2010

www.motorbike-tours.co.uk

www.motorbike-tours.co.uk

2

Contents

Overview………………3

Andalucia Tour…...........4

Heartland Tour………..15

Valle del Jerte Tour…...24

The Last Word………...32

3

Overview

Anyone who has been

on one of our tours

will tell you that the

emphasis is laid fairly and squarely on

having a good time. Although the tours

are thoroughly researched before they

are released, schedules are not strictly

adhered to. We’re on holiday, not a

military manoeuvre. As it says on the

website ‘If you don’t go home happy,

we won’t’, and these aren’t just idle

words; I really do want people to have

a great time, and the best way to make

that happen is to create a happy,

relaxed atmosphere as soon as

possible; in this, I believe we’ve been

successful.

I am often asked, ‘What kind of people

come on the tours?’ Well, the answer

to that is… bikers. Young ones, more

senior ones (careful), ladies and one or

two gentlemen, but whatever their age

or background, they’re all hewn from

the same seam. They all, like me, love

to be on the open road with the sun on

their back. We have folk who have

recently passed their test, through to

more experienced riders. We don’t

race; these are bike tours, not time

trials. We generally ride to the speed

limit, not beyond.

The tours begin in Santander, but that

doesn’t mean you have to travel to

Spain on the ferry. Many bikers ride

down through France and join us at a

convenient point, whilst others are

taking their first bike journey on

foreign soil, and prefer to meet us at

the ferry terminal. Some of you will be

asking ‘Why not just go it alone?’

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with

making your own arrangements, but

some people don’t have the time to

research the route, hotels, places of

interest etc. etc. I can say, hand on

heart, that if you come with us, you

will see places that would never find if

you ‘go it alone’.

I’m quite excited about the 2010 tours;

as some of you will have noticed, we

don’t offer dozens of tours; we prefer

to perfect the ones we have, rather than

go for quantity. At the moment, we’re

concentrating on Spain. We know the

country and speak the language, so

we’re sticking to what we’re good at.

The ever popular Heartland Tour

remains in the portfolio, but is joined

by two more mouth watering tours.

The Valle del Jerte Tour is based in an

area which is surrounded by three

national parks and is also close to the

Spanish Classic Motorcycle Museum.

The Andalucia Tour is a ten night tour

based on the South Coast of Spain, and

includes some really exciting

destinations, not least, the Alhambra

Palace in Granada and the Wolf Park

near Antequera. This tour is the direct

replacement to the ‘Grand Tour’, but

has six nights in one location. We

decided after last year that having a

base was the best way to go.

Whilst the Heartland Tour remains

hotel based, on the Valle del Jerte Tour

and Andalucia Tour, we stay in

bungalows on campsites that enjoy a

wide range of facilities such as

swimming pool (in season), restaurants

and bars, although both tours have an

element of hotel accommodation, as

you will see as you read on.

Anyway, enough from me; enjoy the

brochure and hopefully we’ll see you

soon.

Alan

4

The Andalucia Tour

This is a ten night tour. On route to

Andalucia, we stay over in the

atmospheric city of Salamanca and

then the ancient Roman city of Merida,

before reaching the southern coast of

Spain on the third day. Once we reach

Torre del Mar, we stay in bungalows.

A swimming pool is available on the

campsite, as is a restaurant and mini-

market. The campsite lies close to the

beach at the very edge of the town and

there are many bars and restaurants

nearby.

This tour will take in the wondrous

Alhambra Palace in Granada, Nerja

Caves, El Chorro Lakes, The surreal

landscape of El Torcal, The Wolf Park

and White Villages of Andalucia. The

roads in this area are superb for biking.

Over the weekend period, you will

notice the increase in bike traffic as the

Spanish come out to play.

The first and second nights are spent in

hotels in Salamanca and Merida

respectively, and the penultimate and

ultimate nights are spent in hotels in

the province

of Ciudad

Real and the

city of

Valladolid

respectively.

As mentioned earlier, for the other six

nights, we stay in bungalows in Torre

del Mar.

The site in Torre del Mar is very close

to numerous restaurants, bars and

shops.

This tour is the natural successor to the

Grand Tour, but rather than stay at a

different hotel every night, we feel it

is much more comfortable to leave

your luggage behind and return to

familiar surroundings after a great day

out.

Advantages of using a base for a tour;

You don’t have to carry your

luggage every day.

If you need a rest, you can have

a day off to sit by the pool.

Familiarity with the best

restaurants, bars etc.

Click here to see prices for this tour

The summer months in Andalucia are

incredibly hot, hence we have

scheculed our tours to avoid the hottest

months. Early booking is

recommended to avoid

disappointment.

Prices are for two people sharing.

Please note; admission fees are not

included in the tour price.

