North to Central France, hooning road recommendations.
North to Central France, hooning road recommendations.
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Slippydiff

Original Poster:

15,739 posts

239 months

Wednesday 10th April 2013
quotequote all
Hi all, I'm currently planning a mini-French hoon for sometime in May/June.
I'm looking to avoid the usual amount of "transit" mileage (and time) spent getting down to my favorite roads in the South of France, so thought I'd try and plan a hoon that concentrates on the roads in and arround Central France.
I'm expecting to have 5-6 days over there and I'm happy to venture down as far as Clermont Ferrand.

I've got a couple of roads bookmarked already, the first being the 996 N/W of Dijon and a small 16 mile loop that Henry Catchpole has recommended in this months EVO.

I'm looking for well surfaced, lightly trafficked roads, (both single track and two lane stuff) any recommendations gladly considered. Ditto hostelries to stay at.

Many thanks in advance.

will_

6,034 posts

219 months

Wednesday 10th April 2013
quotequote all
Slippydiff said:
Hi all, I'm currently planning a mini-French hoon for sometime in May/June.
I'm looking to avoid the usual amount of "transit" mileage (and time) spent getting down to my favorite roads in the South of France, so thought I'd try and plan a hoon that concentrates on the roads in and arround Central France.
I'm expecting to have 5-6 days over there and I'm happy to venture down as far as Clermont Ferrand.

I've got a couple of roads bookmarked already, the first being the 996 N/W of Dijon and a small 16 mile loop that Henry Catchpole has recommended in this months EVO.

I'm looking for well surfaced, lightly trafficked roads, (both single track and two lane stuff) any recommendations gladly considered. Ditto hostelries to stay at.

Many thanks in advance.
Around Clemont Ferand would be a good base.

This thread last year had some very helpful suggestions:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I did most of the suggested roads.

However if I had 5-6 days I'd also consider heading further east, towards the Vercours national park.

The D518 from Die is just superb. The D120 was almost completely empty and again, excellent.

I think it's a hugely under-rated area of France for good driving roads.

Slippydiff

Original Poster:

15,739 posts

239 months

Wednesday 10th April 2013
quotequote all
Many thanks for that info Will, it's much appreciated.

will_

6,034 posts

219 months

Friday 12th April 2013
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No problem.

The roads up and around Puy Mary were terrific (googlemap here):
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&bav=on.2,o...

I'd suggest walking up it if you have time, although it's a lot steeper than it looks!

As you can see from the Googlemap there are plenty of twisties in that area.

The D36 out of Le Mont Dore is also great (I think it's already on your list - it's the Col de la Croix Saint-Robert):
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&gl=uk&...

Henry Catchpole described it as a mini Cadwell Park! It's a bit narrow/tight in place but good fun. Personally I found the D996 a touch busy to be fun, but it's a good way of getting to Mont Dore.

ETA - if you regularly buy Evo, there was a good article about driving a Caterham in the snow published around this time last year. They were based in the area so it has some good suggestions for roads. ETA again - link here: http://life.caterham.co.uk/news/in-the-press-march...


Edited by will_ on Friday 12th April 09:03


Edited by will_ on Friday 12th April 09:04

G Man

4,053 posts

276 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
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The D940 from Auxerre to Bourges to La Chatre to Gueret to Treignac gets you to that region along some classic empty France roads where you make progress,