· Visit the Paradors website at and plan your route from there. They are all excellent and different - some castles, others palaces or grand houses converted to hotels and run by the state. They offer good food and lovely comfortable rooms at a fraction of the price you pay here. Planning your route this way, you'll pass through some of the most beautiful parts of Spain.
From Santander, there's a choice of two routes - both pass big cities but are also scenic: the N611 to Valladolid or the N623 to Burgos. From Valladolid, stop at Salamanca - an old city with plenty to see. From Burgos, take the NI and turn off on the N110 to Segovia with its fairytale castle. From either route, head for the spectacular walled town of Avila and then south over the mountains on the N403 to Toledo - stay at the parador, even though it's a modern one, because the view from the terrace is unbeatable.
From Toledo, the N401 runs through the central plains to Cuidad Real, but be prepared: petrol stations are few and far between. Then, it's mountains on the N420 until you hit the NIV. Turn right for Cordoba, or left to Bailen, and stay at the local parador. From Cordoba, south to Malaga is easy, as is Bailen to Granada.
Margaret Clark
· I travelled from Santander to Cadiz province in March. I recommend using a Michelin map to plot a route (Map 734 Spain, Map 446 Andalucia). They indicate scenic routes with a green band alongside the road.
Choose as many of these routes as you wish. Generally, the rural road are in excellent condition and have little traffic. Even the "regional" or "alternative" routes (marked in yellow by Michelin) are good roads and are to be recommended.Road signage is very good and attention to road numbers is usually unnecessary.
As to a specific route; that depends on whether your destination is eastern or western Andalucia and whether twisty mountain roads are an attraction. In my case (western Andalucia) and seeking twisty mountain routes on my motorbike, I followed N611 to Palencia, N601 to Avila. Then a westerly deviation through the Sierra de Gredos (C501) and onwards to Trujillo. (Merida and Caceres are also fascinating). South through Merida, Montfrague national park and on towards Huelva province (EX101, N435) and El Rocio (A483) and the Cota Donana national park.
I wish I could do it again tomorrow!
David O'Mahony
· That is a very long drive. Allow plenty of time. Look out the green edged roads on the Michelin or Euro-maps. Get details of the Paradors for stop overs - not cheap but worth every penny! Read up the Rough Guide and/or the Lonely Planet Guide from your local library. Remember that once you get off the main roads filling stations are few and far between.
Bon Voyage!
David Hall
· We were in the area last year and had a wonderful time. Places not to be missed are Penafiel (Plaza del Coso and the Castle reputed to be the narrowest and longest in Spain).
El Burgo de Osma - stay at the Hotel II Virrey and eat at the Meson de Marcellin.
Close by is the ghost town of Gormaz and its ruined Castle.
Calatanazor - here you step back hundreds of years to a medieval village and it was also the location for parts of the film Doctor Zhivago.
From Valladolid take a detour and visit Astorga. You will not be disappointed - stay at the Hotel Gaudi and enjoy a meal at the Pension la Peseta.
Finally DO NOT miss Salamanca.
I hope your trip will be as good as ours - Buen viaje!
Peter Hoiles (from Oz)
