Just to let members know, three MX5 Owners Club cars will be doing the SCT Spanish Picos & Portugese Douro Valley Tour next year (2025). The event this year was fully booked up by two Porsche groups. What I can say, having been to these areas is that not only are the roads fantastic but there is hardly any traffic on them, unlike the famous Alpine passes which are overrun with cars, motorbikes and motorhomes. Anybody else in the OC would be very welcome to join us.
2 Likes
We did this tour a couple of years ago and it is fantastic. The Picos de Europa is quite challenging, the roads are narrow, they are lined on either side by a rock face or an armco barrier and the locals are not averse to using your side of the road when driving at a speed that those familiar with the roads might consider acceptable but was quite hair-raising for me.
The hotels chosen by Scenic Car Tours were outstanding and the river cruise was the icing on the cake. The only downside for us was that we both caught Covid on the return journey 
2 Likes
I have done some of the Picos de Europa roads in a long wheelbase Renault Master based campervan. Yes, some of the roads are narrow and a bit daunting but no worse than many of the roads here in Cumbria 
Just joined the MX5OC (Cheshire and North Wales), although we’ve had our MX5 for many years. We’re very interested in joining you for the Picos trip for 2025. We’ve been to that area before, albeit only dipping our toe in, it’s stunning. Which ferry crossing are you considering using
Hi Margaret,
The ferry crossing choice has not been decided as Brittania have not published any ferry crossing times yet for 2025 and as such SCT do not require confirmation of our preferences until then. We usually try to arrange it so that we all use the same ferry. Whether we depart from Portsmouth or Plymouth is neither here nor there for us. As for as I’m aware there are three cars (three couples) from the MX-5 OC going on this trip so far. If you book early you will get a £50 early booking discount as well as a £50 for MX-5 OC members. We usually create a WhatsApp group for MX-5 OC people for communication about such trips. If you decide to go ahead you could join the group for discussions about ferry choices etc.
Kind regards,
Ralph.
Hi Ralph, thank you for your prompt reply. Dave and I are really keen to join your trip and want to go ahead and book. Please could you confirm exactly which trip it is? We assume it’s the Portugal Douro Valley and Picos de Europa departing on 12th September 2025? If it isn’t this trip please let us know which you have booked. Can’t wait to join.
Hi Margaret,
Yes, you have the correct trip. Another friend of mine and his wife will also be joining us in their Alpine A110. So that’s four MX-5’s and the Alpine that I know of so far. We look forward to meeting you and David in a year
Kind regards,
Ralph.
1 Like
Hi Ralph
I am pleased to confirm that we’re booked on to the trip. James at Scenic Car Tours has cross referenced our booking with yours and others on the trip.
Ferry crossings have now been released:-
12th September 2025: Portsmouth, departing at 21.30, arriving in Santander on 14th September at 08.00.
22nd September 2025: Santander, departing 17.00, arriving in Plymouth on 23rd September at 14.00.
Cabin upgrades to four berth are available at £19 each way. We’ve arranged an upgrade. May be worth speaking with SCT if you’re interested.
Looking forward to meeting you all
Margaret and Dave.
New member of mx5 owners club interested in the 2025 sonic car tours where can I get more information
Hi carl.llysperthy, welcome to the MX5OC, which we joined a couple of months ago and have already booked on this tour. Hopefully the following link will take you directly to the trip:-
Scenic Car Tours offer a discount of £50 for members who book. There may also be an 'early bird ’ discount of £50, too.
Have a look through the messages in this thread for some other snippets of information re dates, etc.
Scenic Car Tours were really helpful. May be worth mentioning that others from the MX5OC have booked, if you do speak with Scenic Car Tours to link your booking with other members.
I hope this helps? Good luck. Should be an amazing trip.
1 Like
Look on the scenic car tours website.
It’s not organised by the Owners Club.
Just to bring people up to date there are four MX-5s and one Alpine A110 booked on the tour so far that we know of. SCT may have others on their books.
Looking forward to our trip, already!
1 Like
Thank you for sharing the link, @dairygroundjan! I also interested on doing a similar trip but one that only includes Portugal from https://gowithguide.com/portugal/guides. However, those potential discounts on Scenic Car Tours are tempting! The Douro Valley is at the top of my list, especially during September, when it coincides with the grape harvest season.
Funnily enough we’re on a tour of norther Spain at the moment. Just waking up to beautiful sunlit mountains in Potes. Fabulous roads and hardly any traffic. Quite a few bikers out here too. Loving it so far.
2 Likes
We visited Potes a couple of decades ago. The cable car up the mountain from Potes is a ‘must do’… even though I had sweaty palms! Can’t wait to do the trip next September!