Best motorcycle roads in the Picos de Europa? Routes files to our 2022 Spain Tour tour linked below

[@Jaded-Wanderer]

A joy to watch. I'm not long back from my 4th motorbike tour of northern Spain. The Picos and Pyrenees take motorcycling to another level.

[@Banditmanuk]

We love it out there. In fact we love travelling and have only recently returned from the French Alps. Thanks for watching

[@midlifemotorcyclediaries]

Yes, the N625 is right up there as one of the best roads to ride! Well done, brilliant stuff again! 👍😀

[@Banditmanuk]

Yep it has just about everything, fabulous views, endless corners, great road surface and little other traffic. 👍👍

[@flatcapcaferacer]

What a stunning opening view. Carol set a nice pace, and very little margin for error. That road is amazing especially with the views.

[@Banditmanuk]

This was towards the end of the holiday so Carol had plenty of practice, we had also ridden that roads several times by then. She says she felt well within her comfort zone. Certainly some amazing views and some obviously nasty consequences for getting it wrong riding those roads.

[@Steve-Clark-1200rt]

Another stunning video from the pair of you, opening with a breathtaking view and then taking us along some simply superb roads I have got to do this tour. Thank you so much for sharing this with us and a top editing job as usual well done.

[@Banditmanuk]

I think you would love it out there Steve. Some of the best riding ever is to be had in Northern Spain. Quiet roads, beautiful countryside and biker friendly. Thanks again for the great comments 👍

[@greywolf9292]

A stunning opening shot, followed by some equally scenic views all along the route 👍😀 That rear view camera on Carols bike gave a great alternative perspective for us all to enjoy. We could see a glint in Optimus Prime's eye as he negotiated the corners 😂

[@Banditmanuk]

That's the view only a 360 camera is going to give you. Love the different alternatives the camera gives you when editing

[@greywolf9292]

@@Banditmanuk Yes they're incredibly versatile but I'm not sure I'm brave enough to place one where I can't see it. Mine has a habit of moving when catching the wind at higher speeds.

[@johnchalker2915]

Enjoyed watching this , we were there in July so brought back happy memories of the great roads and scenery. You are quite right to say , get yourselves out here , it’s a great area to tour on a motorcycle . Well done you two .

[@Banditmanuk]

Thanks John, we loved it out there and we're happy one or two others have enjoyed watching. We would encourage anyone to go out and experience the area, roads and country first hand.

[@hachewie]

I love riding beside water, be it a river, lake or the ocean. Fantastic riding.

[@RoadsOfOz]

What a beautiful road. The scenery is amazing.Nicely done.

[@Banditmanuk]

One of our favourite places in the world so far, thanks for watching

[@Darkvisor]

great video mr bandit

[@Banditmanuk]

Thank you

[@CJ125UK]

Thanks for sharing the sat nav files ... well helpful :)

[@Banditmanuk]

You are welcome. Have a great time 👍

[@crumblymal8479]

Awesome vistas guys great watch thanks fer sharing ! Yours is a window there for me for a ride I would never get to do great to see .👌👍

[@Banditmanuk]

Always appreciate your comments and feedback on the vids and I'm glad you've enjoyed a view into northern Spanish. Best wishes Richard and Carol

[@bikerbuddy3166]

Absolutely beautiful 🤩 just what needed to take the winter blues away 🙏

[@Banditmanuk]

Yes hard to believe Carol and I were complaining about the heat on that holiday, weather outside today here is awful!

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

That was just an amazing run, scenery and roads to die for, excellent video, really enjoyed, cheers :)

[@Banditmanuk]

Thank you, we just film what we love doing. Appreciate the comment and for watching. Cheers

[@paullee6663]

Dobres is a 'dead end' like Cain. According to google maps it's 11km off the N621 - 19km from Potes. It's all 'uphill' from the N621 and very twisty if you Google Potes to Dobres it shows you just how twisty. Made me chuckle when I saw it on the satnav for the first time. It's just under 1000m elevation. I stayed in a Posada up there.

[@Banditmanuk]

Sounds amazing

[@paullee6663]

@@Banditmanuk It is, until you realize you didn't fill up with fuel the night before....you're heading for Riano, and the nearest petrol station is in Ojedo, 20km in the 'wrong' direction! 🙁 Luckily, I had enough to get to the station in Riano.🥵

[@Banditmanuk]

@@paullee6663 😂😂I'm always conscious about where I need to re-fuel with a 100 mile range on the MT

[@paullee6663]

@@Banditmanuk I'd done over 150 miles the day before, and Riano was still 37 miles from my hotel, so pushing it closer than I'd have liked...especially as it had been 'filled' by a petrol pump attendant, and they usually (rightly) leave a bit to spare to avoid any spillage.