5

The Andalucia Tour

Day 1

Santander to Salamanca

We meet near the ferry terminal in

Santander. Of course you don't have to

travel from Plymouth, you may like to

make your own way through France

before joining us. Those of you who

wish to relax on the Pont Aven can see

booking information at

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

From Santander, we take the ‘Ruta de

Plata’ (The Silver Route) to the

beautiful city of Salamanca (225

miles), arriving in time to enjoy a meal

in one of the many restaurants around

the world famous Plaza Mayor. Our

hotel is just ten minutes walk (even if

you walk slowly) to the historic centre

of Salamanca.

Salamanca is considered one of the

most spectacular Renaissance cities in

Europe. Through the centuries the

sandstone buildings have gained an

exquisite golden glow that has given

Salamanca the nickname La Ciudad

Dorada, the golden city. This golden

glow is unique in Spain and is due to

the "Villamayor Stone", a type of

sandstone coming from a quarry

situated in Villamayor, a village close

by.

The city is large enough (180.000

inhabitants) to be able to offer the

advantages of a real city, but at the

same time it keeps the intimacy of a

village. In Salamanca, the inhabitants

speak the "purest" Spanish in Spain -

Castilian. For this reason Salamanca is

enormously popular with people all

over the world who want to learn

Spanish. The Plaza Mayor, one of the

finest squares in Spain and known as

the living room of the Salamantinos

(Salamancans) and is particularly

atmospheric after sundown. You can

eat in a fancy restaurant or simply

enjoy a beer and a snack. The choice of

restaurants and bars is endless.

Underground secure parking is

available immediately below our hotel

for anyone not wishing to leave their

bike on the streets. The cost of seven

euros can be shared by placing two or

more bikes in one parking space.

Breakfast can be taken in the hotel or if

you prefer, you can pop out to a nearby

café. No meals, including breakfasts

are included in the tour price.

Although the journey to Salamanca is

almost all main highway, the scenery is

fantastic. Those of you with small

petrol tanks need not worry, we will be

stopping frequently to refuel our bikes

and ourselves.

See dates and prices

6

The Andalucia Tour

Day 2

Salamanca to Merida

After breakfast in Salamanca, we travel

170 miles on to Merida.

The capital of Extremadura and the

ancient capital of Lusitania, Merida

was one of the most famous Roman

cities of the Iberian Peninsula, and

features some of the best preserved

Roman ruins in Europe.

Extremadura was held to be the

traditional boundary between Moorish

and Christian Spain. Merida itself was

passed between Christian, Moorish,

and even Portuguese control. It's a

fabulous place to walk. Like Rome

(only much smaller!) archaeology pops

up in the strangest corners, and the

Moorish influence adds a grace of its

own to the town.

The best preserved ruins in Spain are

testament to Merida once being the

largest Roman city in Iberia. Most of

the main sights are within easy

walking distance of the beautiful Plaza

de España in the centre of town. As

one of the strongholds of the Roman

Empire, the town of Merida has many

tales to tell in its buildings and

architecture. Indeed, with it being so

close to the Portuguese border, its

history has found the town being in the

control of not only Rome, but Portugal

too.

Since it is such a peaceful town, far

away from the usual holidaymaking

hordes who occupy the beaches of

some coastal areas, Merida allows you

to explore its vast history at your own

leisure. And what a history it has.

One of the major landmarks of the

town is its Roman amphitheatre, which

dates back to before the birth of Christ,

and was built by the famous architect,

Agrippa. Such is the condition of it

today that there are still plays held

there every summer during the popular

Festival of Merida which takes place

annually in July and August attracting

many visitors. As well as classic plays

it consists mainly of music and dance

events staged not only in the

amphitheatre but in the Roman theatre

itself.

See dates and prices

7

The Andalucia Tour

Day 3

Merida to Torre del Mar

270 miles today will see us arrive at

our home for the next 6 nights. Torre

del Mar is a delightful coastal town, as

yet undiscovered by the Northern

European masses.

There are countless bars and

restaurants to choose from, so there

should be something to suit everyone.

The Paseo Maritimo (promenade) in

Torre del Mar is one of the finest in

Spain. You can walk the whole length

of the town to the fishing port of La

Caleta, stopping off on the way in one

of the many chiringuitos (beach bar)

for a refreshing beer.

Here in Torre del Mar we stay in

bungalows. A good-sized swimming

pool is available on the campsite, as is

a restaurant and mini-market. The

campsite lies at the edge of the town

and is close to many bars and

restaurants.

Torre del Mar is ideally placed for

touring Andalucia and has the added

benefit of a temperate coastal climate.

It is situated to the east of Malaga city,

which means less traffic and easy

access to the beautiful Andalucian

mountains and countryside.

Both on the sea front and the back

streets, there are numerous bars and I

know of at least three Chinese

restaurants, a couple of Italian, Indian,

Thai, Mexican and of course, an

abundance of Spanish restaurants. This

is a working Spanish town and as such,

doesn’t become deserted outside the

months of July and August.

See dates and prices

8

The Andalucia Tour

Day 4

Nerja Caves, La Herradura and Lake Bermejales

What a great day this. Our first port of

call is the Nerja Caves system. Ask

anyone who has visited the caves and

they'll tell you just how impressive

they are.

