Anyone got any nice routes across Europe to drive?
Discussion
Hi all, I've got next week off, and due to now being girlfreindless for the first time in three years I'm stuck for somewhere to go...
So I was planning to do a drive around Europe for a few days across France, Belgium etc. Has anyone done the same? And of so do you know a good route to take, decent/car safe B&Bs and hotels etc?
Cheers, and if anyone sees a smiling guy in a artic silver C4S on his way to the eurotunnel, give me a wave!
So I was planning to do a drive around Europe for a few days across France, Belgium etc. Has anyone done the same? And of so do you know a good route to take, decent/car safe B&Bs and hotels etc?
Cheers, and if anyone sees a smiling guy in a artic silver C4S on his way to the eurotunnel, give me a wave!
, booked the wrong week off! Will go next year I reckon, will be a ultra mini hoon of one car 
this time.! doh!Maybe a bit late for you but I've just come back from a trip round the Alps. Wonderful - well worth it. I never thought I would say it but I got utterly sick of hairpin bends and mountain roads
Head to the Chamonix area, do Col du Petit St Bernard (as in the beginning of the Italian Job), excellent road (do it FRA->ITA side). The Simplon pass from ITA->SW was also v v good and continuing down the road through Brig and the passes further on from there were stunning.
Good time to do it when you've not got a handbrake in the passenger seat
A mate and I started planning a trip today for October.
Plan is to start out from Boulogne (got a speedferries ticket), head down through Paris to Mangy-Cours where we'll see the UK GT2 championships (we know the LNT Panoz team) on 22nd Oct, then carry on across the Millau bridge, and down to the Med. Then head across to Nice/Monaco and across to Milan. Then head north up through the Stelvio pass and continue up to the Nurburgring in Germany. Before finally heading back via Spa and back home via Boulogne.
It's possible we could do it going the other way around, and I guess that might be driven by if there's more to do on the German leg the 3-4 days before Mangy-Cours, than there is the week after.
We're think of taking 5-6 days over it, as it's 1700 miles without deviation, so 2000 in reality.
Has anyone done similar, and if so, have we missed any must see/do's along the way? Any suggestions much appreciated. We're also looking for places to stay and nice restaurants etc along the say, so any knowledge of the areas would also be useful.
Plan is to start out from Boulogne (got a speedferries ticket), head down through Paris to Mangy-Cours where we'll see the UK GT2 championships (we know the LNT Panoz team) on 22nd Oct, then carry on across the Millau bridge, and down to the Med. Then head across to Nice/Monaco and across to Milan. Then head north up through the Stelvio pass and continue up to the Nurburgring in Germany. Before finally heading back via Spa and back home via Boulogne.
It's possible we could do it going the other way around, and I guess that might be driven by if there's more to do on the German leg the 3-4 days before Mangy-Cours, than there is the week after.
We're think of taking 5-6 days over it, as it's 1700 miles without deviation, so 2000 in reality.
Has anyone done similar, and if so, have we missed any must see/do's along the way? Any suggestions much appreciated. We're also looking for places to stay and nice restaurants etc along the say, so any knowledge of the areas would also be useful.
Edited by willdew on Thursday 31st August 08:11
I didn't do the Stelvio - as much as I'd like to, I just heard it's not quite so great and is often full of traffic.
Col du Petit St Bernard:
www.alpineroads.com/savoie.php#pteberna
This was v good, particularly the french climb up. A few cars but masses of over taking opportunities. The Boxster flew up here, but it was so nice I even stopped a few times for the view. Going down was more of a cruise.
The Simplon Pass, although a major road, was still good fun. It was nice to do a pass where you could get some real speed up. The cafe place at the top was great too, good food.
The Grimsel Pass:
www.alpineroads.com/uri.php#grimsel
This was an unexpected highlight, as I had planned on doing the Furka passes and getting to Interlaken via Andermatt. As I'd spent far too much time that day getting over some unclassified italian roads to the Simplon, I decided to go via Grimsel - and it was fantastic. Again, lots of overtaking on the way up, stunning view back down and then even better views from the top and down the other side.
For any of these roads, particularly the popular ones like Stelvio, I reckon it's best to do them early in a morning, less traffic, but risk of worse conditions.
The Boxster coped well, though I never pushed it on the downward trips as I'd be too concerned about how well the brakes would hold up.
I'd love to have a go at the same roads in my 964 RS, it would be devastating.
Enjoy your trip,
J
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