GT3 Road Trip Plan

[Fattrader]

One of my trips in 2013 is a trip down to Faro Portugual. Considering whether I can drive it in a day from Calais. From reserach it is looking like a stop over may be a sensible option. Has anyone done thsi trip? and can you recommend a good place to stop with secure parking. Any other tips appreciated.

[threesixty]

That's a hell of a way. A lot of people I know do it with 2 stops not one.

Thought about doing the ferry to Santander/Bilbao? Then do the rest in a day easy.

[keep it lit]

hi Berny,

Calais to Faro is a biggee in one hit mate!.. I'd say its a full day from Calais to the Pyrenees & then another full day from the Pyrenees to Faro.. another route (although less driving) would be night ferry to Bilbao/Santander & then next day down to Faro..

my mate did Valencia to Fort William in one hit (only stopping for fuel etc) a few years ago in a Golf, 1550 miles!!.. but he is a class one loon!!

ade

[Fattrader]

Valencia to Fort William in a day is going some. Ferry timing is not good. Using the tunnel, I can get to Calais for 2am and I reckon 8 hour hit down to border. Stop for lunch and then 8 hour push to villa pool side and a bbq. I do think it is possible in a day but my caution would like to have a planned stop off either France or Spain.

[73 Duchess]

Mate did the Santander to Ronda/Marbella route last year taking in Ascari. He stopped in Salamanca just west of Madrid for a night and then on south. It took 6-8 hours each leg. I'd say Calis to Faro would be great but pushing it.

[Martian O]

One hit - no, you'll be knackered. At least one stop over, preferably two.

[keep it lit]

Martian O said:

One hit - no, you'll be knackered. At least one stop over, preferably two.

yep

[Dblue]

keep it lit said:

Martian O said:

One hit - no, you'll be knackered. At least one stop over, preferably two.

yep

+1 On this. Take more time, get off the autoroute for some of it, have a look at Pyrenees, northern Spain, there's some fantstic roads near the route.

GT3 on a long autoroute schlock, waste IMO

[rlw]

Fattrader said:

Valencia to Fort William in a day is going some. Ferry timing is not good. Using the tunnel, I can get to Calais for 2am and I reckon 8 hour hit down to border. Stop for lunch and then 8 hour push to villa pool side and a bbq. I do think it is possible in a day but my caution would like to have a planned stop off either France or Spain.

If you do eight hours in the car, unless you're very different to me, your senses will have taken such a beating - you will be at least partially deaf from the tyre and engine noise - that you will fall out of it quite disorientated and in serious need of some r&r. It really is not a cosy environment in which to travel long distances.............

[keep it lit]

rlw said:

If you do eight hours in the car, unless you're very different to me, your senses will have taken such a beating - you will be at least partially deaf from the tyre and engine noise - that you will fall out of it quite disorientated and in serious need of some r&r. It really is not a cosy environment in which to travel long distances.............

touché..

but that it exactly what we (6cs & 7rs) did every day for 19 days solid on our recent summer hoon.. averaging 3/400 miles everyday, from as far east as Hungary across to Grenoble.. we are looking forward to our extended 4 week tour in 2013 in the same bucket seats! .. we were daft before we left tho!

[keep it lit]

just do it !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVcBdsIsnfA

[rlw]

keep it lit said:

touché..

but that it exactly what we (6cs & 7rs) did every day for 19 days solid on our recent summer hoon.. averaging 3/400 miles everyday, from as far east as Hungary across to Grenoble.. we are looking forward to our extended 4 week tour in 2013 in the same bucket seats! .. we were daft before we left tho!

300 - 400 miles a day is only London to Le Mans. The OP is suggesting about twice that and I don't think thats a great idea. I'm not alluding to physical comfort - the seats are fine for hours - but the effects of concentrating as hard as is necessary and the noise bombardment. For a hoon, even a long one, great but for twelve or sixteen hours, no way.

[keep it lit]

agreed.. like i said in my first post, it should be done over a couple of days.

[Slippydiff]

Dblue said:

+1 On this. Take more time, get off the autoroute for some of it, have a look at Pyrenees, northern Spain, there's some fantstic roads near the route.

GT3 on a long autoroute schlock, waste IMO

Looking for info on roads/routes through/in Northern Spain, do you have any recommendations Db, Ade ?

Edited by Slippydiff on Sunday 9th December 19:25

[Dblue]

Slippydiff said:

Dblue said:

+1 On this. Take more time, get off the autoroute for some of it, have a look at Pyrenees, northern Spain, there's some fantstic roads near the route.

GT3 on a long autoroute schlock, waste IMO

Looking for info on roads/routes through/in Northern Spain, do you have any recommendations Db, Ade ?

Edited by Slippydiff on Sunday 9th December 19:25

Not an expert on Northern Spain, Enjoyed the Basque country back roads on the way to Biarritz (Which is a great place by the way) and I believe the Alta Rioja around Vitoria has some great roads.
Now if you want some recommendations for France, where do I start!

[Wozy68]

Slippydiff said:

Looking for info on roads/routes through/in Northern Spain, do you have any recommendations Db, Ade ?

Edited by Slippydiff on Sunday 9th December 19:25

N260 all the way buddy, awesome ............ and that's just for starters. Mucho great roads in the Pyrenees. Just stay the Spanish side.
I normally go every year with the lads, it gets under your skin, makes blighty just soooo depressing when you get back though.

[Henry-F]

I've done Santander to Faro in one hit and it's a fair haul. Calais to faro - no chance. I would have a stop in France and one in Spain. When you enter Spain there is a pousada around Bibao but of choice go for a pousada in Salamanca or Valadolid.

France you have loads of options but look at the citadel in Blayes.

Avoid the hotel Mercedes south of Madrd a horrible experience involving man love, breakfast, banging headboards, paper thin walls, a misunderstanding and lurch from the munsters

You have a choice of whether to enter Portugal mid way up or by Seville. I would choose the latter as the last time I went in mid way the road surface was terrible.


Henry

[steve singh]

Henry-F said:

Avoid the hotel Mercedes south of Madrd a horrible experience involving man love, breakfast, banging headboards, paper thin walls, a misunderstanding and lurch from the munsters

What you and Tom get up to is none of our business

In all seriousness i've made a mental note to avoid that hotel now!!!

[Dblue]

If I was doing the trip , the french part would be through the centre of France, Massif Central, take in the Millau Viaduct and then the Tarn Gorge and especially the Corniche Des Cevennes from Florac to St Jean Du Gard. THE best road I've ever driven.

Stop in the south, loads of choice, then head into Spain on day 2.

[Henry-F]

steve singh said:

What you and Tom get up to is none of our business

In all seriousness i've made a mental note to avoid that hotel now!!!

It was a long time ago and I was with Mrs Henry-f in a 3.2 Carrera. I will see if I can dig out a photo - of the car not the man love

Henry