France - UK: Critique My Route
Discussion
Would like a little advice/experiences on a journey to the South of France this summer.
Way Down: Calais - Caracassonne
We'll look at doing this mostly on the Autoroute, avoiding Paris (via Rouen/Chartres/Orleans) and picking up the A20, overnighting in Limoges/Brive). Not really up for too much discussion, we've done it before and it's worked well.
Day 1 Calais - Limoges [8.5 hours driving]
Day 2 Limoges - Carcassonne [4 hours driving]
Return: Perpignan - Calais
This is what I'm thinking about - the boring way would just be to head back the way we came, or straight up the A75/A71/A10, but we want to make more of a trip of it. We're planning two overnight stops, in order to see a bit more of France, especially the Eastern side of the country, which I'm not too familiar with. Ideally I'd like to cross the Millau Viaduct, and take in the Reims GP Pits, other than that, open to suggestions.
Rough plan so far:
Day 1 Perpignan - Millau Viaduct - Dijon [7.5 hours if via Millau, 6.5 hours if we ignore Millau and go via Avignon/Lyon]
Day 2 Dijon - Reims [3 hours give or take]
Day 3 Reims - Calais [2.5 - 3 hours driving]
I've got the Toll Tag and a Crit'air sticker so all set.
Way Down: Calais - Caracassonne
We'll look at doing this mostly on the Autoroute, avoiding Paris (via Rouen/Chartres/Orleans) and picking up the A20, overnighting in Limoges/Brive). Not really up for too much discussion, we've done it before and it's worked well.
Day 1 Calais - Limoges [8.5 hours driving]
Day 2 Limoges - Carcassonne [4 hours driving]
Return: Perpignan - Calais
This is what I'm thinking about - the boring way would just be to head back the way we came, or straight up the A75/A71/A10, but we want to make more of a trip of it. We're planning two overnight stops, in order to see a bit more of France, especially the Eastern side of the country, which I'm not too familiar with. Ideally I'd like to cross the Millau Viaduct, and take in the Reims GP Pits, other than that, open to suggestions.
Rough plan so far:
Day 1 Perpignan - Millau Viaduct - Dijon [7.5 hours if via Millau, 6.5 hours if we ignore Millau and go via Avignon/Lyon]
Day 2 Dijon - Reims [3 hours give or take]
Day 3 Reims - Calais [2.5 - 3 hours driving]
I've got the Toll Tag and a Crit'air sticker so all set.
Again - not helpful for this journey - but if you want to see more of France, try varying your method for crossing the channel.
For Eastern France, then Portsmouth -> St. Malo overnight (with a cabin) is perfect. The crossing will probably replace one night in a hotel, so cost wise it's pretty much a wash. Be aware, as a day crossing it's pretty tedious, and coming home it's only overnight once a week (Tuesdays I think).
For Eastern France, then Portsmouth -> St. Malo overnight (with a cabin) is perfect. The crossing will probably replace one night in a hotel, so cost wise it's pretty much a wash. Be aware, as a day crossing it's pretty tedious, and coming home it's only overnight once a week (Tuesdays I think).
We go down to the coast around argeles and canet most years and always go the rouen side before hitting the A75.
Having driven over the millau viaduct i would actually say its a blink and you've missed it kind of thing! We actually prefer driving down through Millau town, you get some great views of the bridge and millau itself is lovely and a great place to have lunch.
Having driven over the millau viaduct i would actually say its a blink and you've missed it kind of thing! We actually prefer driving down through Millau town, you get some great views of the bridge and millau itself is lovely and a great place to have lunch.
blue_haddock said:
...Having driven over the millau viaduct i would actually say its a blink and you've missed it kind of thing! We actually prefer driving down through Millau town, you get some great views of the bridge and millau itself is lovely and a great place to have lunch.
Seconded. Driving over the bridge is impressive, but to be absolutely gobsmacked, you have to see it from underneath. It's worth making time in your schedule to allow for a couple of hours to see it and have lunch - we've made it an overnight stop several times in the past as there are some good hotels there.You route is excellent in my opinion. I have been travelling to Brive since I was born, my wife family is from Carcassonne too. I tried to find the holy Grail once in Rennes Le Chateau. Couldn't find it.
We have a house near Vignols (Objat). Voutezac ond Vigeois are nearby the A20 with good restaurants, or maybe Pompadour. The middle of Brive is very nice too.
On the route back, over the Millau Bridge, it is one of the best motorways in the world.
Once I overtook 1,000 Renault Scenics towing small trailer tents north on that road driving up from the Med, I assume.
It was the Dutch going home at the end of the holidays. I am not joking. 1000! In Renault Scenics. They were all doing 100kph too.
We have a house near Vignols (Objat). Voutezac ond Vigeois are nearby the A20 with good restaurants, or maybe Pompadour. The middle of Brive is very nice too.
On the route back, over the Millau Bridge, it is one of the best motorways in the world.
Once I overtook 1,000 Renault Scenics towing small trailer tents north on that road driving up from the Med, I assume.
It was the Dutch going home at the end of the holidays. I am not joking. 1000! In Renault Scenics. They were all doing 100kph too.
littleredrooster said:
blue_haddock said:
...Having driven over the millau viaduct i would actually say its a blink and you've missed it kind of thing! We actually prefer driving down through Millau town, you get some great views of the bridge and millau itself is lovely and a great place to have lunch.
