tentative ideas for a road trip - critiques welcome :)
Discussion
Thinking of doing a bit of a road-trip after the school holibobs are done (so early September onwards) and have a few ideas kicking around. On previous road trips we've covered (over 11 days to 14 days):
parts of eastern France
southern Germany
Austria
Switzerland
small parts of northern Italy
The idea this time is to do something a little different - this being the case we had a few ideas:
- Spain (via Bay of Biscay/Bilbao) - Mrs DG is not keen on the idea of the Bilbao crossing so it's relegated to 3rd choice
- Western France possibly from Calais, possibly from Caen area but again not sure about it (the D-Day sites and Mont St Michel are hugely appealing to be fair) but I'm still not totally sold on the idea
- Northern Europe ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/nYwnUpjtyC2z5u8e9 ) and in fairness this holds by far the most appeal.
The germ of the idea is to catch a daytime crossing to Hook of Holland (just because, also it's what I experienced as a kid) from there to Rostock/Gedser ferry and on to the Oresund bridge/tunnel. Stop off in Trelleborg, ferry back to Rostock down to Bavaria and then off home again. Should be about 2,000 miles maybe 2, maybe 3 weeks (no fixed time as retirement means a degree of flexibility).
If we go ahead with this I'll be taking the Challenger so no issues with luggage. I'll look into European breakdown cover (sadly now that the ADAC no longer cover us Brits) purely because it seems to be insane not to but given it's a fairly new car this shouldn't be too much of an issue.
Any thoughts?
parts of eastern France
southern Germany
Austria
Switzerland
small parts of northern Italy
The idea this time is to do something a little different - this being the case we had a few ideas:
- Spain (via Bay of Biscay/Bilbao) - Mrs DG is not keen on the idea of the Bilbao crossing so it's relegated to 3rd choice
- Western France possibly from Calais, possibly from Caen area but again not sure about it (the D-Day sites and Mont St Michel are hugely appealing to be fair) but I'm still not totally sold on the idea
- Northern Europe ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/nYwnUpjtyC2z5u8e9 ) and in fairness this holds by far the most appeal.
The germ of the idea is to catch a daytime crossing to Hook of Holland (just because, also it's what I experienced as a kid) from there to Rostock/Gedser ferry and on to the Oresund bridge/tunnel. Stop off in Trelleborg, ferry back to Rostock down to Bavaria and then off home again. Should be about 2,000 miles maybe 2, maybe 3 weeks (no fixed time as retirement means a degree of flexibility).
If we go ahead with this I'll be taking the Challenger so no issues with luggage. I'll look into European breakdown cover (sadly now that the ADAC no longer cover us Brits) purely because it seems to be insane not to but given it's a fairly new car this shouldn't be too much of an issue.
Any thoughts?
How about Caen / Mont St, Michelle and Northern Spain, but mix and match the route.
Portsmouth -> St. Malo out - overnight crossing. St. Malo is a wonderful place. Get your fill of the North coast of France and then head down the west coast of France towards Biarritz - there's no shortage of pleasant and interesting places to stop off on the way, or it's an easy days drive.
Then into Spain - San Sebastien is a must, and then into the Picos De Europa and maybe a loop slightly further south taking in the Rioja region and then Logrono.
Then do the Santander -> Plymouth ferry - it's significantly shorter than the Portsmouth routes. Both Santander and Bilbao are really good places to stop for a night or two.
Portsmouth -> St. Malo out - overnight crossing. St. Malo is a wonderful place. Get your fill of the North coast of France and then head down the west coast of France towards Biarritz - there's no shortage of pleasant and interesting places to stop off on the way, or it's an easy days drive.
Then into Spain - San Sebastien is a must, and then into the Picos De Europa and maybe a loop slightly further south taking in the Rioja region and then Logrono.
Then do the Santander -> Plymouth ferry - it's significantly shorter than the Portsmouth routes. Both Santander and Bilbao are really good places to stop for a night or two.
omniflow said:
How about Caen / Mont St, Michelle and Northern Spain, but mix and match the route.
Portsmouth -> St. Malo out - overnight crossing. St. Malo is a wonderful place. Get your fill of the North coast of France and then head down the west coast of France towards Biarritz - there's no shortage of pleasant and interesting places to stop off on the way, or it's an easy days drive.
Then into Spain - San Sebastien is a must, and then into the Picos De Europa and maybe a loop slightly further south taking in the Rioja region and then Logrono.
Then do the Santander -> Plymouth ferry - it's significantly shorter than the Portsmouth routes. Both Santander and Bilbao are really good places to stop for a night or two.
interesting ideas there, something more to look into Portsmouth -> St. Malo out - overnight crossing. St. Malo is a wonderful place. Get your fill of the North coast of France and then head down the west coast of France towards Biarritz - there's no shortage of pleasant and interesting places to stop off on the way, or it's an easy days drive.
Then into Spain - San Sebastien is a must, and then into the Picos De Europa and maybe a loop slightly further south taking in the Rioja region and then Logrono.
Then do the Santander -> Plymouth ferry - it's significantly shorter than the Portsmouth routes. Both Santander and Bilbao are really good places to stop for a night or two.
andyA700 said:
Eastern France - Colmar, absolutely lovely and the surrounding area, villages and scenery are fantastic. Austria - Has to be Salzburg, smaller, more personal, brilliant culture and again the surrounding area is stunning. Southern Germany would have to be Munich.
The area around Neuschwanstein is just perfect (to me), then again I'm Bavarian by birth so I guess I'm a little biased 
Also absolutely love Salzburg so no disagreement from me on that scoreGassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff