Favourite route to Le Mans

[illmonkey]

We're going Friday, staying near Porsche curves, what is the best entry point, to avoid 'mad friday'?

[lowdrag]

Friday, arriving from the North, is always a nightmare. But, as the Irish say, "If I was going there I wouldn't be starting from here". So what ferry are you taking?

[illmonkey]

06:50

[delta0]

Mad Friday didn’t really exist last year. Nothing like previous years, not even close. I do have the feeling it will be back with avengence this year though.

[fatboy18]

illmonkey said:

We're going Friday, staying near Porsche curves, what is the best entry point, to avoid 'mad friday'?

I would come in from Arnage. Route De Ruaudin D92

[lowdrag]

illmonkey said:

06:50

0650, but from which port? To Calais or St Malo for example? And do you want to arrive ASAP or take your time and look at the flowers?

[illmonkey]

sorry, it's eurotunnel. Folkstone to Calais.

[gt6]

On the d338 there a a few speed camera's but plenty of signs to warn you, not seen mobile units on there for many years, but then again usually go down tuesday so the French bill will probably not have finished their planning meeting by then. going back on Sunday they will all be on the motorway where they can recover vast amounts from the speeding brits/dutch trying to get back that evening, last few years not seen any on the old roads when we head back sunday apart from those on the motorway bridges.

[vincegail]

My favourite route to Le Mans is from Antwerp to Reims, stock up on champagne, and drive to Le Mans the next day.

[gt6]

Champers? Lucky if i get a cold can of juliper off you, luckily i prefer a cold beer. see you at Spa Vince, only just over 6 weeks to go.

[vincegail]

I do feel for you

[LB14]

lowdrag said:

For anyone coming down from Caen or Le Havre I recommend turning right at Falaise to Putange Pont Ecrepin, (lovely little hotel there on the riverside called the Lion Verd; good stop for a coffee) on througn Ranes, down through Pré-en -Pail, Villaines, Courcité, Sillé-le-Guillaume which will bring you out at Saint Saturnin just north of Le Mans. I have been using and recommending this route for nearly 30 years now, and it is a delightful trip through winding back roads, little town and villages with bars, and most importantly I have never seen the BiB.

Perfect, thanks lowdrag. We’ll be arriving into Caen on the 6.45am ferry on the Thursday morning - I’d half planned a route along the lines of what you suggested for a nice leisurely drive down .... I’ll make sure to pass through villages you mention, with a stop off for breakfast in a village bar/café. Cheers!

[lowdrag]

After you leave Pré-en-Pail (you have to turn left and immediately right by the way) you mount onto the Corniche de Pail. If you can see over the trees on the right nowadays there is the most breathtaking view across the plains. I take the overnight and arrive there early morning, and we had once forty E-types all lined up at the roadside.

[MrC986]

LB14 said:

Perfect, thanks lowdrag. We’ll be arriving into Caen on the 6.45am ferry on the Thursday morning - I’d half planned a route along the lines of what you suggested for a nice leisurely drive down .... I’ll make sure to pass through villages you mention, with a stop off for breakfast in a village bar/café. Cheers!

We'll also be docking at 06.45 on the other ferry & planning on taking a "scenic route" if you fancy travelling down together? We'll also be looking for plenty of stops for coffee etc

[lowdrag]

Thanks for the kind offer, and I would take it up, except - I live at Le Mans

But do enjoy the route; there is one part through a deciduous forest, and if the sun is shining you will be in seventh heaven. And some lovely winding roads!

[LB14]

MrC986 said:

LB14 said:

Perfect, thanks lowdrag. We’ll be arriving into Caen on the 6.45am ferry on the Thursday morning - I’d half planned a route along the lines of what you suggested for a nice leisurely drive down .... I’ll make sure to pass through villages you mention, with a stop off for breakfast in a village bar/café. Cheers!

We'll also be docking at 06.45 on the other ferry & planning on taking a "scenic route" if you fancy travelling down together? We'll also be looking for plenty of stops for coffee etc

Thanks, I’d be happy to do that but I’m planning on making a bit of a (amateur) film on the way down as a momento to look back on, so I’ll be stopping quite often for photography, filming and drone work (hasten to add I won’t be using the drone once I’m in LM, with the proximity of the airport etc).

Hence I think you might find it frustrating convoying with me!

[jonby]

Well this will be my 9th consecutive trip to LM24 and the first time I'm not driving from Manchester - I'll actually be driving from the South of France - I'm visiting there two weeks before Le Mans so I'm going to leave the car there and then fly back out to Nice a few days before the race

So having normally started with a drive down the M6, I'll be starting with a drive up Route Napoleon this year :-)

Still deciding the exact route, but I think it should be a good one !

[lowdrag]

The route Napoleon up to Briancon! Such memories! I raced a V12 up to the top f one col in 1991 and he lost his brakes, so the beers were on him

https://www.flickr.com/gp/149566328@N08/UfAMN9

[meehaja]

My mum lives near domfront, so we go via there. The roads in l’orne are great, nice long straights through the forest, swooping curves along the river.

[delta0]

My plan at the moment is:
Calais to Rouen - A16, A28 and N28
Rouen to Alencon - N338, A13 and D438
Alencon to Arnage/roundabout - D338, D323 and D92
This is the route Google maps link

Any issues with the above?
Should I take D147S rather than D323?
Any good places to stop on route? Good lunch spot?

Edited by delta0 on Tuesday 3rd April 22:59