These are breathtakingly beautiful

caves, some of the best in Europe and

officially recognised as an historical

and artistic monument, Nerja Caves are

one of the most important Prehistoric

archaeological sites on the western

Mediterranean. Dating back some five

million years, they are notable for the

large chambers filled with stalactites

and stalagmites, and the immense

length, over 4,000 metres.

After the caves, we take one of the best

biking roads you will ever find. The

new motorway between Nerja and

Almunecar has left the old coast road,

which winds its way around the cliffs,

almost deserted. We arrive in La

Herradura for refreshments/lunch, and

a chance to talk about the road we’ve

just ridden.

From the coast, we head inland to the

Bermejales lake and then return via the

mountain road through Zaffaraya

Pass........just brilliant, a winding

mountain road with fabulous scenery

(picture left).

Lake Bermejales is a place of natural

beauty, where the water is electric blue

due to the lake having a sand bottom

that reflects the suns rays. It is often

likened to the Caribbean Sea. The lake

has a contrast of rocky alcoves and

miles of fine sandy beach (an inland

beach.) The lake is surrounded by

towering Mediterranean black pine

trees with a backdrop of photogenic

mountains. It also opens up to a vast

gorge where you can watch Eagles in

their natural habitat.

From coast to mountains to lake in one

day, and what a day.

See dates and prices

9

The Andalucia Tour

Day 5

El Torcal and The Wolf Park

We’re really into the tour now and

loving every minute. By now we

should be familiar with each other and

enjoying a laugh or three. But we’re

not going to take our foot of the

laughing gas just yet.

Torcal Park Nature Reserve is known

for it's unusual limestone rock

formations. Within El Torcal Park's 17

square km are some of the most

beautiful and impressive limestone

landscapes in Europe. The whole area

was under sea until one hundred

million years ago

When the violent movements of the

Earth's crust forced upward to form

hills and mountains 1.300 metres

above sea level, the limestone still kept

its layered horizontal formation. Over

the millions of years the rain and wind

have been able to chisel away at these

layers to form incredible shapes

The Wolf Park features four different

wolf sub species: Canadian Timber,

European, Alaskan Tundra and native

Iberian that have been given a home.

An incredible place, circled by the El

Torcal mountain range and it’s

probably as close as humans can safely

get to untamed wolves.

Antequera is overlooked by an

enormous crag of limestone, 880

metres high, called La Peña de los

Enamorados, or "The Lovers' Leap".

The name comes from a local legend

about an impossible love affair

between a young Christian man from

Antequera and a beautiful Moorish girl

from nearby Archidona, who were

driven to the top of the cliff by the

Moorish soldiers, where, rather than

renounce their love, they chose to hurl

themselves into the abyss. We will stop

to take photos of the incredible head-

shaped mountain.

See dates and prices

10

The Andalucia Tour

Day 6

El Chorro and the Spanish Lake District

Another memorable day. Imagine three

stunningly beautiful, turquoise

coloured lakes bordered by pine

forests. Now imagine riding your bike

through this scene.......Mmmmm

Around the lakes lie many typical

Spanish villages, so they'll be no

danger of running dry while we're out

and about. Some of the restaurants and

cafes in this area enjoy spectacular

views.

The area generally boasts stunning

views and is surrounded by vast pine

forests and soaring limestone cliffs. In

1989 it was proclaimed a natural

reserve by the Junta de Andalucia.

El Caminito del Rey (English: The

King’s pathway) is a walkway or via

ferrata, now fallen into disrepair,

pinned along the steep walls of a

narrow gorge in El Chorro. The name

is often shortened to El Camino del

Rey.

It was built in 1901 to allow local

workers the ability to cross between

two nearby waterfalls, Chorro Falls

and Gaitanejo Falls. It served as a

shortcut so the workers would not have

to climb down the mountain on one

side and climb back up on the other.

Now a century later, the walkway has

fallen into a state of serious disrepair.

Many parts of the walkway have

completely collapsed, leaving nothing

but a metal beam and a wire between

you and 700 feet of nothing. If you

fancy walking the narrow path, you're

going by yourself, and whatever you

do, don't look down! See the video

here….if you dare, then email me and

tell me what you think.

The danger doesn't seem to stop people

from climbing it. This walkway serves

as a time-saving approach to

Makinodromo, the name of a famous

climbing sector of El Chorro. Since

the walkway is just as much a shortcut

today as it was one hundred years ago,

people risk their lives on a daily basis

despite its illegal status.

Also in this area is the railway bridge

that provided the setting for one of the

final scenes in 'Von Ryan's Express'.

See dates and prices

11

The Andalucia Tour

Day 7

The Village in the Sky

Today we take a chill pill and cruise

around some of the white villages in

the local area, including Comares, the

village in the sky. There will be plenty

of time for coffee and listening to some

of the jokes I've been saving up for

you.

As we make our way up the winding

road, we will see the village literally

hanging on to the mountainside.

Comares is famous for its local Malaga

sweet wine and almonds, which can

often be purchased from the villagers.

A walking route has been marked out

in the shape of footprints impressed

into the narrow streets. You will also

be able to visit one of the highest grave

yards you’ll ever come across; it is of

course, the dead centre of Comares.

After we leave Comares, we will

embark on a tour of some typical

Andalucian White Villages. These

aren’t the touristy villages geared up to

sell souvenirs and postcards, these are

real places with real people. If you

think you’d enjoy a brief taste of

Spanish village life, today will suit you

down to the ground……..and up to the

sky.

Let’s not forget the roads between

these villages; sometimes, the only

living thing you’ll see will be goats,

but we will return via lake Vinuela on

the 356, widely regarded as one of the

very best biking roads in the country.

Lake Vinuela is another stunning area,

dominated by Mount Maroma, the

highest peak in Malaga Province.

See dates and prices

12

The Andalucia Tour

Day 8

The Alhambra Palace, Granada

The Alhambra, The Red One, was once

the residence of the Muslim rulers of

Granada and their court. It is now one

of Spain's major tourist attractions

exhibiting the country's most famous

Islamic architecture, together with

Christian 16th century and later

buildings. Its gardens are world

famous.

On July 7 2007, the New Seven

Wonders of the World were

announced. One of the nominees was

the Alhambra. Unfortunately, it didn't

make the final seven, but it came pretty

close.

Entrance tickets to the Alhambra are

not included in the tour price, but can

be obtained by us in advance.

Quite close to the Alhambra lies the

Albaicin. This is the old part of

Granada and is undistinguishable from

parts of Morocco.

Granada’s Cathedral is also well worth

visiting, this too is close to the

Alhambra.

We will return to base once again via

Zaffaraya mountain pass.

Granada city is a great alternative for

those who prefer it. Fortunately, the

city and the Alhambra are very close

together.

See dates and prices

13

The Andalucia Tour

Day 9

Torre del Mar to the Province of Ciudad Real

230 miles today to the province of

Ciudad Real, as we begin our journey

north through Spain, stopping along

the way for refreshments/lunch and

fuel.

Made popular by the adventures of

Don Quixote, windmills are one of the

most popular and internationally

recognised symbols in the landscape of

La Mancha and of Spain.

Before they fell into decline, around

the middle of the 19th century - due the

arrival of American, Australian and

Russian grain on the European cereals

market -, the whole peninsula was

covered with mills. The low flow of

Spanish rivers, by comparison with

rivers in the rest of Europe, meant that

the most common model was powered

by wind.

Next to Cerro Calderico, in Consuegra

stands an impressive group of La

Mancha-style windmills. Although, in

their day, there were thirteen windmills

on top of the hill, nowadays only

eleven remain. Four of these - Sancho,

Rucio, Bolero and Espartero -

completely conserve their machinery,

or a large part of it.

As we continue to move northwards,

you will notice how the landscape

changes from the rugged mountains of

Granada Province to the plains of

Spanish folklore.

In Granada, you could forget that you

were on a main highway as the

mountains provide a constant backdrop

to our journey.

See dates and prices

14

The Andalucia Tour

Day 10

The Province of Ciudad Real to Valladolid

240 miles through the middle of Spain,

passing by Madrid and arriving in

Valladolid with plenty of time to look

around.

Valladolid was captured from the

Moors in the tenth century. It was then

a small village which was later

improved by Count Pedro Ansúrez. In

1469, Queen Isabella of Castile and

King Ferdinand of Aragon were

married in the city and by the fifteenth

century it was the residence of the

kings of Castile and remained the

capital of the Kingdom of Spain until

1561, when Philip II moved the capital

to Madrid. Christopher Columbus died

in Valladolid in 1506 in a house which

is now a Museum dedicated to him. It

was made the capital of the kingdom

again between 1601 and 1606 by

Philip III. It was in that period when

Cervantes published his first edition of

Don Quixote in 1604.

As you'd expect of a city with a

400,000-strong population, there are

plenty of tapas bars and restaurants to

choose from.

It’s our last night together (I’m filling

up as I write this), and a time to

exchange email addresses and reflect

on what has been the trip of a lifetime.

We’ll celebrate the success of the tour

in the exciting city of Valladolid

The Andalucia Tour

Day 11

Valladolid to Santander

Just 153 miles today, back to

Santander.

Those of you who are going home with

Brittany Ferries will be escorted to the

gates of the Ferry Terminal. Hopefully

we’ll see you all again soon. Bon

Voyage.

See dates and prices

15

The Heartland Tour

This is a seven night, one base tour.

We stay at an hotel where Castilla y

Leon meets Aragon and La Rioja.

From here we can explore our scenic

surroundings. The area is renowned for

its pure, clean air derived from its

forests and lack of industry. Castilla y

Leon is the biggest region in Spain and

also one of the most picturesque,

whilst La Rioja is world famous for its

wines.

Soria is one of the undiscovered jewels

of Spain. Pine trees and mountains

abound and the roads are pretty much

deserted most of the time.

The first and last days have an element

of autovia riding, in order to reach our

destination at a reasonable time, but

the rest of the tour is pretty much

devoted to mountain passes and sleepy

villages.

