Towing a caravan to Ainsa in Spain
which route is the best from france
Comments
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Hi, the Bielsa tunnel is the most direct, Somport is much easier, but further to drive once you're in Spain.
And it really depends on which area of France you're travelling from.
Ainsa is beautiful, and the Spanish side of the Pyrenees is well worth the extra driving miles IMO.
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thank you for reply
we have a 7.5m caravan
which way did you travel
where the roads wide enough
we have debated Bielsa but there are hairpins
Somport looks the easier route
we hope to go early July 2017
is the site ok
thanks
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Robert
Might be wise to invest in the CC European Guide as it lists all mountain passes and tunnels and their suitability for towing a caravan.
David
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We’re just back from the Costa Brava. We used the Newhaven Dieppe ferry. We went through France via the N154, the A71 and the A75 to Perpignan and returned via the A61 and A70. Excellent roads all the way. The first day down was about 60 miles, the following
day 360 miles and the last day to our site was about 280 miles. We used Camping Cheques for the entire holiday staying for 2 weeks at the Interpals site which we highly recommend. We have driven solo in past years over the Pyrenees and through Andorra. Very
beautiful but a very twisty road.0 -
Sorry, I've just looked at the map to find Ainsa. Going via Perpignan would be a few hundred miles out of your way!!
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Hi Robertsmith,
We have towed south to north on different occasions both through the Somport and the Bielsa tunnels, although the Bielsa trip was quite a few years ago. The characteristic of the Pyrenees mountain chain is that there it generally has a steep northern face,
with a more gentle southern aspect. This is reflected in the gradients of the approach roads to the tunnels where both have reasonably wide roads with gentle gradients on the Spanish side. My recollection is that on the French side of the Bielsa tunnel the
road fell immediately pretty steeply with a sequence of hairpins. After a few km of the descent I pulled in to allow the caravan brakes to cool! On the Somport route the gradient is similarly steeper on the French side, but I do not recall it being as steep
as the Bielsa route. It is mainly a road of reasonable width, but there were a few pinch points where you would need to take care if there were approaching trucks.Thus both are ‘caravannable’, but the Somport is probably the easier of the two. Your choice will also be determined by your planned direction of approach through France. If you do decide on the Somport and you want a site to stop in on the French side,
then I can recommend highly Camping Beau Rivage at Navarrenx, a very pleasant terraced site located between the walls of this Bastide town and the river, well maintained and cared for by UK owners.Cheers
Paul R T
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We had planned
portsmouth to st malo
st malo to pons
pons to naverrenx
naverrenx to huesca via somport tunnel
then making our way up to ainsa
after your advice it seems this is a good route
after ainsa we intend to go to prades and then up to the Costa brava
thanks for your help
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Most of the way to France is motorway
members recommended somport tunnel is the easier option
good roads on Spanish side
sounds best way
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we hope to go early July 2017
is the site ok
thanks
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We stayed at Camping Ainsa, which is about 10mins walk into the town. Found it fine, good size pitches, modern shower block, decent pool etc.
There's another site, I think it was called Pena Montanesa, about 2 miles North of Ainsa. We drove past it a few times and it looked very nice.
Plenty of smaller sites nearby, but maybe a bit tricky for towing.
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Pliers
which way did you drive from France
did you tow a caravan
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Pliers
which way did you drive from France
did you tow a caravan
Yes we took our caravan. 6.5 metres.
We've done It there and back. Going we went via St Lary and through Bielsa. This takes you straight to the Ainsa road. I didn't like it. Steep, hairpins, narrow. My husband was driving and thought it was fine.
Returning I wimped out and insisted on Somport. It's further to drive to from Ainsa, but the roads are absolutely fine. The tunnel is, well, a tunnel. No probs towing through it at all. Once through the tunnel, on the French side, the road is narrower with some overhanging rocks, but easy for towing. We drove North through Oleron, there's a decentish Municipal camp site there. We've stayed at Navarranx on a previous trip, and camp site there is better.
Ainsa is a lovely place itself, and the surrounding area is gorgeous. Brilliant walking, wildlife watching etc. My husband took his bike and enjoyed the rides.
Early July shouldn't be busy, no need to pre book unless you prefer to do so.
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Would it be longer avoiding tunnels
where would I go into spain
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Would it be longer avoiding tunnels
where would I go into spain
It's a lot further, so depends on how much time you have. We've been to North West Spain many times in the 'van, but have always used the long crossing to Bilbao or Santander.
Follow the coastal motorway, maybe stopping over at St Sebastion, then take one of the motorways inland.
As you're planning to be there early July, why not go to the San Fermin festival at Pamplona, and run with the bulls! Book your campsite for this, and be prepared to survive on little sleep. No, I haven't done it, but in my younger years always fancied it. Wimp mode and more common sense have now taken over! You can always just watch if you don't fancy joining in!
Or, you could go via wonderful Logroño and sample the tapas and Rioja wines in the many bars in the old town. There's a camp site just over the river, overpriced, but very convenient.
But more realistically, if times short, the Bielsa tunnel is by far the most direct route. If you travel on a Sunday morning, with a good start, there won't be a lot of traffic in either direction, you'll be set up in Ainsa by lunchtime.
Off topic a bit, but a brilliant walk in the Ainsa area is the Classic Ordesa valley walk, not to be missed!
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