The route:
"This is a circular route around the intersection of the French, Swiss and Italian borders that will give you a full appreciation of the epic scenery, tunnels, hairpin bends and incredible roads this area has to offer. It's barely scratching the surface but it's still a full day's drive. I started and finished in Chamonix, though you can of course pick it up wherever you want.
Small car, huge scenery - great combination!
"Heading north out of Chamonix towards Martigny you cross the Swiss border and after dropping down to the valley floor begin the climb back up to the Col du Grand Saint Bernard. Avoiding the tunnel and going over the top you cross the border into Italy at the summit and then plunge down around endless hairpins and to Aosta before again climbing, this time over the Col du Petit Saint Bernard, which isn't that petit at all! Dropping down to Bourg Saint Maurice you then climb back up and over the Cormet de Roselend before returning to Chamonix."
Why it's a dream drive:
"Where to start? Just look at the pics! The views are epic, the changes in landscape as dramatic as you'll find anywhere and the driving rewarding and challenging in equal measure. It'd be amazing in any car but something nimble, open top and involving will truly open up the magic of the experience. Check out the snippet of vid from the Caterham if you're in any doubt!
"The road out of Chamonix and through the ski resorts is an excellent opener, the roads wider and quieter down to Martigny. The start of the Grand Saint Bernard can be quite busy with lorries but once they've all diverted to the tunnel it gets quieter and the scenery more epic and rugged all the way to the 2,469m summit. The drop down to Aosta is hairpin-tastic, the beginning of the Petit Saint Bernard wooded and closed in with tunnels, twists and turns before opening up into Alpine meadow and then rugged, tussocky tops.
Pausing for a breather on the Petit St Bernard
"The descent to Bourg is fast and flowing, the Cormet de Roselend much tighter than the earlier roads but finishing with a stunning run down to a lake and home to Chamonix. It's a
drive you'll never forget
Highlights and lowlights:
"You're covering some pretty serious summits so although summer in the Alps can be blisteringly hot things can change quite suddenly. So take sun cream and a brolly! And don't forget your passport for all the border crossings! The first section is reasonably quiet, the start of the Grand Saint Bernard busier but with plenty of filling stations if you're running short.
"The Petit Saint Bernard and Cormet de Roselend are both popular with cyclists so you need to be careful there, especially on the narrower sections of the latter, but much of the route has decent sight lines so you can see potential hazards in plenty of time. The run back to Chamonix from the bottom of the Roseland is a bit of a chossy mess and takes a while - there's probably a better route for the taking there."
Can you get sick of hairpins? Nah, course not!
Sights, stop-offs and diversions:
"You'll be stopping for photos all the time, given the epic nature of the scenery! The hotel by the border crossing at the top of the Grand Saint Bernard (avoid the tourist tat stop at the hospice at the top) is an old-school delight with properly strong espressos, Pre-Saint Didier at the bottom of the Petit Saint Bernard is a very pretty town with plenty of lunch opportunities. If you're running out of time or want to do a shortened version of the route just carry straight on through the Mont Blanc tunnel to home. Assuming you carry on to Bourg there are plenty of refuelling opportunities here for car and/or driver. Depending on what time you're on it the Cormet de Roselend has some great picnic spots at the top. Whether you leg it home through the tunnel or take the long way make sure the drive ends at the
Micro Brasserie de Chamonix
for a delicious burger and well deserved beer, the latter brewed on site."
My Dream Drive is sponsored by Dunlop Tyres. To share yours email us at
dreamdrives@pistonheads.com
- if we publish your Dream Drive you'll get a pair of complimentary tickets to the BTCC round of your choosing, courtesy of Dunlop Tyres.
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