One of the highlights of this tour is the

trip to El Monasterio de Piedra. The

monastery itself is worthy of a visit,

but the waterfalls and cascades within

the grounds are out of this world. I’d

like to point out here, that there is a fair

amount of walking involved during

this visit, but it’s well worth the effort.

See the Monasterio de Piedra video

here

Another great day out is the crossing of

the Puerto Piqueras

See the Puerto Piqueras video here

Add to this, the Black Lagoon, the

impressive Fortress of Gormaz and the

Roman ruins at Tiemes, and we have

ourselves a great tour.

As I mentioned at the outset, the routes

aren’t set in stone and there’s always

room for a little flexibility, to suit our

particular group.

The Heartland Tour was extremely

popular in 2009, and with a limited

number of tours and places, it’s

advisable to reserve your place early.

16

The Heartland Tour

Day 1

Santander to Soria

We meet at the ferry terminal in

Santander. As always, you don't have

to travel from Plymouth, you may like

to make your own way through France

before joining us. Those of you who

wish to relax on the Pont Aven can see

booking information at

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

We make the 220 mile journey to our

hotel, stopping along the way to take

refreshment and get to know each

other. This journey alone is a fantastic

day out.

Although a large part of the journey is

on the autovia, the scenery is

wonderful as we cross the mountains

of Northern Spain. Visitors from

Britain will notice the absence of

traffic once we leave the bustle of

Santander.

.

As we leave the motorway, you’ll

notice the landscape change. You’ll

begin to smell the pine trees and the

mountain air that’s going to be ours for

the seven nights.

See dates and prices

17

The Heartland Tour

Day 2

Green Pines, Red Earth and a Black Lagoon

The whole of the Parque Natural is

impressive, with fantastically shaped

rocks.

First stop is the impressive 'Black

Lagoon’. At 1780 metres above sea

level, this lake of glacial origins will

live long in your memory.

Then we move on to the mediaeval

village of Calatanazor where a decisive

battle took place in 1002, between the

invading Muslims and the forces of the

Christian armies of Castile led by

Count Sanco Garcia ,and Leon led by

Alfonso V. This small village is

considered to be the most mediaeval of

this mediaeval province.

And to Wolf River Canyon, with its

hidden 'ermita' (chapel) tucked away

deep in the canyon. We then ride to the

top of the canyon to enjoy the stunning

panoramic views and look down on the

soaring eagles.

During the day, we will take regular

refreshment breaks

Almost all the roads in this area are

great biking roads and used by

weekend bikers from Madrid and

Barcelona.

At the end of a great day, we return to

our base for a well-earned beer.

18

The Heartland Tour

Day 3

El Monasterio de Piedra

It took 23 years to build the Monastery

(1195 – 1218), a remarkably short time

if one considers its size, though the

builders did not need to quarry or dress

the stone as it was all taken directly

from the old Moorish wall and castle.

Alfonso II called on people from

Catalonia, Navarra and Valencia, areas

which had already be converted to

Christianity, to come and build the

monastery and create a new

community together with the monks.

The best part of the visit is the green,

exotic park where cascading water

helps us unwind, if we haven't already

done so. The waters of the River Piedra

have shaped the landscape into lakes,

grottos and waterfalls. Here we will

see such magnificent sights as the

'Mirror Lake' and the 50 metre high

'Horse's Tail' waterfall. See the video

here

Also in the grounds is a

cafe/restaurant, so we'll be well fed

ready for our journey back.

Today we'll cover around 150 miles of

fantastic biking roads during the round

trip. Don’t worry, we return home via a

different route, so the scenery will be

continue to be full of surprises.

You will notice a remarkable

difference in the landscape and

climate, as we leave the mountains and

ride the Iberian Plains.

There can be a lot of walking involved

today, but it’s well worth the effort to

see the cascading waters of the

Monasterio de Piedra.

See dates and prices

19

The Heartland Tour

Day 4

Sierra de Cebollera and the Puerto Piqueras

A two and a half kilometre tunnel has

taken the traffic away from the Puerto

Piqueras and turned it into heaven for

bikers. The road, which rises to over

1700 metres, is wide, twisting and

deserted. The surface is beautifully

smooth and the views are absolutely

stunning. The rest of the Sierra

Cebollera isn't bad either. The villages

here are unspoilt, friendly places.

Often, a local will approach and

enquire about your bike, or ask you

where you are from. It's fun to use sign

language to communicate, but if you're

really struggling, your Spanish

speaking guide will assist you.

In the Sierra de Cebollera, the scenery

changes quickly. It is remarkable for

its rocky outcrops and resemblance to

cowboy country, but the one constant

is the lack of traffic.

See a video of the Puerto Piqueras here

One of the best things about riding

through the mountains, apart from the

wonderful scenery, is stopping in

small, typically Spanish villages for

coffee etc. Every village seems to have

its own character and identity, and the

locals are usually really friendly.

