Help in driving from Calais to La Rochelle
Discussion
Having driven to the South of France for quite a few years, "her indoors" now finds the journey far too long and is "crying off" ie does not want to go there anymore . This is a calamity for me 'cos I love it but as I cannot Fly we can only go by road.
I need to find a beach holiday substitute which wont take so long but that still gives us some good sun and a place with some decent shops (she likes shopping) and other interesting places to look at.
My BIG personal problem is that I am a Acrophobic" ie terror of heights and therefore cannot Fly but also cannot drive over any viaducts or very highbridges without losing the feeling in my arms and legs....yep that is what height fear does to acrophobics.
This as you can imagine is a tad tricky when you are driving...... so my simple plea to any of you who is/are familiar with the route and the journey from Calais to La Rochelle, is there a route that avoids viaducts and very high bridges.
I would greatly appreciate any help on this as a lot hangs on the results. Cheers .
I need to find a beach holiday substitute which wont take so long but that still gives us some good sun and a place with some decent shops (she likes shopping) and other interesting places to look at.
My BIG personal problem is that I am a Acrophobic" ie terror of heights and therefore cannot Fly but also cannot drive over any viaducts or very highbridges without losing the feeling in my arms and legs....yep that is what height fear does to acrophobics.
This as you can imagine is a tad tricky when you are driving...... so my simple plea to any of you who is/are familiar with the route and the journey from Calais to La Rochelle, is there a route that avoids viaducts and very high bridges.
I would greatly appreciate any help on this as a lot hangs on the results. Cheers .
I've done the journey a few times and don't recall any major bridges or viaducts, but then I wouldn't have been looking out for them.
However, there is a massive one from La Rochelle to Il de Re. It will be a shame for you to go all that way and not see Il de Re but maybe there are boats?
Are trains out of the question for the South of France?
What about the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao in northern Spain?
However, there is a massive one from La Rochelle to Il de Re. It will be a shame for you to go all that way and not see Il de Re but maybe there are boats?
Are trains out of the question for the South of France?
What about the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao in northern Spain?
Hi Leo , tis very good of you to respond..thankyou.
Trains to the south have been considered but at our age (geriatrics) the lugging of the cases would be tricky and proven experience has confirmed that taking the car is enormously convenient
But Trains have not been dismissed completely. It is just that someone told us that La Rochelle was a nice place to go to and that it got quite warm there in the summer , which is what we like.And it is'nt so far.
Boats are out too I'm afraid . They are the wife's hang up ! Pathetic arnt we !! so that is why Iam seeking a good alternative location by car ( without viaducts or high bridges if it were possible.
Thanks again
Trains to the south have been considered but at our age (geriatrics) the lugging of the cases would be tricky and proven experience has confirmed that taking the car is enormously convenient
But Trains have not been dismissed completely. It is just that someone told us that La Rochelle was a nice place to go to and that it got quite warm there in the summer , which is what we like.And it is'nt so far.
Boats are out too I'm afraid . They are the wife's hang up ! Pathetic arnt we !! so that is why Iam seeking a good alternative location by car ( without viaducts or high bridges if it were possible.
Thanks again
How about auto-train?:
http://www.seat61.com/Motorail.htm#Auto-Train
Drive to Paris via the chunnel and let SNCF do the rest.
http://www.seat61.com/Motorail.htm#Auto-Train
Drive to Paris via the chunnel and let SNCF do the rest.
Thanks ND I appreciate your input Alas the cost of such a means to do that trip is far too high for us.
By the way , and this is for the benefit of anyone else looking on in this particular post....I have just been told by a friend that he is fairly sure that there is a Viaduct called Viaduct du Bek on the A28 (near a place called Bourg Achaud on the route to La Rochelle.
Can anyone else who has done this trip confirm that please.
In fact that is what I really need ie whilst I am more than grateful for all input in response to my post, I would relly like to hear from someone who has actually done this trip ie Travelled by road from Calais to La Rochelle.
But again sincere thanks to those who have taken the time to respond.
By the way , and this is for the benefit of anyone else looking on in this particular post....I have just been told by a friend that he is fairly sure that there is a Viaduct called Viaduct du Bek on the A28 (near a place called Bourg Achaud on the route to La Rochelle.
Can anyone else who has done this trip confirm that please.
In fact that is what I really need ie whilst I am more than grateful for all input in response to my post, I would relly like to hear from someone who has actually done this trip ie Travelled by road from Calais to La Rochelle.
But again sincere thanks to those who have taken the time to respond.
Thanks Paul ,tis good of you to reply.
Yeah I think the ones you refer to are those just opposite or South of Boulogne and I think I know how to skirt those.
Where the other one is that you mention... I know not !
Your suggestion of trying it at night has been tried in the past and I am sorry to say it just did not work
But I appreciete your suggestions any way. Thanks again.
Yeah I think the ones you refer to are those just opposite or South of Boulogne and I think I know how to skirt those.
Where the other one is that you mention... I know not !
Your suggestion of trying it at night has been tried in the past and I am sorry to say it just did not work
But I appreciete your suggestions any way. Thanks again.
nervuss said:
Thanks ND I appreciate your input Alas the cost of such a means to do that trip is far too high for us.
By the way , and this is for the benefit of anyone else looking on in this particular post....I have just been told by a friend that he is fairly sure that there is a Viaduct called Viaduct du Bek on the A28 (near a place called Bourg Achaud on the route to La Rochelle.
Can anyone else who has done this trip confirm that please.
In fact that is what I really need ie whilst I am more than grateful for all input in response to my post, I would relly like to hear from someone who has actually done this trip ie Travelled by road from Calais to La Rochelle.
But again sincere thanks to those who have taken the time to respond.
Do you mean this one?By the way , and this is for the benefit of anyone else looking on in this particular post....I have just been told by a friend that he is fairly sure that there is a Viaduct called Viaduct du Bek on the A28 (near a place called Bourg Achaud on the route to La Rochelle.
Can anyone else who has done this trip confirm that please.
In fact that is what I really need ie whilst I am more than grateful for all input in response to my post, I would relly like to hear from someone who has actually done this trip ie Travelled by road from Calais to La Rochelle.
But again sincere thanks to those who have taken the time to respond.
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=bourg+achard&...
don't open if you are affected just looking at street views of viaducts!
Its called Viaduc du radier d'Aclou la Risle and is about 50 km south of Bourg Achaud on the A28.
Wow GG that is a terror and I would never be able to cross that.
Hence the reason for my original post....... I need to find a route from Calais to La Rochelle on ordinary roads ie flat ones WITHOUT having to cross any viaducts or high bridges.
Perhaps I am asking the impossible and the terrain in between Calais and La Rochelle is one which cannot be gone thru without crossing these blessed viaducts etc.
I am extremely grateful to you for pointing this out and I think I am ready to give this particular idea a big miss.
Thanks again, you may have saved my bacon ! Best regards.
Hence the reason for my original post....... I need to find a route from Calais to La Rochelle on ordinary roads ie flat ones WITHOUT having to cross any viaducts or high bridges.
Perhaps I am asking the impossible and the terrain in between Calais and La Rochelle is one which cannot be gone thru without crossing these blessed viaducts etc.
I am extremely grateful to you for pointing this out and I think I am ready to give this particular idea a big miss.
Thanks again, you may have saved my bacon ! Best regards.
nervuss said:
Having driven to the South of France for quite a few years, "her indoors" now finds the journey far too long and is "crying off" ie does not want to go there anymore. This is a calamity for me 'cos I love it but as I cannot Fly we can only go by road.
Simple - she flies, you drive. Set off a day before her, pick her up at the airport down in the south of France.Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff