France / Spain / France next year.

[Barreti]

Or should that be France / Spain / UK next year.

Anyway, Hi chaps,

Next year I’m planning to change my annual trip to Le Mans to go to the Le Mans Classic instead, then push on down through Spain to our house near Iznajar, north of Malaga.

The route back is sort of dictated by Mrs B, being as I want her to fly down and drive back with me because I’m sure she’ll enjoy it despite her protestations.

So our return trip is
Day1: East to Granada and on to the E15 coast road where we’ll follow that up to Tarragona and stay in the Parador there overnight (night 1)
Day2: Up to Toulouse where we’ll overnight somewhere in the city (night 2)
Day3: Through France to one of the northern ports ready for the ferry home (night 3)

The trip down is completely open to suggestions.
Starting point will be Le Mans, France obviously, and I don’t want to go the same route as my return trip- so probably over the northern end of the Pyrenees and down the middle of Spain.
Can anyone suggest a route?

Also, if you have anything to suggest as places to head ‘via’ on the return trip I’d love to hear your ideas.

Thanks,
Ian

Edited by Barreti on Monday 28th September 12:32

Edited by Barreti on Monday 28th September 13:06

[burriana]

and here's me thinking for a minute you were inviting people

I have done over the Pyrenees from Lourdes and down the centre of Spain, 12 hours to our place at Nerja just East of Malaga.

[JimexPL]

Le Mans to San Sebastian in time for some Tapas in the Old Town is do-able (we did it this year, leaving about an hour before the end of the race)
El Escorial is an interesting place to stay (just North of Madrid). If you left San Sebastian in the morning you'd be there in the afternoon.
I remember Iznajar - It's pretty close to La Finca Bobadilla that Jag used for the XF launch.

James

[Barreti]

burriana said:

and here's me thinking for a minute you were inviting people

I have done over the Pyrenees from Lourdes and down the centre of Spain, 12 hours to our place at Nerja just East of Malaga.

We're only the other side of the 'hill' to you Burriana, in Ventorros De Balerma.
I'll certainly be going up and over past Zaffaraya down to Valez Malaga, what a road!

If you fancy a run to Classic LM then down to our respective Casa's let me know.

JimexPL said:

Le Mans to San Sebastian in time for some Tapas in the Old Town is do-able (we did it this year, leaving about an hour before the end of the race)
El Escorial is an interesting place to stay (just North of Madrid). If you left San Sebastian in the morning you'd be there in the afternoon.
I remember Iznajar - It's pretty close to La Finca Bobadilla that Jag used for the XF launch.

James

Brilliant, San Sebastian looks a perfect stopping off point. Thats on the agenda then. Thanks James. Can you recommend somewhere to stay?

Bobadilla is ace isn't it. Had Mrs B's 40th dinner there. Lovely.

Edited by Barreti on Monday 28th September 17:47

[burriana]

Barreti said:

burriana said:

and here's me thinking for a minute you were inviting people

I have done over the Pyrenees from Lourdes and down the centre of Spain, 12 hours to our place at Nerja just East of Malaga.

We're only the other side of the 'hill' to you Burriana, in Ventorros De Balerma.
I'll certainly be going up and over past Zaffaraya down to Valez Malaga, what a road!

If you fancy a run to Classic LM then down to our respective Casa's let me know.

I was discussing this very option with Blueyonder a few days ago but we may go for the main 24HRS plus a week later driving across either the Pyrenees or the Alps.

A two week lads' jaunt in the motors may be testing Vicki's relaxed nature somewhat!

[Barreti]

Aaaah, now you see Burriana, what you need is a devious plan.

• Fly the Mrs down for a nice relaxing week with the wife of your mate for some girlie company to share the wine / get drunk with.
• You and said mate drive down taking in Le Mans on the way.
• You and Vicki drive back, taking in Paradores and French/Spanish hospitality with a French city overnighter.
• Mate and his wife stay at your place for a few romantic days alone before flying home.

Job done

Edited by Barreti on Tuesday 29th September 18:51

[blueyonder]

Barreti said:

Aaaah, now you see Burriana, what you need is a devious plan.

• Fly the Mrs down for a nice relaxing week with the wife of your mate for some girlie company to share the wine / get drunk with.
• You and said mate drive down taking in Le Mans on the way.
• You and Vicki drive back, taking in Paradores and French/Spanish hospitality with a French city overnighter.
• Mate and his wife stay at your place for a few romantic days alone before flying home.

Job done

Edited by Barreti on Tuesday 29th September 18:51

Like your thinking Barreti.....one small problem, I aint' got a wife...or a GF! Unless I find one by then of course!! And we'd be in two cars, but I could drive back on my own!

[VerySideways]

That's funny, i'm just sorting out a route to go the other way!

Starting at Bilbao and ending at the LM Classic for the weekend, before coming back to the UK.

I shall watch this thread with interest

[Le TVR]

Barreti said:

Day2: Up to Toulouse where we’ll overnight somewhere in the city (night 2)

There is a local B+B we often use for clients just outside the city:

http://www.chateaudesvarennes.com/

[Barreti]

Had a bit of a rethink on this and I now have a bit more info on the run down.

Sunday - 5.1/2hrs driving approx
Leave Le Mans around 2pm

Arrive Mont de Marsan between 7-8pm depending on stops etc.
Staying at the Campanille Hotel and Restaurant.

Monday - 6.1/2hrs driving approx
Depart Mont De Marsan, heading into the Pyrennees via PAU and through the national park.

N330 to Zaragoza
A2 to Siguenza with an overnight stay at the Parador de Siguenza.

