First European Road Trip - Advice / Suggestions
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm thinking of doing a road trip around Europe late September, I've done Wales and the Highlands countless times and I have some time off work, so I'm thinking why not squeeze another trip in before the end of the year.
I initially thought of heading over to the Vosges and then taking in the Black Forest, but it seems a waste going all that way and then missing the main passes. From what I understand the passes should be open and the weather not too bad, although I appreciate this can't be guaranteed.
I've had a look through the trip reports on here and have drafted the following together:
Friday 18th September: Sheffield > Ashford > Calais
270 miles
The initial slog down to Calais, thought if I left Friday afternoon I could get to Calais late evening, which would allow me to grab a nights sleep and an early start for the long drive to the Vosges the next morning.
Saturday 19th September: Calais > Reims > Colmar
386 miles / 7 hrs
https://goo.gl/maps/R2Qce
A fairly long distance to cover but if I set off early enough from Calais I could have a long lunch break in Reims and check out the old pit buildings.
Sunday 20th September: Colmar > Vosges > Colmar
~150 miles / 5hr
https://goo.gl/maps/kUffa
After the long distance the day before, a day exploring the Vosges roads with no pressure to get anywhere as such. Back to the same hotel in Colmar for the night.
Monday 21st September: Colmar > Lake Constance
186 miles / 5hr
https://goo.gl/maps/uCbjS
Include some roads through the southern part of the Black Forest before heading over to Lake Constance.
Tuesday 22nd September: Lake Constance > Trafoi
181 miles / 5hr
https://goo.gl/maps/dnpnU
This is basically to set me up for the following day of Stelvio and Julier passes - I'm wondering if it's worth bothering with these though? There's a lot of motorway miles for just 2 passes and skipping those would allow flexibility on this day too? Thoughts?
Wednesday 23rd September: Trafoi > Bellinzona
220 miles / 7hr
https://goo.gl/maps/KeEqU
Include Stelvio, Julier passes. See above, may not be worth doing?
Thursday 24th September: Bellinzona > Brienz
171 miles / 5hr 25m
https://goo.gl/maps/Jx7ZM
Include Gothard, Furka, Grimsel, Susten, Oberalpstrasse, Nufenenpass
Friday 25th September: Brienz > Dijon
201 miles / 6hr
https://goo.gl/maps/ZRDOp
No reason to head to Dijon inpaticular, just thought it'd be a stopping point before the trip back to Calais. Open to other ideas.
Saturday 26th September: Dijon > Reims > Calais
340 miles / 6hr 10
https://goo.gl/maps/0SFvC
Include D996 / D396, again a fairly long break at Reims to break up the driving.
Would appreciate any thoughts / suggestions.
Cheers!
I'm thinking of doing a road trip around Europe late September, I've done Wales and the Highlands countless times and I have some time off work, so I'm thinking why not squeeze another trip in before the end of the year.
I initially thought of heading over to the Vosges and then taking in the Black Forest, but it seems a waste going all that way and then missing the main passes. From what I understand the passes should be open and the weather not too bad, although I appreciate this can't be guaranteed.
I've had a look through the trip reports on here and have drafted the following together:
Friday 18th September: Sheffield > Ashford > Calais
270 miles
The initial slog down to Calais, thought if I left Friday afternoon I could get to Calais late evening, which would allow me to grab a nights sleep and an early start for the long drive to the Vosges the next morning.
Saturday 19th September: Calais > Reims > Colmar
386 miles / 7 hrs
https://goo.gl/maps/R2Qce
A fairly long distance to cover but if I set off early enough from Calais I could have a long lunch break in Reims and check out the old pit buildings.
Sunday 20th September: Colmar > Vosges > Colmar
~150 miles / 5hr
https://goo.gl/maps/kUffa
After the long distance the day before, a day exploring the Vosges roads with no pressure to get anywhere as such. Back to the same hotel in Colmar for the night.
Monday 21st September: Colmar > Lake Constance
186 miles / 5hr
https://goo.gl/maps/uCbjS
Include some roads through the southern part of the Black Forest before heading over to Lake Constance.
Tuesday 22nd September: Lake Constance > Trafoi
181 miles / 5hr
https://goo.gl/maps/dnpnU
This is basically to set me up for the following day of Stelvio and Julier passes - I'm wondering if it's worth bothering with these though? There's a lot of motorway miles for just 2 passes and skipping those would allow flexibility on this day too? Thoughts?
Wednesday 23rd September: Trafoi > Bellinzona
220 miles / 7hr
https://goo.gl/maps/KeEqU
Include Stelvio, Julier passes. See above, may not be worth doing?
Thursday 24th September: Bellinzona > Brienz
171 miles / 5hr 25m
https://goo.gl/maps/Jx7ZM
Include Gothard, Furka, Grimsel, Susten, Oberalpstrasse, Nufenenpass
Friday 25th September: Brienz > Dijon
201 miles / 6hr
https://goo.gl/maps/ZRDOp
No reason to head to Dijon inpaticular, just thought it'd be a stopping point before the trip back to Calais. Open to other ideas.
Saturday 26th September: Dijon > Reims > Calais
340 miles / 6hr 10
https://goo.gl/maps/0SFvC
Include D996 / D396, again a fairly long break at Reims to break up the driving.
Would appreciate any thoughts / suggestions.
Cheers!
Dijon to Calais is absolutely fine.
There are some great roads around Dijon area that run almost alongside the autoroute. Great sightlines, good surface, sweeping corners.
If you start running short of time you can get from Dijon to Calais on the autoroute in ~4hrs if you're bold. Keep your eyes very peeled for plod once you're within ~150km of Calais, as they hide in the bushes waiting to pick up people running late for ferries.
There are some great roads around Dijon area that run almost alongside the autoroute. Great sightlines, good surface, sweeping corners.
If you start running short of time you can get from Dijon to Calais on the autoroute in ~4hrs if you're bold. Keep your eyes very peeled for plod once you're within ~150km of Calais, as they hide in the bushes waiting to pick up people running late for ferries.
Far to far. Stelvio and Reims pit wall overrated. See this post
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Stick to the Black Forest, Andermatt Loop, and on your way back through the Vosges across Luxembourg on the minor roads which are great and get on the free Belgium autoroute and stick at 80 all the way past Lille all the way to Calais
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Stick to the Black Forest, Andermatt Loop, and on your way back through the Vosges across Luxembourg on the minor roads which are great and get on the free Belgium autoroute and stick at 80 all the way past Lille all the way to Calais
Stelvio pass is one of those 'Tick it off the list' type roads - very famous but not actually that brilliant to drive! Very recently, we were close so did drive it. I'm glad we did, but I wouldn't rush back...
Reims however, I always try to visit. One could argue that it's only some old concrete buildings but there's always a little bit of magic there for me so if you've never been I'd recommend going, if only to take the obligatory pit-lane wall photo.
Reims however, I always try to visit. One could argue that it's only some old concrete buildings but there's always a little bit of magic there for me so if you've never been I'd recommend going, if only to take the obligatory pit-lane wall photo.
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