Route Bilbao to San Roque Gibraltar area

jonnyp1
jonnyp1 Forum Participant Posts: 13
edited May 2016 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

hi sorry not caravaner but towing a boat to a sailing championship in sotogrande. Booked ferry to bilbao 22nd june, want to go down in one hit, rac and via michelin suggest 2 routes preferred A66 or A4. The boat is quite heavy so I want to avoid very steep
climbs, and of course tolls if possible.Any advice much appreciated.

cheers jon

Comments

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #2

    Bit of a haul in one hit unless you have relief drivers. What keelboat are you towing?

  • Geejay
    Geejay Forum Participant Posts: 232
    100 Comments
    edited May 2016 #3

    You dock at 12:45, maybe an hour to unload, at least a 10 drive without stops.  Good luck.

  • jonnyp1
    jonnyp1 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited May 2016 #4

    Boat is j 80. i will probably have a few hours in car, but wont stop for night.Any thoughts on route?

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #5

    I was doing Alicante to Bilbao, so can't help you with the southern bit and it was thirteen years ago. They've done a lot of road development in Spain since then but IIRC the stretch from Madrid to Bilbao is quite straightforward. Can't give you chapter
    and verse as my maps are in the apartment in Spain.

  • Geejay
    Geejay Forum Participant Posts: 232
    100 Comments
    edited May 2016 #6

    In March we drove back from just S of Seville to Bilbao using the A1/A4 route which was mostly motorways.  I don't remember any huge hills, and there are some north of Caceres but Spain is a mountainous country.  The route via Madrid does have some seriously
    long and quite high hills on the motorway just N of Madrid at Somosierra.

    I don't remember how much the tolls were on the A1/A4 route but ViaMichelin calculates it at €30 for a car.  In my opinion well worth it as the Autopistas are even quieter than the Autovias and well constructed.

  • jonnyp1
    jonnyp1 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited May 2016 #7

    thanks all

  • jonnyp1
    jonnyp1 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited May 2016 #8

    Hi thanks again for comments, the girlfriend has been reading the internet with scare stories about carjacking and distraction robberies. Is this a real problem? If so is there a better or worse route down to san roque, and is it safer at night or day?

    thanks jon

  • Geejay
    Geejay Forum Participant Posts: 232
    100 Comments
    edited May 2016 #9

    So far we haven't had any problems, but I've read of incidents around Barcelona.  Just keep your brain in gear.  The only people who are allowed to stop you, just as in UK, are the police, who will generally be in uniform and have identity tags or similar.

    Drive with your doors locked, and if do stop for a vehicle don't unlock until you are certain of identity.  Keep valuables out of reach of an open window.  Some people, lock their vans when fuelling, and certainly don't leave it unlocked when you go to pay,
    just as in this country.

    I believe Spain has less crime than UK.

  • jonnyp1
    jonnyp1 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited May 2016 #10

    sorry to ask again but i think doing it in one go is to far and have been advised that few hours sleeping stopped in services might not be a good idea, is that right? Does anyone know a campsite somewhere south of madrid, not too far off route, that we could
    park a car and a 8m boat on trailer and sleep for one night, either in a hotel or in back of car in campsite etc?

    Or any suggestions about where else we could get some safe sleep would be much appreciated.

    cheers jon

  • Geejay
    Geejay Forum Participant Posts: 232
    100 Comments
    edited May 2016 #11

    On the route I suggested there are several rest areas where you could probably pull in and have a few hours.  For example just south of Tordesillas:
    here      Also at Tordesillas on the track to the Campsite there is an area of ground where I've seen a motorhome parked up overnight.

    Here

  • jonnyp1
    jonnyp1 Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited May 2016 #12

    thanks all bit the bullet and booked a hotel with parking half way for a quiet life.

    jon

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