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!
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff