UK, Bruges, Nurburgring, Romantic Rhine, Stuttgart - Advice

[Captive Nut]

Hello all!

First post, I'm not a newbie to trips to Europe, having travelled in our car the previous two years covering about 3000 miles each journey on a ten day holiday with the Mrs.

Something new this year though - My friend has bought a car in the UK (406 Coupé) and will be driving it back to Germany (Stuttgart). I'm hopping in and we're making a mini-holiday of it.

Left the planning a little late (we're leaving this week, i.e. 'Thurs' is Thurs 4th), but hey ho.


Currently the route (as the title implies) is this:

Thurs: Arrive in Calais on the ferry @ ~7pm CET, arriving Bruges ~9pm where we've booked a hotel (few beers in Bruges I think..).

Fri: Have a look around Bruges (until ~2pm) then motor on in the afternoon to the Eifel national park ~7pm (camping spot to be decided on - I'm thinking of finding one with a place to swim - advice welcome!)

Sat: Attend the Historical Trophy Nurburgring (http://www.nuerburgring.de/en/events-tickets/oldtimer/historic-trophy-nuerburgring.html) and camp again (same campsite ideally, i.e. in the Eifel).

Sun: Drive to Stuttgart via the Romantic Rhine (Koblenz-Mainz) (then I fly home at 5pm CET)


Rough route is here - Not loads of driving, enough to see a few things:
https://goo.gl/maps/0UVHX





I think I've got the route fairly well planned (not too much driving each day, room for detours and food etc), but comments and advice would be very much welcome.

Bruges should be straightforward (as a tourist), but I'm not sure about what's worth seeing/doing in the Eifel (if we have time). Although if anyone can recommend a bar to drink at, let me know!

I'm also not sure about the Nurburgring event - Historical rally, great - But if anyone else has any advice on where's best to watch the cars, what time is best to arrive and leave, what food is available, etc. it would be gratefully received. Neither of us have been to the Nurburgring before - obviously we aren't participating but I'm not really sure what to expect from the event (haven't done my homework yet on it). I'm thinking we might get a bit of a picnic and watch the cars go by for an hour or so, then look around the exhibits and leave. Does anyone know how restrictive the viewing areas are and where's best?

Has anyone else driven up the Romantic Rhine? It looks great in photos, lots of little castles to see etc (shame that by the looks of it we're too far south for the remains of the bridge at Remagen), but I'm just not sure how busy it will be, and where the little gems are hidden that are worth pottering around.

Cheers!

Edited by Captive Nut on Tuesday 2nd June 22:14

[SickAsAParrot]

Captive Nut said:

shame that by the looks of it we're too far south for the remains of the bridge at Remagen

It's only a 10 mile or so detour on the way into Koblenz, then you can drive down the 'coast' road. Even though it's only a couple of black towers, it's iconic and well worth a look.

Incidentally we're going on a driving holiday through Germany at the end of August, Cologne for 3 days, Munich for 6 days then back to somewhere not booked yet for 3 days, looking forward to it.

Edited by SickAsAParrot on Tuesday 9th June 11:05

[VX0075]

Captive Nut said:

Hello all!

Sat: Attend the Historical Trophy Nurburgring (http://www.nuerburgring.de/en/events-tickets/oldtimer/historic-trophy-nuerburgring.html) and camp again (same campsite ideally, i.e. in the Eifel).

Sun: Drive to Stuttgart via the Romantic Rhine (Koblenz-Mainz)

Edited by Captive Nut on Tuesday 2nd June 22:14

Hi captivenut, thread resurrection here but I'm planning on being in and around nurburgring and mainz the year June and was considering the historic rally, how was it? Any tips? Many thanks