Discussion
Looking for a bit of advice folks.
I am looking at taking a Road trip to Europe in August. I need to Start it off though in Valencia Spain, then will hopefully end at the Ring.
I have two weeks to do this.
I have no experience of Europe in general, unless you count beach holidays, so i am fairly clueless at this stage of even were to begin.
So any advice on
1 - Best route from Scotland To Valencia, and obviously the cheapest?
2 - A route from Valencia towards the Ring in Germany, taking in some excellent driving roads, countries?
Not looking for an exact detail, unless anyone feels generous enough, but just a general rough idea, or even some links similar to my question.
Much appreciated.
I am looking at taking a Road trip to Europe in August. I need to Start it off though in Valencia Spain, then will hopefully end at the Ring.
I have two weeks to do this.
I have no experience of Europe in general, unless you count beach holidays, so i am fairly clueless at this stage of even were to begin.
So any advice on
1 - Best route from Scotland To Valencia, and obviously the cheapest?
2 - A route from Valencia towards the Ring in Germany, taking in some excellent driving roads, countries?
Not looking for an exact detail, unless anyone feels generous enough, but just a general rough idea, or even some links similar to my question.
Much appreciated.
wow! there are so many different options open to you?
just getting from scotland down to the ports leaves you various choices, do you want to use the channel tunnel, maybe a cross channel ferry, which would leave you various driving options through france into spain, (milau viaduct being 1), or would you go via a ferry out of portsmouth into spain, then cut down and across country through spain to valencia.
havn't really thought of your route back up yet, but from valencia to barcelona, i'd use the n340, its a cracking coast road, well it used to be many moons ago when i could use that route in the wagon, instead of the now boring motorways.
just to add,
august is stupidly busy on the roads of europe, especially heading to spain, expect most of scandinavia and europe to be heading south towards spain. also lots of caravans, motorhomes, and vastly overloaded transits and sprinters, (north africa bound/via spain) unfortunately the time your going, is the busiest.
as for the fact you havn't much experience in europe, i wouldn't worry to much, driving on the otherside is no real hassle, you should get it straight away, make sure you have the relevant warning triangles, spare bulbs, hi-viz vest etc, to meet the requirments of the countries you'll be driving in, get a very good european map aswell as a satnav, and if you can, learn the basics in french/spanish/german, you'll be amazed how far hello, goodbye, please, thankyou etc will get you, if you speak it in their native tongue
what vehicle will you be using?
just getting from scotland down to the ports leaves you various choices, do you want to use the channel tunnel, maybe a cross channel ferry, which would leave you various driving options through france into spain, (milau viaduct being 1), or would you go via a ferry out of portsmouth into spain, then cut down and across country through spain to valencia.
havn't really thought of your route back up yet, but from valencia to barcelona, i'd use the n340, its a cracking coast road, well it used to be many moons ago when i could use that route in the wagon, instead of the now boring motorways.
just to add,
august is stupidly busy on the roads of europe, especially heading to spain, expect most of scandinavia and europe to be heading south towards spain. also lots of caravans, motorhomes, and vastly overloaded transits and sprinters, (north africa bound/via spain) unfortunately the time your going, is the busiest.
as for the fact you havn't much experience in europe, i wouldn't worry to much, driving on the otherside is no real hassle, you should get it straight away, make sure you have the relevant warning triangles, spare bulbs, hi-viz vest etc, to meet the requirments of the countries you'll be driving in, get a very good european map aswell as a satnav, and if you can, learn the basics in french/spanish/german, you'll be amazed how far hello, goodbye, please, thankyou etc will get you, if you speak it in their native tongue
what vehicle will you be using?
Edited by chilistrucker on Thursday 22 March 12:59
Hi mate.
Been doing a bit of digging so far, and some stuff from folk on here, so thanks so far for all info.
I looked and calculated both routes, Drive all the way from Scotland, or as you say, ferry from Plymouth to Santander, then a drive to valencia. It works out exact in cost, obviously the ferry probably being the quicker route. So i will need to think on that one come closer the time and how our days off pan out that weekend when leaving.
Bummer bout being busiest time, but you cant win them all!!
Not made any routes as yet from Spain to the ring, but going to take in Cannes and Monaco, St Tropez, then work it from there, so not too difficult i dont think.
I am not too worried about actual driving, have drove in various countries worldwide, Saudi included,lol, its just more the alien nature of where i was going ect.
I Do have a fairly new Sat Nav that covers europe, so sorted there, and will pick up a Map and the other necessities soon.
I will hopefully be in either a Porsche Cayman or Boxster S. Worst Case Senario i take my Honda Type R FD2 4 door Saloon, but hoping to have the Porsche by then!!
Cheers. Will pop a wee report on here anyway when i am fully researched!!
Been doing a bit of digging so far, and some stuff from folk on here, so thanks so far for all info.
I looked and calculated both routes, Drive all the way from Scotland, or as you say, ferry from Plymouth to Santander, then a drive to valencia. It works out exact in cost, obviously the ferry probably being the quicker route. So i will need to think on that one come closer the time and how our days off pan out that weekend when leaving.
Bummer bout being busiest time, but you cant win them all!!
Not made any routes as yet from Spain to the ring, but going to take in Cannes and Monaco, St Tropez, then work it from there, so not too difficult i dont think.
I am not too worried about actual driving, have drove in various countries worldwide, Saudi included,lol, its just more the alien nature of where i was going ect.
I Do have a fairly new Sat Nav that covers europe, so sorted there, and will pick up a Map and the other necessities soon.
I will hopefully be in either a Porsche Cayman or Boxster S. Worst Case Senario i take my Honda Type R FD2 4 door Saloon, but hoping to have the Porsche by then!!
Cheers. Will pop a wee report on here anyway when i am fully researched!!
cool.
think i used the plymouth-santander route once in the lorry, sure it was brittany ferries, about a 20 hour crossing, think the boat had decent cabins and very good facilities, but if you choose this route, be careful as they can get fully booked easily in the summer. i vaguely remember as it was the 1st time i'd sailed into santander and when leaving the port, i took the wrong road and in the lorry at 40 tonnes it was murder, but i do remember thinking what a great road it would be in a decent car, (which you will be using.) i think it was the n623.
you could go this way, upto burgos, then if you wanted, run down the a1 to madrid, (this section of a1 is toll free and is undergoing major re-surfacing work making it much better than it was.) scoot around madrid on the m50, and pick up the motorway for valencia the a3. if poss when in spain and using main routes the A motorways, are much better than the AP motorways. AP's are very modern, but all toll, alot of the "A" motorways are upgraded old national roads, so free, and alot better choice of stopping places, the old fashioned restaraunt/bar kind of road houses, used by truckers, coaches and the general public, and usually all very good.
another route you could use from santander, would be across to bilbao, then down to vittoria, and onto logrono, zarragoza, tureul and valencia, all modern good roads. i've done these routes in the truck, and all good, but if you were in a porsche, you may want to get off the motorway and use the national roads, i'm sure they'd be more entertaining in a car, than a truck
your route from valencia up is fine, i would consider the n340 if you have time, over the ap7, and i know a cracking eatery on the way, at a place called cambrills.
once you've done cannes etc, you again have plenty of choices, i'd be tempted to go via the venti miglia to genova, then upto milan, up and into switzerland via chiasso, through swiss, out the otherside at basel and onwards and upwards to the ring
if you really wanted to push it, you could go via maranello for ferrari etc, then out of italy via the brenner pass into austria, then maybe detour via munich for the bmw museum, although this is a fairly big detour, just me getting carried away
think i used the plymouth-santander route once in the lorry, sure it was brittany ferries, about a 20 hour crossing, think the boat had decent cabins and very good facilities, but if you choose this route, be careful as they can get fully booked easily in the summer. i vaguely remember as it was the 1st time i'd sailed into santander and when leaving the port, i took the wrong road and in the lorry at 40 tonnes it was murder, but i do remember thinking what a great road it would be in a decent car, (which you will be using.) i think it was the n623.
you could go this way, upto burgos, then if you wanted, run down the a1 to madrid, (this section of a1 is toll free and is undergoing major re-surfacing work making it much better than it was.) scoot around madrid on the m50, and pick up the motorway for valencia the a3. if poss when in spain and using main routes the A motorways, are much better than the AP motorways. AP's are very modern, but all toll, alot of the "A" motorways are upgraded old national roads, so free, and alot better choice of stopping places, the old fashioned restaraunt/bar kind of road houses, used by truckers, coaches and the general public, and usually all very good.