Tuesday - 6.1/2hrs driving approx
This is really the A4 road from Madrid to Granada then on to home near Loja

But if we can get from Siguenza onto the A4 via a scenic route so much the better.
This might mean we head towards the Embalse de Buendia, then head to Tarancon then across to the A4

All the routes I have so far have been selected using Google Maps, and good as Street View is, it can only give you a flavour of a very small area, so if anyone has suggestions for a route between any of the above, or detours worth making we don't mind making Monday or Tuesday a little longer with more stops along the way.
Or, if you know somewhere nice to stay in the area of Mont De Marsan I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks chaps.
Ian

[Stuart J]

Im a bit late picking this up but this place is worth a visit if you are close enough

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&source...

Ive Ballooned there a few times & its quite an amazing place & the rodas in & out are good fun

Edited by Stuart J on Wednesday 10th February 16:11

Edited by Stuart J on Wednesday 10th February 16:11

[Barreti]

Thanks for the information Stuart J, that looks like a certain stop off on the way back after we've stayed the night in Toulouse.

After rummaging about in YouTube I've found what looks like a good route over the pyrenees. Following the road out of Pau which becomes the A436, then the N260 as far as Fiscal or Boltana, where we might take a right and head towards the E7 for Huesca and Zaragoza.

Mind you, the bikers video I was watching shows a cow and calf walking down the road

Edited by Barreti on Wednesday 10th February 23:48

[Stuart J]

If you get to Rocamadour drive through the edge of the town for the experience then head up to park near the tower shown in the left hand picture on this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocamadour theres a large car park & what looks like a railway station, its actually the first of 2 lifts that take you down to the town & by far the best way to see it. Missing the second lift & walking if you have time is worth it. There are car parks in the town but they are a pain. Also in the picture you can see a rampart going out to the left, that is actually only a few teet wide but offers absolutely stunning views & has a really earie feeling to me. Its accessed at the far end of the car park, you have to pay but its worth it IMO, it was a black revolving turnstyle a couple of years ago by some large trees, probably the same now

Rocamadour is one of Frances great religious sites, I will leave you to explore the history but the chapel is the centre of it. In summer it can get busy with I suppose you would say pilgrims but still worth it.

If you have time to eat the Chateax hotel I can recomend, try & sit outside http://www.hotelchateaurocamadour.com/index.php?Mo... Again its up not far from the car park but has acres of its own parking, Weve stayed there a few times & its good value for money.

Edited by Stuart J on Thursday 11th February 09:06

Edited by Stuart J on Thursday 11th February 09:13

[Jasper Gilder]

Or you could stop off at domaine de lannzac (www.domainedelanzac.com) which is owned by Gerjo who drives a Tuscan 2. Nice place, nice people and about 20 miles from RocAmador

[VerySideways]

Jasper Gilder said:

Or you could stop off at domaine de lannzac (www.domainedelanzac.com) which is owned by Gerjo who drives a Tuscan 2. Nice place, nice people and about 20 miles from RocAmador

Haven't been to Gerjo's place but him and his missus are very nice people

[Jasper Gilder]

They are indeed and his place is great. Well worth a visit, especially if you're suffering TVR withdrawal!

[JimexPL]

Barreti said:

JimexPL said:

Le Mans to San Sebastian in time for some Tapas in the Old Town is do-able (we did it this year, leaving about an hour before the end of the race)
El Escorial is an interesting place to stay (just North of Madrid). If you left San Sebastian in the morning you'd be there in the afternoon.
I remember Iznajar - It's pretty close to La Finca Bobadilla that Jag used for the XF launch.

James

Brilliant, San Sebastian looks a perfect stopping off point. Thats on the agenda then. Thanks James. Can you recommend somewhere to stay?

Bobadilla is ace isn't it. Had Mrs B's 40th dinner there. Lovely.

I've only just rediscovered this thread. Unfortunately I don't really have anywhere to recommend.
The first time I stayed in a small independant that was only average and last year we were in an etap/ibis/something on the edge of Biarritz ready for a sunrise drive in to the Pyrennes.

I enjoyed Bobadilla, even if it was full of car salesman at the time... My g/f had come to Spain also while I was on the launch and Geoff Cousins let her stay with me and use the hotel whilst we were out hooning around the countryside.

Just trying to work out my own Euro trip this year. We stay with g/f's family in an apartment about an hour north of Barcelona. I've dirven down there at least 5 times out of the last seven years and always take a different route. I'll probably do Le Mans Classic also, then travel down from there.

e.t.a. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

I've done roughly this route before and had quite a good time!

Edited by JimexPL on Friday 12th February 18:20

[JimexPL]

This would be my route down from Biarritz/San Sebastian:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&amp...

I'd perhaps stay overnight in El Escorial.

[JimexPL]

Still thinking...

I'm struggling to remember the specifics of your coastal route, even though I didn't do it that long ago (2004).

Agua Amarga is a good place to chill out for the day by the beach (not that you've got itme for that in your current itinerary!)

The old town in Alicante is worth a visit.

Driving along the sea front at Benidorm is a novelty if you haven't been before!

Have you spent any time in Valencia?

I NEED to get my act together and sort out buying a place in Spain!

[Barreti]

Thanks for the input guys, its all very gratefully received.

JimexPL, I'll certainly use your route from Tarragona to Toulouse, thanks very much for that.
And the day we leave Toulouse looks like a busy one now, with a trip into RocAmadour then lunch with Gerjo if he's open (I've emailed him)

Slowly but surely the plan is coming together