Least hilly route from Bilbao to Lisbon!

[BryanM]

Planning next years holiday in our 1998 Laika and would appreciate some advice from those who have been along the north coast of Spain or through the country.

We have had our Motorhome 10 years and had a lot of adventures/ disasters with it but while we would like one with aircon and more power, my wife thinks it would be like selling one of the family to part with it!

This year we went as far as Venice with it, 3400 mile round trip from Belfast, and while we had a super nearly 6 weeks away, our main issue was inclines, the Alps in particular, and the struggle to get up them. It’s a 2.8 Iveco engine and does run well on the level, cruises at a genuine 60 mph on flat motorways but hills are its issue and frequently we are down to third or even on tight hairpins second.

We are planning to visit relatives at their house near Porto so my question is simply is the road along the north of Spain flatter than going the shorter route through Spain? We intend being away for roughly the same time as last year so distance doesn’t really matter. Thanks

 

[Funnymunny]

I have done the trip across Northern Spain several times from the French border and the route you will connect up to Vittoria Gasteiz,Burgos , Valladolid,Salamanca and then into Portugal is excellent with no really bad hills you shouldn't have any problems whatsoever all the way to Lisbon.

 

[BryanM]

Excellent. Thank you

 

[glastry]

Just so stupidly incorrect!
The route through Palencia is not so steep!
Why give out such dumb advice?

 

[Funnymunny]

Just so stupidly incorrect!
The route through Palencia is not so steep!
Why give out such dumb advice?

Not sure how well you know that road but the last 20 times I have driven that road it has not been hilly. If you go from Salamanca down towards Seville is steep at one point. Also if going from Salamanca into Portugal on the motorway to Lisbon you have a few steep hills. To just say its stupidly incorrect then I have no idea where you are coming from.
I think you may be confusing Palencia with Plascencia which is below Salamanca where you do have the climb up over Bejar.

 

[Carpmart]

Just so stupidly incorrect!
The route through Palencia is not so steep!
Why give out such dumb advice?

I drove the route last week. There is nothing incorrect about Funnymunny post. There are no major hills on the route suggested.

 

[glastry]

How long is it since you were at Vittoria Gasteiz ?
Seems bloody incredible to suggest to suggest no major hills?

 

[Riverbankannie]

We went through Palencia in March, no hills of note but I did note a very handy Lidl by the motorway.

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[Riverbankannie]

There again, we are just back from Slovenia and crossed the Alps twice so maybe my perceptions are skewed.

 

[PaulW2]

Planning next years holiday in our 1998 Laika and would appreciate some advice from those who have been along the north coast of Spain or through the country.

We have had our Motorhome 10 years and had a lot of adventures/ disasters with it but while we would like one with aircon and more power, my wife thinks it would be like selling one of the family to part with it!

This year we went as far as Venice with it, 3400 mile round trip from Belfast, and while we had a super nearly 6 weeks away, our main issue was inclines, the Alps in particular, and the struggle to get up them. It’s a 2.8 Iveco engine and does run well on the level, cruises at a genuine 60 mph on flat motorways but hills are its issue and frequently we are down to third or even on tight hairpins second.

We are planning to visit relatives at their house near Porto so my question is simply is the road along the north of Spain flatter than going the shorter route through Spain? We intend being away for roughly the same time as last year so distance doesn’t really matter. Thanks

As has been said, the road through the centre of it is pretty ok.

The Pyrenees and that part of the north is however quite hilly. Well, mountainous. Almost Swiss. But very pretty.

Edit: you said Bilbao, so you do cut out the hilly bit nearest France!

 

[Funnymunny]

How long is it since you were at Vittoria Gasteiz ?
Seems bloody incredible to suggest to suggest no major hills?

Vittoria Gasteiz is pretty flat around there, when you head towards the French border you have a couple of hills but nothing major that's for sure, certainly not on the motorway

 

[L' Hobo]

Planning next years holiday in our 1998 Laika and would appreciate some advice from those who have been along the north coast of Spain or through the country.

We have had our Motorhome 10 years and had a lot of adventures/ disasters with it but while we would like one with aircon and more power, my wife thinks it would be like selling one of the family to part with it!

This year we went as far as Venice with it, 3400 mile round trip from Belfast, and while we had a super nearly 6 weeks away, our main issue was inclines, the Alps in particular, and the struggle to get up them. It’s a 2.8 Iveco engine and does run well on the level, cruises at a genuine 60 mph on flat motorways but hills are its issue and frequently we are down to third or even on tight hairpins second.

We are planning to visit relatives at their house near Porto so my question is simply is the road along the north of Spain flatter than going the shorter route through Spain? We intend being away for roughly the same time as last year so distance doesn’t really matter. Thanks

If you follow the road closest to the coastline, they must be level otherwise all the sea would only run in one direction?

 

[billym]

Our old motorhome doesn't like big hills at all but we've never had any difficulties east west or south from northern Spain but only on the motorways.
I often read on here that this pass or that pass is easy but not everyone has got a 150 bhp van.


Trying to drive over the Picos would be a different issue.

 

[Barclaybasher]

I normally cruise around 60mph but if I come to a long hill on a motorway I'll speed up to 75-80 and take a run at it.

Often I can get to the top still in 5th ,
If I don't I can be down to 3rd.

The fast option seems kinder to the van.

 

[Carpmart]

I normally cruise around 60mph but if I come to a long hill on a motorway I'll speed up to 75-80 and take a run at it.

Often I can get to the top still in 5th ,
If I don't I can be down to 3rd.

The fast option seems kinder to the van.

Yep I do the same!

200hp and 7140kg (weighed two days ago) means I need the momentum!

 

[Sdrawde]

Sorry if others have posted this as I've not had chance to read all threads, and we've not yet done the route you refer too, but we have driven West out of Bilbao and we thought the motorway was like a fairground big dipper!

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[busby]

Planning next years holiday in our 1998 Laika and would appreciate some advice from those who have been along the north coast of Spain or through the country.

We have had our Motorhome 10 years and had a lot of adventures/ disasters with it but while we would like one with aircon and more power, my wife thinks it would be like selling one of the family to part with it!

This year we went as far as Venice with it, 3400 mile round trip from Belfast, and while we had a super nearly 6 weeks away, our main issue was inclines, the Alps in particular, and the struggle to get up them. It’s a 2.8 Iveco engine and does run well on the level, cruises at a genuine 60 mph on flat motorways but hills are its issue and frequently we are down to third or even on tight hairpins second.

We are planning to visit relatives at their house near Porto so my question is simply is the road along the north of Spain flatter than going the shorter route through Spain? We intend being away for roughly the same time as last year so distance doesn’t really matter. Thanks

I often have to drop into first gear on hairpins...its what gears are for...Don't worry...BUSBY.

 

[busby]

Our old motorhome doesn't like big hills at all but we've never had any difficulties east west or south from northern Spain but only on the motorways.
I often read on here that this pass or that pass is easy but not everyone has got a 150 bhp van.


Trying to drive over the Picos would be a different issue.

150 bhp was all that was fitted in 32 tonne gross trucks years ago..
BUSBY.

 

[BryanM]

Thanks for all your comments. Doesn’t seem to be too daunting!