Routes

[RAW-SEWedge]

Where is all the route discussion? The search is not giving me any clues.

Interested to hear route experiences. We got all day Thursday to get to the circuit from Caen (over night ferry from Portsmouth) and I want to enjoy the road trip. The last couple of times, we've relied on satnav and it keeps sending us to the bloody toll roads, despite my useless attempts at altering the preferences.

This time I want a nice non-toll/motorway route through a few villages for frequent refreshments and pee stops. Maybe a few burgers...

[robmlufc]

D438 from Rouen is the route we always take.

[smpaton]

RAW-SEWedge said:

Where is all the route discussion? The search is not giving me any clues.

Interested to hear route experiences. We got all day Thursday to get to the circuit from Caen (over night ferry from Portsmouth) and I want to enjoy the road trip. The last couple of times, we've relied on satnav and it keeps sending us to the bloody toll roads, despite my useless attempts at altering the preferences.

This time I want a nice non-toll/motorway route through a few villages for frequent refreshments and pee stops. Maybe a few burgers...

Go Via Flers, Domfront and Laval.

[icepop]

That's an interesting route suggestion, via Laval. We have a Gite, about 30km from Laval and we always have to travel 45mins back, north, to Le Mans. Don't they want the classic route, from Caen, through Alencon, down the N138, (might be wrong there), through all the little villages.

[LWT RSR]

RAW-SEWedge said:

Where is all the route discussion? The search is not giving me any clues.

Interested to hear route experiences. We got all day Thursday to get to the circuit from Caen (over night ferry from Portsmouth) and I want to enjoy the road trip. The last couple of times, we've relied on satnav and it keeps sending us to the bloody toll roads, despite my useless attempts at altering the preferences.

This time I want a nice non-toll/motorway route through a few villages for frequent refreshments and pee stops. Maybe a few burgers...

Join me and some other Porsches going from Caen on Thurs Missing all tolls just back road
blasting loads of fun and pitstops on the way takes about 2.5 hours great driving no coppers
always lots of other brits in Ferraris Cobras Porkers Mustangs allsorts on the way.
What do ya think?

[lucky b]

If its a Tom Tom, set it to cycle route. akes you through all towns and will not try to put you on a motorway.
It's manageable also, accidentally had this setting a few years back and managed the route with a 27 foot caravan in tow!
Got some funny looks from the locals though, especially as Monday was market day in a couple of towns.
Colin

[gt6]

The best route will obviously depend on where you start, however I would always say use the D438 (old N138) from rouen to le mans, shorter,quicker, cheaper and nicer than the motorway. Easy choice really

[RAW-SEWedge]

LWT RSR said:

Join me and some other Porsches going from Caen on Thurs Missing all tolls just back road
blasting loads of fun and pitstops on the way takes about 2.5 hours great driving no coppers
always lots of other brits in Ferraris Cobras Porkers Mustangs allsorts on the way.
What do ya think?

Sounds like fun but unfortunately my Porsche has to stay at home because there are 3 of us going. We're taking a Leon FR Diesel and I doubt we'd keep up

What time you in Caen? If you're on the overnight ferry then I'd be up for a beer or two.

[jbcalvin]

If anyone is on the 10.20am Thursday Eurotunnel service and fancies a nice leisurely drive down I'd be more than happy to join them, would prefer the more scenic/non toll route as well....

Taking a TDI Quattro A4 Avant so won't be able to keep up with any serious machinery either....

Gonna be a long drive from Scotland....

[LWT RSR]

On the 8.00am ferry thurs morn get to Caens about 2.30ish probably see you there!

RAW-SEWedge said:

Sounds like fun but unfortunately my Porsche has to stay at home because there are 3 of us going. We're taking a Leon FR Diesel and I doubt we'd keep up

What time you in Caen? If you're on the overnight ferry then I'd be up for a beer or two.

[Dyl]

jbcalvin said:

If anyone is on the 10.20am Thursday Eurotunnel service and fancies a nice leisurely drive down I'd be more than happy to join them, would prefer the more scenic/non toll route as well....

Taking a TDI Quattro A4 Avant so won't be able to keep up with any serious machinery either....

Gonna be a long drive from Scotland....

Where you travelling from in Scotland? We're just east of Glasgow, and have to be in Dover for the 8am ferry. We are leaving here at around 11-11.30pm for a nice long overnight stint, that will be great fun(!)