Seconded. Driving over the bridge is impressive, but to be absolutely gobsmacked, you have to see it from underneath. It's worth making time in your schedule to allow for a couple of hours to see it and have lunch - we've made it an overnight stop several times in the past as there are some good hotels there.
vacant-100 said:
Would like a little advice/experiences on a journey to the South of France this summer.
Way Down: Calais - Caracassonne
We'll look at doing this mostly on the Autoroute, avoiding Paris (via Rouen/Chartres/Orleans) and picking up the A20, overnighting in Limoges/Brive). Not really up for too much discussion, we've done it before and it's worked well.
Day 1 Calais - Limoges [8.5 hours driving]
Day 2 Limoges - Carcassonne [4 hours driving]
Return: Perpignan - Calais
This is what I'm thinking about - the boring way would just be to head back the way we came, or straight up the A75/A71/A10, but we want to make more of a trip of it. We're planning two overnight stops, in order to see a bit more of France, especially the Eastern side of the country, which I'm not too familiar with. Ideally I'd like to cross the Millau Viaduct, and take in the Reims GP Pits, other than that, open to suggestions.
Rough plan so far:
Day 1 Perpignan - Millau Viaduct - Dijon [7.5 hours if via Millau, 6.5 hours if we ignore Millau and go via Avignon/Lyon]
Day 2 Dijon - Reims [3 hours give or take]
Day 3 Reims - Calais [2.5 - 3 hours driving]
I've got the Toll Tag and a Crit'air sticker so all set.
I was over there last month and the locals were saying that the Crit'Air thing has been discontinued. Not sure I'd trust that as nobody seems to pay much attention. Most of the ones in the car park were on Brit cars!Way Down: Calais - Caracassonne
We'll look at doing this mostly on the Autoroute, avoiding Paris (via Rouen/Chartres/Orleans) and picking up the A20, overnighting in Limoges/Brive). Not really up for too much discussion, we've done it before and it's worked well.
Day 1 Calais - Limoges [8.5 hours driving]
Day 2 Limoges - Carcassonne [4 hours driving]
Return: Perpignan - Calais
This is what I'm thinking about - the boring way would just be to head back the way we came, or straight up the A75/A71/A10, but we want to make more of a trip of it. We're planning two overnight stops, in order to see a bit more of France, especially the Eastern side of the country, which I'm not too familiar with. Ideally I'd like to cross the Millau Viaduct, and take in the Reims GP Pits, other than that, open to suggestions.
Rough plan so far:
Day 1 Perpignan - Millau Viaduct - Dijon [7.5 hours if via Millau, 6.5 hours if we ignore Millau and go via Avignon/Lyon]
Day 2 Dijon - Reims [3 hours give or take]
Day 3 Reims - Calais [2.5 - 3 hours driving]
I've got the Toll Tag and a Crit'air sticker so all set.
Near Reims there's the obvious option of visiting a Champagne house or two in Epernay. Also, just the other side of Reims there's a town called Laon - lovely old fortified ville built on a hilltop.
Just back from a French foray to see the Tour. 2 X MX-5 in convoy. Cousin downloaded the TomTom app & it was amazing - as well as the usual shortest/fastest options there's one for 'windy roads', with judicious use of avoidances/preferences (such as avoid motorways) you can have some great driving & see villages and scenery that are incredible. In my experience (well over 100 trips) the best bits of France are off the beaten track. We made good progress, but choose your waypoints well & you can bail out & join the crowds on the autoroutes to get back on schedule.
Only caveat - in rural France, filling stations are few & far between, play chicken with your low fuel warning light at your peril!
Northern France is massively underrated - other than the champagne vineyards & military memorials, the villages are full of character, you may come across canals etc. I stop at St Quentin (try Le Florence in the centre of town, it's 100m from the town square with bars & restaurants).
Only caveat - in rural France, filling stations are few & far between, play chicken with your low fuel warning light at your peril!
Northern France is massively underrated - other than the champagne vineyards & military memorials, the villages are full of character, you may come across canals etc. I stop at St Quentin (try Le Florence in the centre of town, it's 100m from the town square with bars & restaurants).
Thanks for the tips
- Crit'Air - yep, seems to be discontinued, and the only place we might encounter it is Rouen or Reims, but got the sticker anyway. For £4 it made sense.
- Millau: Too far south for us to spend the night, but might detour through the town itself, seems to add an hour or so on. Will make the decision on the day, but if I'm honest, will probably just stick to the A75 over it.
- WW1 stuff between Reims & Calais: Might end up stopping, but will probably spend the morning in Reims itself then strike out for the tunnel crossing. I've done a lot of the WW2 sites in & around Normandy which are impressive
- Northern France. Not for this trip, but it's a lovely part of the world for sure. Last time we did the trip we stopped at Le Mans on the way back, and I've spent a fair bit of time exploring Brittany in the past, but this time think we'll do the other side of the country
Sortie 10 said:
in rural France, filling stations are few & far between, play chicken with your low fuel warning light at your peril!
Very true! Most supermarkets have petrol pumps - but yes, if you're out in the countryside, there are none. Also you need a physical card as pumps won't do contactless - at least not for UK cards in my experience.I used an app (fuelFR) which was handy as I have a car that needs 98RON - it was very helpful.
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