So I fancy a drive next week...

[wombat172a]

Morning all,

The premise is this; my parents have instructed me that I need to take my younger brother abroad, because he's hardly travelled and should see a bit of the world. I have a BMW, and can leave on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning returning on Sunday Night. A requirement is to visit the Nurburgring, I know the weather will more than likely be bad so it will be more of a visit with a couple of gently laps (I've got 3 laps from earlier in the year to use up).

So that being the situation, where would you guys go? Where's good to get to at this time of year? I don't mind the odd 12 hour stint behind the wheel, but it would be good to see more than just motorways and petrol stations.

Cheers

[Stu R]

The Alps. Vague I know, but there's so many amazing places nestled within them you can pretty much throw a dart at a map of them and win.

I'd head for the 'ring as soon into your trip as you can, spend the night locally, have a day there, then somewhere on the french or swiss side of the Alps. Can't beat 'em and doesn't mean you're driving the whole trip

[Ranger 6]

'Ring - BMW museum, Munich - Ferrari, Maranello - Home

[prand]

Not sure the Alps would be too nice this time of year.

Perhaps a scott down to Reims through Luxembourg (always fancied going there for some reason_ for some champers and look at the old road racing circuit?

A bit dour, but Somme/Fromelles memorials are worth stopping for too.

[Stu R]

prand said:

Not sure the Alps would be too nice this time of year.

I am.

Depends what you class as nice I suppose.

[ghibbett]

prand said:

Not sure the Alps would be too nice this time of year.

+1

It's mandatory to drive in both Austria and Switzerland between 1st Nov and 15th April with winter tyres. In Germany it is not the law, however if you are found driving on snow or ice with summer tyres, you'l be fined. And seeing as we have snow on the ground from 1000m at the moment, that means you're out of luck there. There's always the French Alps mind...

[wombat172a]

Unfortunately I have metric wheels fitted to the bmw, and I don't fancy hunting around for winter tyres. So it may have to be less extreme on some of the alpine ideas, although I understand nearly all of the ski resorts etc. will be clear, so less of an issue there.

[v15ben]

I'd definitely say Reims and maybe head south into France? You could get a long way down in a day if you don't mind driving 12 hours then you could easily head onto the Riviera in both France and Italy. It won't be scorching hot by any means, but I doubt there will be any snow

[Lastinclass]

Portsmouth - Santander and work your way along to Monaco, then to Maranello, through Austria to Munich (BMW museum) on to Stuttgart (MB and Porsche museum's) then up to the ring and Amsterdam on the way home to complete his education.

There you go that's the new gentleman's grand tour of Europe!!

[prand]

Stu R said:

prand said:

Not sure the Alps would be too nice this time of year.

I am.

Depends what you class as nice I suppose.

Of course I mean in a car, not on skis!

[Ranger 6]

ghibbett said:

It's mandatory to drive in both Austria and Switzerland between 1st Nov and 15th April with winter tyres.

Ignore my route then it takes you through Austria to get to Maranello. Stay in Germany and use the Stuttgart suggestion

Alternatively the Schlumpf Collection at Mulhouse is pretty special - http://www.collection-schlumpf.com/en/schlumpf/

[5potTurbo]

A wine tour?

Luxembourg Moselle
Reims (Epernay - soem GREAT roads around there too!)
Alsace
Burgundy
?

I do think Amsterdam's a good call for, ahem, educational purposes on the way back north.
Parking in The Dam's hugely expensive (€50/day), so I'd recommend parking at Schipol Airport and getting the train in.

[wombat172a]

Some good suggestions here chaps!

It looks like that without changing my wheels & tyres I won't be able to do the Swiss/Austrian bits, so unfortunately that looks also set to rule out Marenello.

So I'm now thinking UK -> Reims -> Stuttgart -> Nurburg -> Amsterdam -> back home.
Or possibly UK -> Reims -> Stuttgart -> Berlin (or maybe Prague) -> Nurburg -> back home.

Would there be any point in crossing at Plymouth-Roscoff and heading via Le Mans, is there much to see there when there's no racing?

[BoRED S2upid]

prand said:

Perhaps a scott down to Reims through Luxembourg (always fancied going there for some reason_ for some champers and look at the old road racing circuit?

If you can find it (Its not easy to find) this is worth a visit.

I would plan a different city / county per day Reims day 1, Nurburgring day 2, Belgian city day 3 then back home? very easy to do a round trip and tick off France, Germany, Belgium in a long weekend.

[5potTurbo]

Reims to Nurburgring is quite a lot of boring motorway miles.
I guess it could be broken up with a visit to Verdun when heading East? (11/11 tomorrow and all that *salutes* )

I did 3 countries in a few hours last Friday: Amsterdam, south to Belgium (Liége, Spa, St.Vith), then into Luxembourg to get home.



ETA: I wasn't in The Dam for my "education"!
ETA2: Crikey! Just seen the OP's suggesting Reims to Stuttgart .... x LOADS!

Edited by 5potTurbo on Wednesday 10th November 13:54

Edited by 5potTurbo on Wednesday 10th November 13:55