Towing routes from Costa Brava to Bilbao

Waingrove
Waingrove Forum Participant Posts: 2

We have booked ferries to and from Bilbao/Portsmouth for our caravan holiday on the Cote Vermeille and northern Costa Brava in June.  I am fairly happy with the trip south through France but wonder if members could advise on the return journey through Spain, from Figueres to Bilbao. 

 I have looked at the viamichelin website, which suggests a toll motorway route via Barcelona, Zaragoza and Vitoria Gastez taking 8hrs with £63 tolls.  Alternatively it suggests a toll free route via Manresa, Lleida, Huesca (where lots of double bends are shown) and Pamplona, taking 10 hrs.

 Considerations apart from cost and time might be ease of finding good overnight sites, gradient and severity of bends for an SUV towing a 7.5m caravan and risk of crime.  It would be very useful to hear from members with experience of these routes to help make a choice.