It’s January. It’s cold. I spent much of yesterday evening watching Alan Carr and Amanda Holden renovating a house in Andalucia in southern Spain under the cloudless blue skies of summer. Do we have to wait for another six months before venturing south on our bikes? Well, no… and an email from Jannifer Margison provides some evidence that we should consider Spain in the winter too. Along with her husband, she is currently cycling in southern Spain for the second winter on the trot. Her website is worth visiting. If it weren’t for the fact that I have to work five days a week, I might be jumping on the next ferry and joining her…
Here’s what she has to say and here is the link to her website.
Hi Andrew
Another year, another cycling trip. Last winter, my husband and I decided to try Spain for a winter cycling trip, a preferable time to be away from our west coast of Canada rain and general dreariness. Besides, we love spring, summer and fall at home.
We knew Spain would not have the cycling infrastructure and signage that some other European countries have in which we have cycled but we were concerned that post-Covid accommodation rates and crowds would be too much for us.
Off season, Spain seemed worth trying and it was. We had a great 8 week leisurely cycle with our own bikes last year from early January to early March, from Cádiz almost to Granada and some days of day cycles out of Malaga, from where where we flew in and out. We found accommodation easy to find as we don’t like to book too far ahead (one or two days) and prices very reasonable. We liked the food, the people and the culture a lot. And it was so beautiful.
So we are back for 9 weeks and are just in our first week of cycling. At this point, we are following the TransAndalus route from Tarifa to Cádiz and plan to venture into Portugal along the Algarve, and then likely back into Spain. Our plans are VERY flexible. We are in La Concil on La Costs de Luz at the moment.
Just thought I would let you know in case any of your followers are interested in our trip. We are in the older demographic (71 and 73 respectively), have not yet reported to e-bikes, and plan to continue this “ slow travel” as long as we can.
I would be happy to hear from others who have come this way and have any recommendations.
Happy to receive emails too.
Hope you have had a good cycling year.
Jennifer Margison
Galiano Island, BC Canada
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I also spent a few weeks cycling in Andalusia in January and February, mostly around the Costa Tropical, and would recommend it if you want to stay in Europe. The weather isn’t perfect, ranging from about 12C to 20C with occasional rainy and windy days – but it was mostly pretty good.