Bilboa/Cherbourg drive ,

We've just done the drive, Bilboa to Cherbourg, cost of the drive €190 on Diesel bought in France and €67.60 in tolls, on top of this you would have the cost of campsites or Aire's, just in case anyone wanted to know whether it would be better to get ferry direct to spain or via Cherbourg

Great information. Have been considering options for next year and this was one of the possibilities.

I’ve done that drive a number of times, but also going via the Somport tunnel but it’s now closed due to the major storms a few weeks back, it reduces the cost of tolls

Was there a reason given for the cancellation, how much notice did you get.

We were booked on that cancelled sailing also and my sense is that there was a significant engine breakdown issue due to the utter chaos which ensued on board when they announced the cancellation in addition to the cost of the compensation to passengers not only those onboard in Bilbao but those waiting in Rosslare for the return sailing. Don't see how it would have been a 'strategic' cancellation myself.

Spanish do if you press the button for a receipt

its a lovely drive with a few small campsites on the French side. We always forget to turn left when coming out of the tunnel to visit the Canfranc station, but will manage it someday. the only thing to watch for is snow as they will shut the route to the tunnel if there is a lot of the white stuff.

One thing I have found travelling to our house in southern Catalunya(1 hour from Tarragona) is that it takes roughly the same amount of time and mileage no matter which route you take from Cherbourg/Calais etc, it only varies with where you stop off enroute to explore.