Spanish bikepacking trip ideas, 4-5 days (Picos de Europa?)

[Scud]

A group of try to get away each year for a long weekend for a bikepacking trip, usually on gravel bikes, this year we rode the Ardennes on this route:

https://bikepacking.com/routes/ardennes-arbalete/

We were heading to Sweden this year hosted by a friend who lives out there, but he's unable to take part, so we have settled on wanting to try and get some sun and visit those parts of Spain that we've not been to. Most routes seem to be based around GR 247 and GR48, but having had a look at a few articles and ideas, Picos de Europa in the North looks beautiful?

Any route ideas or areas we shouldn't miss that we can get ferry or fly pretty close to as we don't really want to spend a lot of time getting to start and/ or from finish?

[pistonbroke]

Speaking as the self appointed BB Spanish expert, I'd not chose the Picos for a gravel bike trip for a couple of reasons. Firstly the climate, North West Spain can be quite wet, it's not the Costa Verde by accident, we had a fortnight there in August a few years ago and it rained every other day. Secondly the terrain, the Picos is predominently limestone which makes the mountains quite spiky with steep climbs and the off road very rocky and unforgiving to narrow tyres.
Spain is a vast country with thousands of km of trails perfect for gravel biking so I couldn't possibly list all the options but based on rides I've actually done which are airport friendly theres,
1)The Pirinexus. A 360km circular route from Girona, crosses the Pyrenees into France through the French Catalan region and runs down the coast near Figueras, well waymarked and good surface throughout.
Website http://www.viesverdes.cat/en/Might be shorter than you want, there's a race around it in June, I did it 2 years ago in 16 hours.
2)The Cataluña Trail is an event that can be done on gravel bikes and again starts from Girona but runs south west through Cataluña to Barcelona https://catalunyatrail.com/en/catalunya-trail-en/
3)The Burrally is a longer route based in Castellon and Valencia Provinces, there's a cheap flight service from Stanstead to Castellon and the route is stunning. I rode most of it earlier this year, definitely gravel friendly https://www.strava.com/clubs/337499
4)Some or all of the Montañasvacias route in Teruel, I did a write up which is still well up the trips and adventures page. Rode it in Sept, it's great. https://montanasvacias.com/spanish-lappland/
5)or you could always PM me and I'll do a tailor made trip for you, did a similar thing last year from Reus to Girona airports over 5 days.
Hope this helps, if you want to base yourselves in Southern Cataluña, we can put you up as well.
https://casatomillo.wixsite.com/home

[Scud]

many thanks for that Pistonbroke (we have met fairly briefly, you were good enough to bring a gas canister for me on last years Torino-Nice).

I will go through the options with my mates and come back to you thank you. Which airport do we come into for your place?

[pistonbroke]

Yes I remember we were staying at the same hostal, I was using the chainrings you sold me as well.
Airport choice depends what time of year you're coming. April to October it's Reus which connects to several UK airports, rest of the year Barcelona is about 2 hours north of here.

[Scud]

Great thanks, we are looking at either March or September at present depending all of our work situations.

[pistonbroke]

From memory, you're based in East Anglia? If Stanstead is an option, you can get to Castellon which is about 90 mins from here. A quick look reveals return flights out Thurs 24th of Sept back Tue 29th for £75 plus bikes. March is a bit cheaper but may be a bit early to avoid snow as the Burrally and Montanasvacias both have significant sections above 1,500m, it certainly will be warmer in Sept.

[Scud]

I am in the Peoples Republic of Norfolk yes (always a good training ground for events like TNR!).

Thanks again for taking time to reply mate