MCN

CHASE THE SPANISH SUN

‘You’ll be wowed by the routes and views’ Take the ‘Trans Euro Trail’ for an off-road adventure experience that’ll last a lifetime

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‘TET’ sounds like the sort of thing you need inoculatio­ns against, but one of the great benefits of the 23,000mile ‘Trans Euro Trail’ is that none of it passes anywhere you’ll need a visa, injections, or bribes to circumnavi­gate. Carving right across Europe, the

TET is a scouted route that gives the best off-road A to B experience without having to do any recceing work. And one of the least cluttered, most dramatic and driest sections winds its way through 3648km of Spain.

Hot all the way through to the end of October, you’ll be properly wowed by the routes and views. Scale the highest peak for panoramas between the forests and you’ll catch sight of winding tracks ahead and the light peppering of small villages along the way. In terms of population there are probably fewer than 100 people inhabiting the vast expanse of land as far as you can see.

You don’t even need to pay for hotels. Carry a bivvy, or small tent, and you can enjoy wild camping beneath crystal skies.

The terrain is largely loose, rocky and steep, the type of going that would be fun on a lightweigh­t enduro bike but is more challengin­g on a fully loaded 1200cc adventure bike nudging close to 300kg. It requires maximum concentrat­ion, invoking a higher state of consciousn­ess as your synapses bounce between survival and visual awe. And a week is all you need to immerse yourself in an adventure you’ll never forget.

HERE’S ONE YOU CAN DO

Pick any part of the trail to create your own personal nirvana, and make use of the fantastic www.transeurot­rail.org resource for everything from routes to local riding laws and advice. Book the ferry – and go!

 ??  ?? The route covers 3600km through deserted Spain
The route covers 3600km through deserted Spain
 ??  ?? ‘Wonder what the weather’s like back home...’
‘Wonder what the weather’s like back home...’
 ??  ?? Travel, views, sunshine... how better to escape British winter
Travel, views, sunshine... how better to escape British winter
 ??  ?? Varied route can be challengin­g
Varied route can be challengin­g

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