Took the Aston for a Drive
Discussion
From our home in Devon we took the ferry from Plymouth down to Santander and then looked to do around 250 miles a day - or a tankful of fuel 
First night was at a fabulous hotel near Biarritz called Chateau de Brindos. Beautiful setting and fabulous food. We used motorway but you could take a four hour trip via the Pyrennes which would undoubtedly be great
We wanted to go to the Millau Viaduct so decided to stop at a small hotel near Carcassone called Hotel La Bastide St Martin. Fairly basic but run by nice people. They do not do evening meals but there is a wonderful restaurant about 300 yards away at Chateau Martin where we had one of the best meals of our trip.
Next night after seeing the Millau Bridge was at La Buissonniere near Uzes. Set up in the hills it was a great hotel, again with fabulous food. Our stay was accompanied by the most fabulous lightening show that lasted a good 8 hours!
The next day we drove through the Gorges de Verdon and then took Route Napoleon down to Hotel Metropole in Monaco. Lovely hotel and well looked after. Some great cars on show but ours stood up well to the competition. Think I saw 10 other Astons in the short time we were there.
A bit of a boring route to Livorno on the motorway but taking the coast road would just have taken too long. The hotel in Livorno was the NH Grand Hotel Palazzo. OK hotel but think they had a problem the day we were there. The water from the taps was brown and sandy. Also met up with 11 other Astons in Livorno.
We visited Pisa and Lucca the next day and then stayed for three nights at Monsignor della Casa at Borgo San Lorenzo. Fabulous place, great staff and food was excellent. Visited the Tuscan cities with the best IMO being San Gimignono which we would both love to go back and spend more time. Places like Pisa are far too touristy for us.
From Tuscany we went up to Lake Iseo and stayed at another fabulous hotel with views to die for. We stopped at the Mille Miglia Museum on the way. Interesting place to spend an hour or so with a good restaurant. The hotel was up in the mountains and a great run up to it but watch out for speed cameras on the way up. Hotel I Due Roccoli has stunning views and once again great food.
After all the city visits now the fun started on the way up to Luzern and we did the St Gottard, Furka and Grimsel passes. Great day and keep an eye out for "James Bond Strasse" on the Furka pass. The hotel in Luzrn was the Art Deco Hotel Motana. Set up high above the City fantastic views and food again. Great hotel.
Heading for home now and we headed off to the Schulmpf Museum which has a wonderful history of motoring. On the way up to our next hotel we had a great run over the Col du Ballon d'Alsace which was used as a Tour stage last year. Empty roads and great fun! Stayed at the best hotel of the lot this evening being Chateau d'Adomenil in Luneville where we enjoyed the most wonderful, delicate tasting menu cooked by their Michelin starred Chef. Just fantastic.
Back to motorway driving and heading for the Eurotunnel via a last night stop at Auberge des Moissons in Matougues.
2,500 miles, a bit of damage on the front of the car when we came across someones discarded rear parcel shelf that the car sucked in like a cow catcher but otherwise the car really enjoyed herself doing what she was made for. The roof was only up for around 100 miles of the trip.
If your trip is in anyway near as good as ours you will have a blast!
First night was at a fabulous hotel near Biarritz called Chateau de Brindos. Beautiful setting and fabulous food. We used motorway but you could take a four hour trip via the Pyrennes which would undoubtedly be great
We wanted to go to the Millau Viaduct so decided to stop at a small hotel near Carcassone called Hotel La Bastide St Martin. Fairly basic but run by nice people. They do not do evening meals but there is a wonderful restaurant about 300 yards away at Chateau Martin where we had one of the best meals of our trip.
Next night after seeing the Millau Bridge was at La Buissonniere near Uzes. Set up in the hills it was a great hotel, again with fabulous food. Our stay was accompanied by the most fabulous lightening show that lasted a good 8 hours!
The next day we drove through the Gorges de Verdon and then took Route Napoleon down to Hotel Metropole in Monaco. Lovely hotel and well looked after. Some great cars on show but ours stood up well to the competition. Think I saw 10 other Astons in the short time we were there.
A bit of a boring route to Livorno on the motorway but taking the coast road would just have taken too long. The hotel in Livorno was the NH Grand Hotel Palazzo. OK hotel but think they had a problem the day we were there. The water from the taps was brown and sandy. Also met up with 11 other Astons in Livorno.
We visited Pisa and Lucca the next day and then stayed for three nights at Monsignor della Casa at Borgo San Lorenzo. Fabulous place, great staff and food was excellent. Visited the Tuscan cities with the best IMO being San Gimignono which we would both love to go back and spend more time. Places like Pisa are far too touristy for us.
From Tuscany we went up to Lake Iseo and stayed at another fabulous hotel with views to die for. We stopped at the Mille Miglia Museum on the way. Interesting place to spend an hour or so with a good restaurant. The hotel was up in the mountains and a great run up to it but watch out for speed cameras on the way up. Hotel I Due Roccoli has stunning views and once again great food.
After all the city visits now the fun started on the way up to Luzern and we did the St Gottard, Furka and Grimsel passes. Great day and keep an eye out for "James Bond Strasse" on the Furka pass. The hotel in Luzrn was the Art Deco Hotel Motana. Set up high above the City fantastic views and food again. Great hotel.
Heading for home now and we headed off to the Schulmpf Museum which has a wonderful history of motoring. On the way up to our next hotel we had a great run over the Col du Ballon d'Alsace which was used as a Tour stage last year. Empty roads and great fun! Stayed at the best hotel of the lot this evening being Chateau d'Adomenil in Luneville where we enjoyed the most wonderful, delicate tasting menu cooked by their Michelin starred Chef. Just fantastic.
Back to motorway driving and heading for the Eurotunnel via a last night stop at Auberge des Moissons in Matougues.
2,500 miles, a bit of damage on the front of the car when we came across someones discarded rear parcel shelf that the car sucked in like a cow catcher but otherwise the car really enjoyed herself doing what she was made for. The roof was only up for around 100 miles of the trip.
If your trip is in anyway near as good as ours you will have a blast!
Edited by IanV12VR on Saturday 18th October 14:51
That looks like a LOT of fun. Great pics Ian.
The tours and nice long journeys - whether organised by club or enthusiast - are among the highlights of ownership for me.
I wonder if anyone on this forum has gone even further afield in Europe with their Aston?
I took my Porker down to the 'ring a few years back - that was a lot of fun, even going solo.
The tours and nice long journeys - whether organised by club or enthusiast - are among the highlights of ownership for me.
I wonder if anyone on this forum has gone even further afield in Europe with their Aston?
I took my Porker down to the 'ring a few years back - that was a lot of fun, even going solo.
silverspeed said:
Great write up - that's what the car was built for !! Bet you are planning the next trip already?
Yep! Already got a trip lined up in June to Germany with some Aston buddies and no doubt will try to line something up for September. Perhaps based around the first week of our trip and more time in the Pyrennes. We will see.
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