sep 2017 5:50am
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xcentric



Member Since: 17 Jan 2016
Location: Midlands
Posts: 247

we went from east to west, and did the first half in the D4 and the second in the Defender. The first half was probably tougher off road. Take an IIDTool - the only issue we had was when the terrain oscillated from very rocky to very sandy - off-road height, then sped up so lowered, then off road height again - in the end the compressor overheated and it died to its bump stops. IIDTool and patience meant we could let it cool down, reset it, and all was well. Then reset the offset to give us a permanent 50mm lift, and left it like that for the rest of the off road bits.

In the Defender, we just hit it with a hammer or taped it up, depending..... Laughing
Post #653014 26th Sep 2017 7:12pm
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JOW240725



Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7866

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey
I like the sound of this you make it sound easy! I must get up and just do it! James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers
Post #653027 26th Sep 2017 7:56pm
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rockster57



Member Since: 15 Nov 2014
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 937

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver
Ditto James. Any more interest in this and we might be creating our own Defender2 Pyrenees congestion!

Just wondering, if anyone has a Garmin GPX file for the route I wouldn't mind a copy please?

Peter
Post #653038 26th Sep 2017 8:39pm
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xcentric



Member Since: 17 Jan 2016
Location: Midlands
Posts: 247

if you buy the vibraction roadbooks, they'll send you one. Well worth it.
https://www.vibraction.org
Post #653046 26th Sep 2017 9:15pm
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rockster57



Member Since: 15 Nov 2014
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 937

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Zermatt Silver
Xcentric, many thanks for that. Not previously heard of vibraction so the recommendation is much appreciated Thumbs Up
Post #653072 26th Sep 2017 11:17pm
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