[@RichardASK]

Yet another excellent video Richard. I went through the Picos in May/June 2014 after a trip to Santiago di Compostela, which my partner was keen to visit, before her passing just over a year later. I wanted to get back home before the birth of my 2nd Grandson, who is now 8 years old. Strange how we remember events, isn't it?

[@Banditmanuk]

Stopped in Santiago di Compostela in 2015 on route to Portugal 👍

[@RichardASK]

@@Banditmanuk Did you see the Botafumeiro swinging in the Cathedral in Santiago? It was quite a moving experience.

[@Followthebeard]

You had some stunning stops, thanks for sharing, a few more places for me to visit 👍

[@Banditmanuk]

Thanks, yes brilliant place to visit and we got lucky with the weather

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

Wonderful scenery. That very first bridge is very similar to that one in Mostar in Bosnia and Hercegovina. Carol had to overtake there. :) Nice ride overall. Keep it up. Here goes my like.

[@Banditmanuk]

That's actually a big water reservoir badly in need of rain but undoubtedly beautiful. We need to explore more areas like Bosnia 👍👍👍

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

@@Banditmanuk Aha, I get it. If you will plan to do also Slovenia or just pass it. Let me know. :)

[@IanTed]

Another great video you two, must go, passed through the Cantabrians going elsewhere but need to go explore😎

[@Banditmanuk]

Thanks Ian, fantastic place to ride and an easy destination using the Santander ferry. Done it twice now, thinking of heading somewhere different next summer. Roll on spring

[@TheRhythmicBiker]

Not bad is an understatement 😂 I feel the same about churches, don’t really go but I bloody love the old buildings 🤘 That N625 definitely looks an awesome road and you all rode it well, very enjoyable 🤘 The camper just wanted to be part of your ride 😂 Not gonna beat those twisty’s, so stunning. Great video you two, hope you’re both well 🤘

[@Banditmanuk]

We are well thanks. The guys with the camper were enjoying the road just as we were but slower 🤣 These vids will be great memories for us in a few years, love the empty Spanish roads. Religion I don't really get but can appreciate the awesome architecture 👍 Hope you’re Triumph is back on form now.

[@ConciergeMed]

Great camera image quality too!

[@Banditmanuk]

Thanks we loved it out there, all filmed on our Insta 360 oneX2 cameras

[@MOTOUK1]

Haha I was about to say why did that guy park his bike behind you at the cafe then I realised as your all sat together 😂 lovely roads, have to go sometime soon 👍

[@Banditmanuk]

Yep that's Andy. All the good photos across all the vids are his photos. Had this holiday booked for several years but with covid restrictions everything got put back. Glad we finally were able to show them the roads we loved so much from the previous trip. Definitely an easy destination if you use the Portsmouth ferry.

[@paullee6663]

Another cracking video Richard, I've really enjoyed this series. I stayed two nights in Cavadonga in 2019, in fact you passed the driveway entrance at around 1:03 if I'm not mistaken. (Always remember as it was chucking it down with rain while I loaded the bike on the morning I left🙁) Riano Reservoir looks very low on water? Still stunning though, it was 'mirror calm' last time I was there. You ever been up to Dobres? Stayed there a couple of nights too. Stunning scenery up there in the mountains (fair way off the main road mind)

[@Banditmanuk]

Cavadongo was a very last minute decision to call in as we were in the area. Glad we did, really interesting but didn't feel comfortable filming in the churches. Don't recall doing Dobres but we went through loads of places that I can't remember the name of. Yes the water level was very low at Riano, much lower than 2019 when we last visited. Didn't rain all the time we were there.

[@Saddlebags73]

I’m late to the party and I think it’s all been said. Spectacular scenery and gorgeous roads. Thoroughly enjoyable 👌🏼

[@Banditmanuk]

No problem, I think I've done the Picos to death now. Always nice to hear from you and your channel. Cheers.

[@paullee6663]

Ha Ha! Just looking at the last time I rode the N625 on one of my old videos....I was on the way back to Santander via the 'scenic route', so I rode it in the opposite direction. Like lots of routes, looks completely different in the opposite direction. I pulled in at the same 'Mirador' viewpoint you did. The only bike on there was a Harley on a UK plate 🙂 Thanks for the Bike Show video as I didn't get to go this year... prices of new bikes (and cars) just getting silly now... ☹

[@Banditmanuk]

Arr the N625 what a road! Thanks for watching both vids, appreciate it

[@paullee6663]

@@Banditmanuk I find the N625 a bit 'technical' for my liking, with lots of tight bends, so there is always the chance there's a truck or coach on the wrong side of the road. My favourite is the N621, from a place near the North coast called Unquera down to Panes (and then on to Potes) It's basically down hill all the way with the canyon on your right shoulder, plenty of bends but more sweeping, and the road is wider.

