South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

Hi there ..
I have got a month off in january I know its not the best time for touring but it's gonna be my time I can go .I wanna go spain try find some warmer weather the question is do I get the tunnel ride through France etc or get the ferry straight to spain anyone done this in january?? Or the colder months any info pointers tips would be great ..

Chsers dave

The chunnel is good for when heading east into Europe but as you'll be going south I'd skip France, that is unless you particularly want (and have time) to take in France. Having to ride across the width of our county (via main roads) just to come back on yourself across France (via toll roads) is time in the seat I'd rather avoid.

I think several people have calculated it and when taking into account the fuel, tolls, tyre wear and at least one hotel stay there isn't much in it cost wise between the chunnel and the ferry straight to Spain. I've just done a quick google route from mine to Spain and it's 920 mile via the chunnel... no thank you.

Also if the crossing time works out you can get off the Ferry and have a good half days riding still, and you'll be fresh for it too.
So ferry direct to Spain gets my vote.

I'd say ferry to Spain. You will have to ride through snow covered mountains in France that time of year.

If you're heading south to find warmth you don't want to be packing Arctic gear too.

Fly to Canary Islands and hire.

I think Brittany Ferries reduce or even cancel their Spanish sailings in January and February. Plymouth to Santander used to be 18 hours but the last time I did it in 2019 it took 24,as the ship had a dodgy engine and was on reduced power.
The crossing to Bilbao from Portsmouth takes even longer, so I'd avoid that. They have whacked their prices up recently as they no doubt want to recoup their losses when they haven't been sailing, so as Kata says, might be a better option to fly and hire.

Thanks for the replies will look into the ferry to Santander or Bilbao and hopefully have some warmer drier weather.didnt think about carrying artic gear as well as summer stuff lol so it defo makes sense straight to spain . Cheers dave

The costs of either Brittany or P&O ferries to Portsmouth/Bilbao are not insignificant, plus take 18/24hrs each way.
There are a number of companies who transport your bike to key holiday destinations throughout Europe for quite reasonable sums, and you can even put your gear in the stillage. You then book a budget airline at times convenient to yourself, collect your bike from the shipper and enjoy your holiday. Repeat process in reverse for homeward journey.
All the fun of sunny holidays in warmer climes with just a couple hours flight times rather than days lost to cross country travel .......

You can leave cold, wet, horrible British winter at breakfast time and be riding your own bike in warm, dry, southern Spain in the afternoon

Moosey P&O stopped the Bilbao run long since , I think 11 years or more , only choice in January is brittany feries Portsmouth Santander , 28 hour crossing and about £350/£400 depending on how you travel

https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk

Mervin wrote: ↑Jul 25th, '21, 19:02 Moosey P&O stopped the Bilbao run long since , I think 11 years or more , only choice in January is brittany feries Portsmouth Santander , 28 hour crossing and about £350/£400 depending on how you travel

https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk

28hrs on a ro-ro in the bay of Biscay in January

TLS-Moose wrote: ↑Jul 25th, '21, 19:13

Mervin wrote: ↑Jul 25th, '21, 19:02 Moosey P&O stopped the Bilbao run long since , I think 11 years or more , only choice in January is brittany feries Portsmouth Santander , 28 hour crossing and about £350/£400 depending on how you travel

https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk

28hrs on a ro-ro in the bay of Biscay in January

exactly now you know why most truck drivers drove down especially for southern spain, especially when thet ran this old tub down there , seen here at is last resting place in venezuala or somewhere

better pic in happier days

https://www.wellcomebikersespana.com/

https://www.motomercadorent.net/

One option

This is more what I was thinking ....

https://www.madornomad.com/uk-to-europe ... companies/

Neither riding all those January miles across Engerland and down through France or the Ferry in January- if it is running - are appealing. Another vote for fly and hire or get your bike shipped over. It's also highly certain that northern Spain and the mountains will be "difficult" riding in January. Only the south of the country is likely to be "nice".
Another option for not much extra cost is you could fly/hire somewhere more exotic and adventurous...

Yep, fly-ride is the way to go IMHO, especially out of season when the oliday herd hibernate and flight prices become cheaper - bike hire and accommodation too .

I agree with others. Personally I wouldn’t fancy the long ferry crossing at that time of year. The Bay of Biscay can be bad enough in Summer. January could be a nightmare unless you have got sailors sea legs!!

However, if I were going for a month I would be tempted to ride down to Southern Spain. I have waterproof and heated gear, I don’t mind putting miles on my bike and if you aren’t in a great rush then there are great minor roads to be had down through France and passable routes across the Pyrenees. If the weather is bad you can afford to do shorter days riding for a few days.

If on the other hand you are only going for a week or two then I’d opt for a fly-ride on a hire bike (Canary Motorcycle Tours look like a great option) or have my bike shipped down. Same if you are going for a month but don’t fancy riding through possibly shit weather of France & Northern Spain to get to the sun!