Route check please Frenchies!

[benjj]

Mes amis, a friend & I are driving to/from Montpellier in mid August and I'm just putting together the route plan.

I've done a fair bit of driving in FR before but this time we're a) in old cars b) have specific times we can leave and need to arrive, c) travelling in the middle of the holidays. Simply put:

This



and this



The cars will be fun when we arrive for our 10 days in a villa in Ceret (FR/ES border) but will be loud, hot and annoying for the long slog down.

Leaving Dover at 8pm on Monday Aug 11th, need to be arriving Montpellier Airport at 1pm on Wednesday 13th.

My quick plan is do the ferry, arrive Calais FR at 22.30 and do as follows:

22.30 - 02.30 260 miles/4 hours to Hotel de France, Le Mans.

Tuesday 10.00 - 16.00 320 miles from Le Mans to Figeac (Lot)

Wednesday 08.00 - 11.00 150 miles from Figeac, over Millau to Montpellier Airport

Does this seem reasonable at this time of year?

We'll abviously be aiming to get on the outside of a few ice cold continental lagers en route.

Cheers,

Ben

[Cunning Punt]

That looks sensibly planned to me: midweek and mid-"grandes vacances". Think you'll avoid traffic nicely on the first leg. The last leg, Figeac to Montpellier in 3 hours, is the only one that strikes me as a bit optimistic - lots of climbing and descending there, lots of time spent at relatively high engine speeds in (probably very) hot weather - but I suppose you've got the power for it and if you don't need to be at the airport till 1pm, that's a couple of hours margin for error. Or enough time to grab a swift, refreshing mid-morning pression while the brakes cool

You surely know all this already but I'll say it anyway: make sure the BMW's cooling system is up to scratch, carry spare engine oil, good luck navigating Rouen

[leyorkie]

Hi,
Calais to Hotel de France in 4 hours is just about possible it's 75 mph average which takes some doing I would allow 5 hours you may need fuel and/or comfort stops.
I've just had a week down in the Lot and it's an easy journey but the link from the A10 over to the A20 is slow, think A65 on a busy day. Lots of lorries and villages with few overtaking opportunities.
If you are taking the N140 to Figeac come off at junction 53 not 54. The A20 is toll free from Limoges to just before J54, saves a little beer money but potential big queue at the peage barrier. N140 slow too, think Hawes to Richmond type of route.
Can't help for the rest but you will be having fun by then.
Check out the Le Mans section for routes round Rouen or through the middle at that time of night.
Have fun

PS have you got a LiberT tag for the pay stations? Very helpful for RHD.

[benjj]

Thanks gents, replies are gently reassuring

Good point on 4hrs Calais to Le Mans. Come to think of it I know my beemer won't do that on a tank anyway! I'll peg it at c.5hrs and be happy with that.

As for Figeac-Montpellier, again thanks, didn't realise just how slow those roads have the potential to be. I think we'll stick to route and allow more time. We'll probably have a dejuner a la rue en route too (potentially carrying desperate hangovers )

[benjj]

To add: yes, we'll both have those auto peage dooberries

[leyorkie]

I often take the N roads but jump back onto the peage when I realise that I'm not getting anywhere slowly.
If you want to make progress it's the motorways.

[magooagain]

The first stage could be a bit longer than you have stated. I imagine that a fuel stop at least could foil it.
So the second stage will be harder due to less sleep. As you will be knackered from sleep loss already.

Edited by magooagain on Monday 21st July 15:43

[benjj]

The first stop is just an estimate of when we'll get out heads down, not really a problem if its a bit later.

[silverthorn2151]

Now that everyone is sticking to the speed limits on the motorways I have found progress is actually better and move evenly paced. Remember the on the spot fines.