BEST ROUTE THERE

There are two ways of reaching the Pyrenees — by land or sea. The sea route is a 24hr Brittany ferry from Portsmouth or Plymouth, landing at Santander or Bilbao. From there it’s a three-hour ride to the start of the N-260, or better to ride for an hour and half to Pamplona and spend the night there. You’re riding away from the ferry, so if you want to make the most of the trip, plan a return route on the French side of the Pyrenees.

To get to the N-260 by road, you’re looking at 800-odd miles of French autoroute, followed by a blast over the mountains.