Road trip ideas .... Switzerland, italian lakes, france.
Discussion
Hi chaps,
I am trying to sketch out a rough itinery for a road trip to present to a few folks and drum up some interest. My idea was a 4 night trip from calais to switzerland, italian lakes, alps etc. and back. The top priority is great driving roads and we are predominantly in 911s so will give stelvio a miss.
Does anyone have any ideas or must see routes or even whole itineries/routes of their own that they could share to help out ?
Drving down from calais I wanted to try something interesting rather than the normal Reims, Bescacon route. I was thinking of heading for Annecy as i remember the drive to teher being pretty amazing roads. After that maybe heading for interlaken and andermatt hitting some of teh swiss passes and then down to the italian lakes and then a different and interesting route back.
I am trying to sketch out a rough itinery for a road trip to present to a few folks and drum up some interest. My idea was a 4 night trip from calais to switzerland, italian lakes, alps etc. and back. The top priority is great driving roads and we are predominantly in 911s so will give stelvio a miss.
Does anyone have any ideas or must see routes or even whole itineries/routes of their own that they could share to help out ?
Drving down from calais I wanted to try something interesting rather than the normal Reims, Bescacon route. I was thinking of heading for Annecy as i remember the drive to teher being pretty amazing roads. After that maybe heading for interlaken and andermatt hitting some of teh swiss passes and then down to the italian lakes and then a different and interesting route back.
Would you consider a longer trip to Santander? I found some stupendous routes from Santander, over the Pyrenees where on average you are looking at an extra cog up the gearbox throughout, give or take. Smoother open roads, too.
TBH I've found the roads in Northern France to be particularly straight and uninteresting. I'd suck up some Peage/Bahn through Germany etc then you'll want to hop off around the B500 through the Black Forest.
TBH I've found the roads in Northern France to be particularly straight and uninteresting. I'd suck up some Peage/Bahn through Germany etc then you'll want to hop off around the B500 through the Black Forest.
Make sure you do the Fluelapass...one of the best 3 roads I've ever driven...absolutely stunning, and if it was just big enough for the NSX then a 911 will be perfect!
I'd also be tempted, if possible, to head via Grenoble (AVOID rush-hour), then due-east past Alpe d'Huez and Col du Galibier (both would be interesting diversions, esp. if you like hairpins
), then round down to Briancon - get it traffic-free and the 'main road' down to Briancon itself is pretty epic...some very nice 3rd and 4th gear sections, some lovely open sweepers...
Last point - if you've only got 4 days, AVOID Italy. Seriously. Once out of the Alps proper the roads are busy, narrow and generally not much fun. Their traffic cops wait shortly after the exits from Switzerland to catch bikers and drivers tanking on...saw two bikers stopped by one car and a nice BM stopped by another within 5mins of each other!
Swiss roads are fantastic, but their coppers have their sense of humour surgically removed, so a word of caution there...I'm told they're mostly in the lowlands but you could be unlucky.
French alps are also VERY good...and you've got the Route des Grande Alpes to play with (runs all the way down to Menton, by Monaco), the Route Napoleon, and enough Col's and Passe's that you won't get bored in 4 days.
I'd also be tempted, if possible, to head via Grenoble (AVOID rush-hour), then due-east past Alpe d'Huez and Col du Galibier (both would be interesting diversions, esp. if you like hairpins
), then round down to Briancon - get it traffic-free and the 'main road' down to Briancon itself is pretty epic...some very nice 3rd and 4th gear sections, some lovely open sweepers...Last point - if you've only got 4 days, AVOID Italy. Seriously. Once out of the Alps proper the roads are busy, narrow and generally not much fun. Their traffic cops wait shortly after the exits from Switzerland to catch bikers and drivers tanking on...saw two bikers stopped by one car and a nice BM stopped by another within 5mins of each other!
Swiss roads are fantastic, but their coppers have their sense of humour surgically removed, so a word of caution there...I'm told they're mostly in the lowlands but you could be unlucky.
French alps are also VERY good...and you've got the Route des Grande Alpes to play with (runs all the way down to Menton, by Monaco), the Route Napoleon, and enough Col's and Passe's that you won't get bored in 4 days.
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