[@sf940477]

I agree with everyone, opening shot 10 out of 10 !!

[@Banditmanuk]

Cheers Stephen, it's a special place to ride a motorcycle. Appreciate you watching our little channel.

[@Jay_Speed]

The music was too loud, good video as always. Been in the erea in February, lot's of snow.

[@Banditmanuk]

I've just re watched and you're right, sorry. Sadly when I reviewed our original footage I realised I had managed to mute our microphones for big chunks of the day hence using more music than I would normally. When we rode that pass in 2019 heading south to see friends, we hit driving snow that was beginning to settle around the level of the deer statue. Quite scary on a motorcycle and that was September

[@hachewie]

Spectacular opening scene. Rivals the Canadian Rockies.

[@Banditmanuk]

Does look amazing, but I would still love to see the Rockies one day

[@peterg1723]

Great video. Just one correction if I may - the Roman bridge at Cangas de Onis is actually Medieval but based on a Roman design. I made the same mistake when I went a couple of years ago. If you want to see a spectacular Roman bridge then I recommend a trip to Ourense (between Vigo and Ponferrada). The roads between Vigo and Leon are also some of the best riding I have done. The OU-536 between Ourense and Petin on the way to Ponferrada is particularly good.

[@Banditmanuk]

I stand corrected 👍 I will keep a look out for those roads next time we go back. Many thanks for the recommendation

[@nigelcopestake3618]

Yes, awesome roads. But like you say there's two problems rocks and cattle. Brilliant video, brings back many memories 👍👍👍

[@Banditmanuk]

Yep we found both of those! Definitely a hazard but still worth it for the amazing views and roads. Thanks for watching

[@lipglosshelmetsandhim]

Great views, Kim & I went through some of those roads, she wasn't keen 🤣😂😁

[@Banditmanuk]

Some of the best roads ever! Kim doesn't like them too twisty

[@johnterry804]

Great video 👍

[@Banditmanuk]

Thanks John

[@johnterry804]

@@Banditmanuk No thank you for taking us along!

[@dirkjacobs440]

Besides N621+N625 there is CL635+AS117 Riano-Oviedo and AS114+AS345 Cangas de Onis-Panes not to be missed.

[@Banditmanuk]

So many great roads out there. 👍👍

[@the_mad_leprechaun]

Brilliant Brilliant!! I am not religious either, but I love architecture, so I do find myself in churches and cathedral's. Sorry, I am on catch up again! Keep up the good work! 👍

[@Banditmanuk]

Thanks, it's nice looking back on warm dry roads at this time of the year. Always good to hear from you. 👍

[@jonaspersson6135]

Thank you for a Great video,so nice!

[@Banditmanuk]

You're welcome Jonas. Thanks for watching. Happy New Year

[@jonaspersson6135]

Same to you🥰

[@brikfiend]

Thanks for making this , it's given me some ideas .

[@Banditmanuk]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching

[@mrbojangles4394]

A great compilation from both of you and enjoyed watching. It's on my list for future trips. I already have Scotland and Manx GP booked next year but unlike you, my partner is a 'you won't get me on one of those things' kinda girl so have to be careful how many times I go on jollies with my mates 🙄. Maybe 2024 to get to the Picos...

[@Banditmanuk]

🤣🤣 I understand, beautiful area to ride as is Scotland and the Isle of Man. Thanks for watching

[@orlandoro73]

Great video, I hope you could take the CA-1 (Poncebos-Tielve-Sotres-Tresviso) in my opinion, the most beautiful road in the Picos de Europa.

[@Banditmanuk]

Great comment. Carol and I were just looking at the map and we didn't ride that road sadly. (A reason to head back) It looks amazing but isn't a naturally circular route like Carol normally plots. Hopefully we will be back, appreciate you watching

[@orlandoro73]

@@Banditmanuk The area is full of roads, round trips, highly recommended. From Potes, before starting the Port of San Glorio, you have the detour to the towns of Dobres and Cucayo, good curves and better views. From the Beyos gorge there is a road that leads to the town of Casielles, the road does not have much, it is tornante after tornante after tornante, but the views are very good. A circular route, which is not usually done, because it avoids part of the Beyos Gorge, is the AS-261, Santillán-Sellaño-San Juan de Beleño-Viego-Cascada del Aguasaliu. If you move a little away from the Picos de Europa, and go towards the Ubiña-Las Mesas natural park and the Somiedo natural park, you have many more impressive roads. For example, the climbs to Angliru and Gamoniteiro.

[@orlandoro73]

@@Banditmanuk I forgot, in the video the road to the lakes was closed, but if you return to Covadonga, and the climb is open, don't leave without going through it kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z36kgnZjd76chac

[@orlandoro73]

@@Banditmanuk this is the C-01, if you return to Picos de Europa, do not hesitate to walk it kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXjMeoVviaaefLc

[@felixr.s.7659]

Greetings from Cangas de Onís

[@Banditmanuk]

Hello and welcome to my channel from here in England. We love visiting Spain, you live in a beautiful area.