[Diamond blue]

jbcalvin said:

If anyone is on the 10.20am Thursday Eurotunnel service and fancies a nice leisurely drive down I'd be more than happy to join them, would prefer the more scenic/non toll route as well....

Taking a TDI Quattro A4 Avant so won't be able to keep up with any serious machinery either....

Gonna be a long drive from Scotland....

We're on the 10:20 Eurotunnel together with lots of others I'm sure. You're more than welcome to tag along. Mixed group including a 996 GT3 RS, a GTR and a rather lovely replica Cobra.If you see us say hello.Progress likely to be quick rather than blistering as stopping regularly to let the Cobra passenger regain feeling in his legs is essential.
Will be doing as much non-autoroute stuff as we can, time permitting with at least one stop off in Montreuil for grub.

[carsarecool]

LWT RSR said:

On the 8.00am ferry thurs morn get to Caens about 2.30ish probably see you there!

RAW-SEWedge said:

Sounds like fun but unfortunately my Porsche has to stay at home because there are 3 of us going. We're taking a Leon FR Diesel and I doubt we'd keep up

What time you in Caen? If you're on the overnight ferry then I'd be up for a beer or two.

We're on the 7:30am to Cherbourg, if you know what route you're taking it would be great to tag along - will have my 993 by then

[Davwlk]

Gran Alacant to Le Mans

2 Thursday Fly to Spain
3 Friday Gran Alacant
4 Saturday Gran Alacant
5 Sunday Gran Alacant
6 Monday Set off for Barcelona Etap
7 Tuesday Barcelona – Millau Ibis
8 Wednesday Millau – Clermont Ferrand Etap
9 Thursday Clermont Ferrand – Le Mans Hotel
10 Friday Le Mans Hotel
11 Saturday Le Mans Hotel
12 Sunday Le Mans Hotel
13 Monday Set off for Bordeaux Etap
14 Tuesday Bordeaux – Andorra Acta Florida
15 Wednesday Andorra – Zaragoza Ibis
16 Thursday Zaragoza – Gran Alacant
17 Friday Gran Alacant
18 Saturday Gran Alacant
19 Sunday Fly to England

[LFB531]

RAW-SEWedge said:

Sounds like fun but unfortunately my Porsche has to stay at home because there are 3 of us going. We're taking a Leon FR Diesel and I doubt we'd keep up

What time you in Caen? If you're on the overnight ferry then I'd be up for a beer or two.

We're on that overnight crossing and will head down towards Avranches on the Rennes road (pit stop to pick up beer trailer!) and then across to Fougeres and Le Mans. Parents live there and tell me it's a much nicer route across. Should be in the Range Rover so also not Porker speed! About four hours total travelling from Caen I reckon.

[RAW-SEWedge]

LFB531 said:

We're on that overnight crossing

You're on the Overnight from Portsmouth to Caen ? If so then I like the sound of your route and pace

Would be good to hook up and share a few beers on the ferry if you're up for that. Also bit of a convoy could would also be good. I'll drop you a PM closer to the date if you like.

[RAW-SEWedge]

carsarecool said:

We're on the 7:30am to Cherbourg

I think we'll be in Caen by the time you leave UK if you're leaving at 7:30am?

What time does your ferry reach Cherbourg?

[smpaton]

icepop said:

That's an interesting route suggestion, via Laval. We have a Gite, about 30km from Laval and we always have to travel 45mins back, north, to Le Mans. Don't they want the classic route, from Caen, through Alencon, down the N138, (might be wrong there), through all the little villages.

If you want to miss out Laval, from Caen you could go Flers, breakfast at the Hotel De France Domfront, La Ferte De Mace, Gace, Alencon then Le Mans.

[RAW-SEWedge]

smpaton said:

If you want to miss out Laval, from Caen you could go Flers, breakfast at the Hotel De France Domfront, La Ferte De Mace, Gace, Alencon then Le Mans.

Thanks

[Davwlk]

In 2009 we came back via Flers, then St Lo (for the Normandy Beaches and St Mer Eglise), Caen (for Mullberry Harbour and Bayeux Tapestry)and headed to Calais (via Ranoville Cemetery and Pegasus Bridge)
The road from Le Mans to Flers on Sunday night was dead - no traffic whatsoever.