morning all

hello there!

I've owned a disco 1 for a few years now and been out and about on the lanes around England.

Now I'm looking at an overland trip to the Pyrenees, most probably Spain. does anyone know where the best place to look it to find legal tracks? I've found a load of videos on line of people that have done similar things but no locations or routes as such.

I've found this site (link at bottom) that looks good but you have to buy the books for about £70 something.

Has anyone found any good sites for tracks or routes, know any other discussions where i might find some answers or have any other information of any use to me at all!

Many thanks in advance.




https://www.vibraction.org/

Welcome! I am no Pyrenees expert but there are a couple on this forum who are. I am sure they will respond soon...or at least after the long weekend.

Hi and welcome
Pyrenees is good to drive as tembo says after the holidays more will reply, Our founder Tom knows a lot also a few others.

First and foremost ... welcome to the forum!

Regarding the Pyrenees, it's an off-road paradise. Ought to qualify that statement - the Spanish side of the Pyrenees is an off-road paradise. Why? Because the French seem to go out of their way to make life awkward for bikers and 4x4 users (blocked routes being just one example), whereas the Spanish always give you a friendly wave and positively welcome you to their neck of the woods.

As it happens, I live in Catalonia, roughly midway between Andorra and Barcelona. 800m up in the Pre-Pyrenees (basically the southern foothills of the Pyrenees), there are 65km of tracks just around the village - a small village of just 500 people it should be noted, which means the tracks twist and turn in all directions.

Over Easter my mate and myself drove some new routes in two Range Rover Classics. On two consecutive days, both took 3 hours, the distances were just 8 miles and 10 miles! HEAVEN!!!

By the way, all can be tacked with a bog standard 4x4, although one route the other day was so difficult we walked it and didn't even attempt it, just saved it in the GPS as 'extreme'. One day when we have the right vehicles ...

It's worth remembering that two vehicles minimum are essential because of breakdown/stuck/accident. That's why we'll be running a limited number of commercial off-road tours before too long as we know the routes plus there's safety in numbers.

Cheers Tom Mc. from what i've read spain is the place to be but aside from the vibraction road books I'm not sure how to find the tracks legal to drive and whether or not they are open or not etc. any idea where to find out where we're allowed to drive?


cheers

It really is a difficult one. While the French won’t bother with any signage so you could be driving on private tracks or ones with no access for vehicles, resulting in irate land owners pointing a gun at you (it’s happened to me before on more than one occasion), the Spanish are far more ‘matter of fact’. Generally if they don’t want you down their track, either they will erect a sign saying Privat (Catalan) or Privado (Castillan Spanish), or they’ll simply rig a padlocked chain across the track.

However, that’s not to say a completely unmarked track is driveable. It could lead to a casa (house), farm complex, private enterprise such as a wind-farm or factory, or simply a farmer’s field.

Whilst ‘laning over Easter developing new routes for the commercial tours I mentioned previously, several times we (‘we’ being two vehicles) did precisely what I’ve just described, so spent 3 hours driving just 5 km.

On top of this, we happened upon an uphill track so bad, we had to reverse back down as it was impossible to drive any further with our standard vehicles. With very well-prepped 4x4s it certainly would have been possible as it was pretty extreme, but with a shower of rain (something that can happen in the mountains within minutes – one moment clear blue skies, the next it clouds over with rain or even a thunderstorm, then back to clear skies all within 20-30 mins), it can become virtually impassible until it dries again. Without winches you’re stuffed!

As I say it’s difficult finding the routes, even more so the right ones as you can drive 5km only to find it’s either a dead end or private property/commercial land. And that’s without the ever-present possibility of a blockage due to earth landslides, boulders or fallen trees. Breakdown is another matter entirely, best not even think about that scenario!

Don’t let all this put you off however. The Spanish Pyrenees a wonderful part of the world, no doubt about that, but like mountains everywhere it has it’s dangers and drawbacks. As long as you’re aware of that fact, then go for it.

And yes folks, the white Range Rover is the new addition to the family. A 1992 4-door sporting a 200 Tdi motor ... and completely rust free. All the usual places like the chassis, sills, bulkhead, inner wings, rear wheel arches where the seat belts mounts are located, bottom tailgate - all absolutely perfect! Not bad for a 25 year old RR, wouldn't be like that in the UK, well pleased!!    















BTW, this last shot of the Orangemobile - this was taken in a massive area on the side of a mountain. Parked on grey rock, to the left behind the orange camper is a sheer drop of some 70ft/20m, and although you can't tell from the photo, the angle was so steep we had to park sideways in case the handbrakes gave up!

You just can not get away from A good Range Rover looks good, somenice photos of the terain, hope to get to the Overland show this year

Very cool Tom! And congrats on the 'new' RR!! A rust free truck would be worth quite a bit back here in the UK. Sounds like you're having fun out there.

cheers for all the help and advise gents. Still mad keen or the trip but will probably be sticking to the vibraction routes.

we'll most likely be in a standardish disco 1 and defender with a lot of spares.

we'll probably be coming to the overland show to take a look around and get some handy tips.

happy travels!

What time of the year are you thinking of for your tip?

Tembo wrote:

Very cool Tom! And congrats on the 'new' RR!! A rust free truck would be worth quite a bit back here in the UK. Sounds like you're having fun out there.

BTW, we paid 2,600 euros for the RR. You'll note the height of it, that's because it's had about a 3" body lift. It also has bash plates to the front (including a large sturdy towing eye as part of the sump guard), and to the back giving the tank protection. It also has stupid side steps which will be replaced in due course with rock sliders. It has a couple of dents, although being 'blanco', you hardly notice them. Same goes for the inevitable scratches that it'll pick up before too long.

Funny enough, despite both the Orangemobile and the white RR having exactly the same 200 Tdi lumps, uphill where the weight factor kicks in, whitey is faster, but on the flat the camper goes better. Best not mention downhill.

weeeeeell currently we have no idea we're just looking into things but i was thinking of going in summer.