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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1867

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Pyrenees is calling!!
So the time has come to plan a Pyrenees (Spanish) expedition in early August Very Happy


Can anyone suggest a few places to visit, routes, stops, camp sites and wild camping spots etc Very Happy
Not entirely sure which end to start from and may use the Vibraction routes for some parts?
Just me and my son (15) we had a blast doing the Alps and throughly enjoyed it but fancy a try at the Pyrenees this time.
We will also stop near the coast for a few days before the return leg if anyone can suggest something.

Anyone else planning a trip this year? 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #951334 2nd May 2022 3:15pm
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Caterham



Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6264

England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
watching with interest. Thumbs Up

I'm sure there are plenty on here who can give good advise. whatever you end up doing in the pyrenees I'm sure it'll be great.
Post #951338 2nd May 2022 4:23pm
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2078

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Pennine Grey
Ceri, the Pyrenees are much more fun than the Alps, not as high but better tracks, better scenery and warmer people. I've done 6 or 7 Pyrenees trips now and I'm still keen to go back again.
Use the vibration routes, they are worth the investment!
We're off to Slovenia and Croatia this year, 3rd time lucky after the covid pandemic, I hope.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.
Post #951354 2nd May 2022 5:37pm
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west4x4



Member Since: 23 Jan 2010
Location: Rutland
Posts: 138

United Kingdom 
If you look up “El Faff” on you tube that’s friends and I back in 2012 we followed the Vibraction book would love to go back. Wewild camped apart from 1 night in Andorra and another in Spain. The Spanish camp site was pretty wild with a river crossing needed
Post #951382 2nd May 2022 7:30pm
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sharkey964



Member Since: 05 Oct 2014
Location: On a muddy track
Posts: 570

France 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
I was there last week.I did parts of Vibraction RB4 plus bit of RB1,Val d' Aran.Though there was still a lot of snow above 1500m,so the high routes in the Val d' Aran were not possible.
Are you driving down through France,or ferry to Bilbau/Santander?
Post #951422 3rd May 2022 8:00am
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1867

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Thanks Mo, i think I've read a few of your posts on the Pyrenees Very Happy

El Faff, that is on my to do list tonight! Thumbs Up

Sharkey, i will probably drive through France apart from saving circa £1800 on the crossing it will add more to the journey. if we decided to go East to West i would stay in Paris for a night or 2 and then push down to Coullier Thumbs Up 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #951507 4th May 2022 7:19am
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sharkey964



Member Since: 05 Oct 2014
Location: On a muddy track
Posts: 570

France 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
WOW 1800 pounds....
Is that how much it is for the ferry to Santandere?

I'm booked on the ferry to Corsica tomorrow,for a 110,2 people with cabin return is 450€
Marc.
Post #951525 4th May 2022 9:18am
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geobloke



Member Since: 06 Nov 2012
Location: Nottinghamshire
Posts: 4395

United Kingdom 
It will be a great trip. Have done it three times, Once solo, once with the D3/D4 owners club (as a navigator) and once whilst eloping to Gibraltar... Thumbs Up

When in France the Chateaux campsites are amazing and well worth a night. If you are willing have a look for the back roads to France and Spain books.

The drive from Pau to Jaca is a beautiful route across the divide.

The Bardenas Realas (Badlands) are definitely worth the drive, high plains plateaux where some of the spaghetti westerns were filmed.

We loosely followed the Santiago way, but detoured off it frequently.

The road through Desfiladero de Vellos and the Anisclo canyon are exquisite. Do not miss out the parc nacional de Ordesa and the cascada de Arripas are stunning for a hike. As is the gorge at Foz de Lumbier.

Do not forget your camera as it is hard to miss a good photo.

Thumbs Up



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Post #951537 4th May 2022 11:36am
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1867

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
checked again this morning almost £1800 with a cabin for the 28 hour crossing for 2 with a land rover to Bilbao Shocked
Corsica! sounds good Very Happy

Nice pics and thanks for the info Geobloke, looked into your mentions last night and they are on the short list, i think there is far to much for 2 weeks Shocked 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)


Last edited by bear100 on 5th May 2022 5:03pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #951625 5th May 2022 7:17am
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boode



Member Since: 11 Apr 2012
Location: Devon
Posts: 421

England 2003 Defender 90 Td5 HT Rutland Red
The north is similar to the low Alps


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The south is much dryer and sparse



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The smugglers pass in to Andorra is a fun route


Click image to enlarge
Post #951627 5th May 2022 7:48am
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1867

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
boode i presume the passes are quite easy to tackle? being solo with just my son i a bit more cautious

Pics looks fantastic!

my folder of routes is building quite nicely Thumbs Up 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #951742 6th May 2022 7:15am
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2078

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 200 Tdi HT Pennine Grey
They will all be passable in August. We've had trouble with snow and small landslides on the Smugglers pass in May but August will be fine and smugglers pass is a must do 👍
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.
Post #951747 6th May 2022 7:48am
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5420

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
Smugglers route is very easy. Me and my wife have done it a few times. Hopefully the pub/bar will be open for you. It’s definitely an experience. Thumbs Up



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Post #951748 6th May 2022 7:50am
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west4x4



Member Since: 23 Jan 2010
Location: Rutland
Posts: 138

United Kingdom 
Take me back

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Post #951831 6th May 2022 9:44pm
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2548

Scotland 
Second the recondition for the off road routes into Andorra, though the place itself is not up to much.

Pic Negre is good too


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Post #951835 6th May 2022 9:59pm
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