Four nights and 1000 kms of exquisite driving in the Picos mountains of northern Spain. Fabulous scenery, roads and accommodation with Spanish flair. This is a regularity rally in four legs using Bespoke Rallies’ own Virtual Marshal
timing system.

The widely accepted origin for the Picos name is that they were the first sight of Europe for ships arriving from the Americas. Before the sailors saw the mainland they could see the sharp limestone peaks. Renowned in Spain as one of the most beautiful areas they are less known outside the country. We will right the wrong and show you some of the most fantastic scenery so close to home.

The Picos 1000 is one of the events that qualifies for our 1000 Trophy. The others are The Pyrenees 1000 and the Pennine 1000. To qualify for the trophy you must do at least two of the events.

Sept 26th – Rally Day 1: 

The start of the rally is designed to coincide with the arrival of the Bilbao ferry from Portsmouth for those coming from the UK. Arriving at 08.00 you will proceed to the Hotel San Marcos, Santillana del Mar  which is less than 1hr 30mins from the port. Drop your bags, collect your roadbook, stickers and final instructions before a spot of breakfast, before you head out at 11.00am for the 50km prologue leg. Once back, the rooms will be ready and the rest of the day is yours.

The afternoon is free to catch up with the events of the morning and fine tune your car for the next few days’ exertions.

Explore Santillana del Mar. There is an old saying that Santillana del Mar is The Town of Three Lies, since it is neither a Saint (Santo), nor flat (llana), nor is it by the sea (Mar) as implied by its name. It’s a historic town in Cantabria with a well preserved centre which attracts many visitors. Jean-Paul Sartre described Santillana as the prettiest village in Spain (“le plus joli village d’Espagne”).

Hotel: Hotel San Marcos

Sept 27th – Rally Day 2: Suances to Fuenta de

We set out once again from Suances but this time head south and then loop west. From a base of just over 20 metres above sea level we start to climb and climb through the magnificent mountains of the Picos, topping out at more than 1340 metres today. With stunning view after stunning view, its hard to see how these mountains are still Europe’s best kept secret.

We briefly drop down again to a sharp gorge before climbing once again to Fuente de. Here nestled in this high valley is a small village with a cable car that swings you across the valley and up the sheer face of the Cantabrian mountains. Opened in 1966 it has a single span of 1.45kilometres that rises 800 metres! Truly stunning and the longest single span in Europe.

Hotel: Parador Fuente de

Sept 28th – Rally Day 3: Fuente de to Peubloastur

Back down the valley from Fuente de. Seeing the scenery in the opposite direction only increases ones appreciation of this great mountain range. We turn west and trace the road around the Parque Nacional de Picos de Europa. From one national park to the Parque Natural de Ponga, it’s day of twists and turns, much above 1300metres. Towards the end of the day the mountains drop as we approach the northern coastline. Tonight we stay in the fabulous Puebloastur Eco-Resort.

Hotel: Puebloastur Eco-Resort and Spa

Sept 29th – Day 4: Puebloastur to Abba Resort

Narrow lanes and quiet roads are a feature of the day as we twist and turn along some of the most electrifying roads, tracing our way east and through the Parque Natural de Oyambre. This is rural Spain at its most authentic.

Hotel: Abba Hotel and Spa

Day 5: Depart