See dates and prices

If you have any questions, please don’t

hesitate to contact me via email at

alan@motorbike-tours.co.uk If you

prefer to discuss matters directly,

please call me on 0121 288 4922.

Leave a message and I’ll call you back

20

The Heartland Tour

Day 5

Picos de Urbion

Today we take the high road again, and

what a spectacular place this is! If you

like winding, mountain roads, this is

the place for you. I never tire of

crossing these peaks; it's always an

exhilarating experience. I don't know if

it's the pure, clean air, or the smell of

the pine trees continues to excite me,

Semi wild horses roam the peaks and

it's not unusual to round a bend and

meet a cow sitting in the middle of the

road. Eagles are commonplace in these

parts, and quite often circle close

above our heads.

This area is without doubt, one of the

most beautiful in Spain, if not Europe.

The scenery is nothing short of

humbling. I can't wait to get back

there.

We call at numerous villages including

Upper Vinegar, Lower Vinegar and

Vinegar (don’t ask). Montenegro de

Cameros is a really picturesque

mountain village; we stop here for a

chance to take photos.

As we leave the Vinegars, we ride

along side a huge lake that seems to go

on forever, until we eventually reach

Quintanar de la Sierra.

If time allows, we will call at the

Necropolis de Cuyacabras and enjoy

the mirador which looks out above the

tree canopy.

See dates and prices

21

The Heartland Tour

Day 6

Numancia, Burgo de Osma, Tiermes and Gormaz

Today we begin the day with the short

ride to the ruins of the Roman city of

Numancia, Then we head to the

enchanting city of Burgo de Osma.

More Roman ruins follow, before we

go to the fortress of Gormaz, which

enjoys spectacular views over the

River Duero and the distant landscape.

The patchwork of fields on the plain

below is a memory that will surely

stick with you.

One of the features of today is the

fabulous, sweeping roads….and only

us to enjoy them. Just imagine riding

your bike and seeing the road rolled

out before you, twisting into the

horizon.

Burgo de Osma is the place we stop at

for refreshments. This ancient, walled

town is steeped in history and

wonderful to stroll through,

The ruins of Tiermes are little known

outside Soria and we’ll probably find

that we are alone as we view the

Roman swimming pool and remains of

the theatre.

See dates and prices

22

The Heartland Tour

Day 7

Riding in the Sierras

Today is a leisurely day exploring local

villages and enjoying plenty of

refreshments and photo opportunities.

Again we head high and inhale the

clear mountain air in the villages of

Santa Cruz de Yanguas, Villar del Rio

and San Pedro Manrique amongst

others.

This is a day of relaxation and

reflection on a great week.

See dates and prices

If we’re lucky, we’ll spot some

amazing wildlife during our ride today.

I was really lucky to snap this photo

(above) near the village of Villar del

Rio.

Spain’s Jurassic park

Ichnite (fossil footprints) sites in Spain

are amongst the world's most important

for the quantity, quality and variety of

the tracks to be found. They represent

almost all the different types and sizes

of animals - footprints that have served

to reveal, for the first time, certain

species and trails that are rarely seen in

other places.

It’s getting near the end of the tour

now, and hopefully some of you will

be close to tears, but don’t worry, you

can come back next year.

Let’s get you back to the hotel for a

drink.

23

The Heartland Tour

Day 8

Back to Santander

Sadly it's time to bid farewell, but not

before we have enjoyed the journey

back to Santander. This time, as we

pass through the Sierra de Cebollera,

we take the two and a half kilometre

tunnel that passed over when we rode

the Puerto Piqueras.

Hopefully, it'll not be long before we

see you again.

Alan

routes are subject to change

See dates and prices

24

The Valle del Jerte is famous for its

Cherry Trees, Gorges and Rivers and is regarded as a national treasure

by the people of Spain.

Valle del Jerte Tour

This is a seven night tour. On route to

the Valle de Jerte, we stay over in the

atmospheric city of Salamanca. Once

we reach the village of Jerte, we stay in

bungalows. A swimming pool is

available on the campsite, as is a

restaurant and mini-market. The

campsite lies at the entrance to the

magnificent Garganta de los Infiernos.

(Hell's Gorge)

The Valle del Jerte sits between three

national parks, Monfrague, Sierra de

Gredos and Sierra de Francia. It is also

perfectly located to visit the Classic

Motorcycle Museum, the biggest and

best motorcycle museum in Spain.

The Sierra de Gredos has long been a

favourite with bikers from the whole of

Europe and beyond, but the lesser

known Sierra de Francia and the

Monfrague Parque Nacional are just as

impressive, if not more so and lie

within easy reach of our chosen base.

We have to thank Juan Gil Moreno for

giving life to the Classic Motorcycle

Museum of Spain. I wonder if he

imagined at the outset, that his dream

would develop into what it is today.

Please note that entrance fees are not

included in the cost of the tour.