another route you could use from santander, would be across to bilbao, then down to vittoria, and onto logrono, zarragoza, tureul and valencia, all modern good roads. i've done these routes in the truck, and all good, but if you were in a porsche, you may want to get off the motorway and use the national roads, i'm sure they'd be more entertaining in a car, than a truck
your route from valencia up is fine, i would consider the n340 if you have time, over the ap7, and i know a cracking eatery on the way, at a place called cambrills.
once you've done cannes etc, you again have plenty of choices, i'd be tempted to go via the venti miglia to genova, then upto milan, up and into switzerland via chiasso, through swiss, out the otherside at basel and onwards and upwards to the ring
if you really wanted to push it, you could go via maranello for ferrari etc, then out of italy via the brenner pass into austria, then maybe detour via munich for the bmw museum, although this is a fairly big detour, just me getting carried away
Edited by chilistrucker on Thursday 22 March 18:42
Hi mate.
For the way down its looking at the minute i may have to drive the full way to Valencia, which if the case i will need to take the quickest route to get us there for the Tuesday. So sadly that part of the journey will be to "Get there".
From Valencia onwards, the world is our oyster. Defo take on board some of what you have mentioned. Just trying to get my route worked out the now and on paper for the way down, then start on the good bit.lol
I'll keep you posted. That is one career that has always appealed to me, Truck Driving!! Fact i love driving, but some of the sites/places you must have seen??
For the way down its looking at the minute i may have to drive the full way to Valencia, which if the case i will need to take the quickest route to get us there for the Tuesday. So sadly that part of the journey will be to "Get there".
From Valencia onwards, the world is our oyster. Defo take on board some of what you have mentioned. Just trying to get my route worked out the now and on paper for the way down, then start on the good bit.lol
I'll keep you posted. That is one career that has always appealed to me, Truck Driving!! Fact i love driving, but some of the sites/places you must have seen??
From Valencia, as quick as you can via Saragossa to Biescas, then N260 eastwards ...... you must do this road at least once in your life. When you're stuck in traffic around Monoco you will really really be missing it.
Take N260 all the way to Puigcerda and from there the N116 to Pamplona.
After that keep heading East whichever way you want to. But you must do the N260 one day. (Even better if you head north off it at Sete and the the road to Vielha, but maybe that for another trip if times an issue)
Best of luck with it ........ I promise, when you get back to Blighty you'll hate the roads and traffic here, far more than you ever realised.
EDIT
PS Take Route Napoleon from Monocco, north of Grasse .................... Fab.
Take N260 all the way to Puigcerda and from there the N116 to Pamplona.
After that keep heading East whichever way you want to. But you must do the N260 one day. (Even better if you head north off it at Sete and the the road to Vielha, but maybe that for another trip if times an issue)
Best of luck with it ........ I promise, when you get back to Blighty you'll hate the roads and traffic here, far more than you ever realised.
EDIT
PS Take Route Napoleon from Monocco, north of Grasse .................... Fab.
Edited by Wozy68 on Friday 23 March 15:05
Edited by Wozy68 on Friday 23 March 15:06
DC5TEG said:
Hi mate.
For the way down its looking at the minute i may have to drive the full way to Valencia, which if the case i will need to take the quickest route to get us there for the Tuesday. So sadly that part of the journey will be to "Get there".
From Valencia onwards, the world is our oyster. Defo take on board some of what you have mentioned. Just trying to get my route worked out the now and on paper for the way down, then start on the good bit.lol
I'll keep you posted. That is one career that has always appealed to me, Truck Driving!! Fact i love driving, but some of the sites/places you must have seen??
i guess you'll be going dover/calais then if its the quickest route you want, you could go via milau on the way, well worth it, and it can fit in with a quick route to valencia.For the way down its looking at the minute i may have to drive the full way to Valencia, which if the case i will need to take the quickest route to get us there for the Tuesday. So sadly that part of the journey will be to "Get there".
From Valencia onwards, the world is our oyster. Defo take on board some of what you have mentioned. Just trying to get my route worked out the now and on paper for the way down, then start on the good bit.lol
I'll keep you posted. That is one career that has always appealed to me, Truck Driving!! Fact i love driving, but some of the sites/places you must have seen??
your right, the truck driving can be quite good. i love the driving, and its so much better on the whole in europe, than in the uk. i have got about abit, all of europe from portugal to poland, all of scandinavia, and even greece and russia aswell. nice to know the view from the office window is never the same
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