[@PureEvolution]

Just done the N261 month back and loved it weather wasnt brill and time was short so didnt get chance to do the C04 or the n265 but next time great video

[@Banditmanuk]

I'm glad you got chance to ride in the Picos. We love it out there. Thanks for watching

[@youngeroldie5089]

Good video, sure looks a nice place to ride.

[@Banditmanuk]

Fabulous place to ride, would recommend it to anyone.

[@mandybostock8153]

Great video loved it, stunning views great riding by all. We are going next year which is the best way round and are you able to make a base somewhere? We've just come back from doing the Pyrenees and Alps, that was out of this world, some advice would be much appreciated, thanks guys. 👍😀

[@Banditmanuk]

Thanks for watching. We based ourselves in Potes. Details of the apartment we used are in the video's previous to this. We've put a link in the video descriptions of every ride route. They should work with most sat navs. We've only just come back from this year's Alps trip. Had a great time. 👍

[@mandybostock8153]

Thank you I will take another look. I've just watched it, it was great, love watching U2, keep it up 😄@@Banditmanuk

[@richardgiles2484]

Hi Both. Hope you had a fantastic time and got back safe. I'm heading to potes in June, and I think you stayed at a camp site in what was called a bungalow. Can you advise how you booked it and a ball park cost, please, as I can't see anything on the website. 👍

[@Banditmanuk]

Hi yes we stopped at a camping bungalow just outside Potes in 2019. It was quite cheap, somewhere in the region of 400 Euros for the week (might be less??) The website has an email starting info... we booked via that. The email is right at the bottom of the Web page www.campinglaislapicosdeeuropa.com/

[@richardgiles2484]

@Banditmanuk Hi, Thanks for the information. It is really helpful I have also emailed them, but no response as yet, but will check out this link. Stay safe both and hope you have some nice rides in 2023 👍😎

[@Pooley650]

Might be one to add to the tour list... will have to take Quinn Peaks Biker though as I don't speak a word of Spanish 🤣 I definitely agree with the churches, not a religious person myself either but find them fascinating with the archetecture and whatnot, fancy building one in a cave off a cliff!

[@Banditmanuk]

We only have a few words of Spanish, please, thank you, two beers..... its only really the rural areas where locals don't or cannot help you out in English. If you use the Portsmouth to Santander ferry it's a very easy area to get to from England. You can of course head over into France via the tunnel and make a tour down through France (call by the Millau bridge) Pyrenees, Northern Spain Picos and then the ferry back. If we had two weeks off in the summer that's what we would do. Considering heading back to Bourg St Maurice next year.

[@Pooley650]

@@Banditmanuk I thought that would be a good way around it, to travel through France first... Also if your planning Bourg St Maurice I highly recommend Hotel Belvedere halfway up the D1090 near the Italian border. Its a biker hotel which is all rustic and has great food and some terrific beer. The rooms have a balcony view over the city too which looks fantastic at night 😁

[@GSHants]

Ha,😂 I reckon every biker has been had by that cafe! Stopped there once now know it’s better to eat in Cangas or Riano….enjoying your trip thanks, never made it this year booked for next👍🏻

[@Banditmanuk]

Yep, quite possibly the worst ham sandwich in northern Spain! Got recommended to stop here by folks in the comments on a previous years visit to the area. Arr well still enjoyed the coffee. Thanks for watching

[@superbike1]

Do you have to take the N621 to get around to Fuenta de,or are there other small roads.

[@Banditmanuk]

Not many options to get to Fuente de. N621 to Potes then CA185. Its sort of a dead end valley although there is a very minor road high up reached from the top of the cable.

[@davidmatthews3093]

I don’t have a religious bone in my body but I do churches. It’s nothing to do with religion it’s to do with history and architecture, awe and wonder.

[@Banditmanuk]

Yep, history and architecture is incredible 👍

[@boxfullofneutral8514]

that coffee shop on the corner is overpriced and the staff are miserable

[@Banditmanuk]

Yep. The ham rolls we had, were truly the worst things ever. Our first and last visit. Shame as it's in a great spot

[@boxfullofneutral8514]

@Banditmanuk yeah we just have an over priced soft drink and move on. Back this year so who knows, great channel, just stumbled across it.

[@Banditmanuk]

@boxfullofneutral8514 Cheers. Yes we've done the Picos twice now. We're going to try the Pyrenees this time, still taking the overpriced ferry to Santander as we're short of holiday days. Thanks for watching. Hope your trip goes well

[@olimpusm]

Possibly because they are fed up with loud and rude British motorcyclists, not all of them of course, who demand to be served in English.