See dates and prices

25

Valle del Jerte Tour

Day 1

Santander to Salamanca

We meet near the ferry terminal in

Santander. As I’ve mentioned before,

you don't have to travel from

Plymouth, you may like to make your

own way through France before

joining us. Those of you who wish to

relax on the Pont Aven can see

booking information at

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

From Santander, we make the 225 mile

journey to the beautiful city of

Salamanca, arriving in time to enjoy a

meal in one of the many restaurants

around the world famous Plaza Mayor.

Our hotel is just ten minutes walk

(even if you walk slowly) to the

historic centre of Salamanca.

$Salamanca is considered one of the

most spectacular Renaissance cities in

Europe. Through the centuries the

sandstone buildings have gained an

exquisite golden glow that has given

Salamanca the nickname La Ciudad

Dorada, the golden city. This golden

glow is unique in Spain and is due to

the "Villamayor Stone", a type of

sandstone coming from a quarry

situated in Villamayor, a village close

by.

Underground secure parking is

available immediately below our hotel

for anyone not wishing to leave their

bike on the streets. The cost of seven

euros can be shared by placing two or

more bikes in one parking space.

See dates and prices

26

Valle del Jerte Tour

Day 2

Salamanca to Jerte

After a leisurely breakfast in

Salamanca, we have more time to

explore the city before we travel 70

miles on to Jerte, allowing plenty of

time to settle in to our impressive

surroundings. Now would be a good

time to enjoy a drink in the sunshine,

and prepare ourselves for exciting

times ahead. By the way, anyone who

lasts the whole week without laughing

at one of my jokes, wins a coconut, or

a beer.

Our home for the next six nights is at

the entrance to the Garganta de Los

Infiernos; Hell’s Gorge in English, but

believe me, it’s more like heaven. Our

bungalows are shaded by mature trees.

The campsite has a swimming pool (in

season), restaurant/bar and shop.

The bungalows are well equipped and

modern. Kitchen facilities are useful

for those wishing to cater for

themselves whilst on tour. You can

bring a sleeping bag or hire bedding

for just 2 Euros (one payment).

The bungalows are designed for two

people, one in a bedroom and one on a

sofa/bed, but if you wish you can pay

the single supplement and have one to

yourself.

If you are travelling alone and wish to

share, we will do our best to find a

partner for you, but we can’t make

promises regarding this.

There are a limited number of

bungalows, so early booking is

advised.

See dates and prices

27

Valle del Jerte Tour

Day 3

Sierra de Gredos

A ride in the Sierras beckons today.

The Sierra de Gredos is one of the

three national parks which surround

the Valle del Jerte.

The Gredos mountains is an area of

Spain that is overlooked by most

visitors to the country, which suits us

just fine. The Park covers some 86,236

hectares; a beautiful mountain range

with peaks reaching up to nearly

2600ms, starting at the Cerro de

Guisando in the East and stretching

some 135 kms to the West.

Of course, we won’t cover the whole

of the 86,000 hectares, but we will do

quite a few cafes along the way.

Mombeltran Castle is also on the

agenda (pictured above).

The colossal peaks of the Sierra de

Gredos Mountains lie in the south of

the region of Castile y León, some 170

kilometres from Madrid. These giant

granite rocks will leave a lasting

impression, and it’s easy to see why

this is a favourite haunt for bikers. You

will be fascinated by the picturesque

villages with their little stone houses

surrounded by the rugged landscape.

The writer/philosopher, Miguel de

Unamuno described this area as ‘The

Stone Heart of Spain’. Lakes, crags,

rivers, gorges and giant walls of stone

all form part of the Sierra de Gredos

Mountains. The highest peak reaches

2,592 metres.

As is our way, we’ll take plenty of

refreshment breaks. Photo

opportunities abound; it would be a

shame to ride through this beautiful

landscape without capturing the

moments to drool over during those

UK winter months.

See dates and prices

28

Valle del Jerte Tour

Day 4

The Classic Motorcycle Museum and Hervas

The Classic Motorcycle Museum of

Spain is a story apart. It was born of

the idea of just one man, Juan Gil

Moreno, who used his free time and

money to build what has become the

finest collection of motorcycles in

Spain.

The museum itself is a work of art, its

eight exhibition halls are arranged in

circles and sweeping curves that are so

easy on the eye. With more than 300

examples of classic bikes, cars, hearses

and much, much more, we are assured

of a great day out. After we've had our

fill of the museum (which may take

some time), we stop in the historic

village of Hervas.

The most significant feature in Hervás'

historical heritage is the Jewish

quarter. Its narrow, steep streets are

lined with houses clustering together

like grapes, which were made with

adobe and chestnut-wood frameworks,

their roofs plastered with Arab tiles to

shield the wind. The architectural

heritage includes remarkable civil

buildings such as the palace of Dávila,

a large house from the middle of the

18th century, which at present houses a

stately home-museum, and a public

library. The infirmary of the

Franciscan monks, from the 18th

century, is currently home to the City

Hall and the Municipal Police.

29

Valle del Jerte Tour

Day 5

Monfrague Parque Nacional

Monfrague National Park is home to a

variety of birds of prey including

Griffon Vultures, Egyptian Vultures,

Peregrine Falcons and Golden Eagles.

A variety of Harriers and Kites also

feature amongst the estimated 175

different types of birds that frequent

the park.

I have to say, that this is my favourite

National Park, maybe because the

mighty River Tagus with its high

banks, never fails to take away my

breath as it cuts through the heart of

the park.

Our first call will be at the Cardenal

bridge, which dates back to medieval

times, and the little village of Villarreal

de San Carlos which offers a piece of

modern history with its 28 inhabitants

who act as guardians of the Cardenal

Bridge.

Time permitting, we will visit Jaraiz de

la Vera and see its natural swimming

pool. It's a long day, but there will be

plenty of photo opportunities and

refreshment stops.

The roads here are brilliant for biking

too. I’m sure that you’ll remember this

day for a long, long time.

Despite the fact that the Monfrague

National Park is best known for its bird

life, there is plenty more wildlife to

look out for. Some of the other types of

animals that we’ll encounter on our

journey through the park include wild

boar, otters as well as Iberian lynxes,

which are very rare. There are also

wild cats and a mix of red, fallow and

roe deer.

30

Valle del Jerte Tour

Day 6

Plasencia

Today we take the short trip to the

walled market town of Plasencia to

relax in the cafes and catch up on a

little shopping.

Liying on the banks of the River Jerte,

Plasencia has an historic quarter that is

a consequence of the city's strategic

location along the Silver Route, or

Ruta de la Plata. Since the 15th

century, the noblemen of the region

began to move to Plasencia, defining

its current appearance. Palaces,

ancestral homes and significant

religious buildings make up a unique

old quarter.

The Plaza Mayor in Plasencia is a

wonderful place to sit and watch the

world go by. Plasencia retains a unique

atmosphere; its narrow streets are

crammed with restaurants, bars and

shops, all within a short distance of the

main square.

Coming to Plasencia doesn’t mean

we’re going to miss out on our

biking…Oh no. During our return

journey, we’ll be using some fantastic

biking roads.

We’ll be back at base camp in good

time to enjoy a hearty meal and a few

beers.

See dates and prices

31

Valle del Jerte Tour

Day 7

Sierra de Francia

One of the Sierra de Francia's greatest

features is the diversity of the

wonderful scenery, from granite, slate

and quartzite which support the varied

wild vegetation, to forests of oaks,

chestnut trees, pine trees, walnut trees,

apple trees and almond groves.

We visit Alberca, formerly known as

Valdelaguna. This village is 1084

metres above sea level on the Northern

slopes of 'la Sierra de Francia' (the

French Mountains'). Its unusual houses

and streets make it a definite photo

opportunity.

Once again, there will be plenty of

refreshment stops.

The Sierra de Francia is one of the

mountain ranges belonging to the

Sistema Central. Its forested mountain

slopes (alder, oak, pine and ash) rise

over the Northern Castilian Plateau,

marking the geographical limit of its

southwestern plains (Llanura

Salmantina). From its southern side

this mountain chain marks the northern

limit of Las Hurdes, the legendary

Extremaduran comarca.

The Sierra de Francia consists of a

quite regular succession of peaks of

moderate height, of which the Pico de

La Hastiala (1.735 m) is the highest. At

the top of the Peña de Francia (1723

m) stands one of the highest Virgin

Mary shrines of the world, as well as a

RTVE antenna. Other summits worth

mentioning are the Mesa del Francés

(1.638 m) and the Pico Robledo (1.614

m). All these peaks are usually covered

with snow in the winter season.

Among the rivers that cut valleys in the

sierra, the most famous is the Río

Francia, which gives the mountain

chain its name, as well as the Alagón.

See dates and prices

32

Valle del Jerte Tour

Day 8

Jerte to Santander

Early start today as we take the 298

mile journey back to Santander.

It’s a long way, but it’s all been worth

while; great memories, great friends.

See you again soon.

Those of you travelling back to Britain

by ferry will be escorted to the

terminal gates in Santander.

routes are subject to change

See dates and prices

The last Word (I promise)

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this

brochure and it inspires you to join us

during the coming year.

I can’t emphasise enough that the tours

are open to all levels of riding skills

and experience. Whether you’ve been

riding for more years than you’d care

to remember, or you’re new to the

world of bikes, you’re welcome with

us. It would be nice to see a few more

ladies too, so come on girls, have a

word with your friends and come and

join us.

One of the changes we’ve made this

year is the use of bungalows on

campsites (not Heartland Tour).

Because these bungalows have fully

equipped kitchens, we have the luxury

of being able to make ourselves a nice

cup of tea just when we like, or supply

our own breakfast etc.

You may have noticed ‘routes are

subject to change’ written at the end of

each tour. Don’t let this alarm you; it’s

just that sometimes the clouds come

down on the mountains and we have to

swap the days around, or find an

alternative route. I dare say, you could

take pictures of clouds at home. At

times during our tours, we discover

something that’s

worth adding to the

itinerary, so we

include it in the next

tour. These tours are

my babies, and I love

to see them grow and

develop.

Bye, see you soon I hope.

Alan