Short Euro-Road Trip for the BH weekend?

[ILoveMondeo]

I'm planning on going for a drive friday through sunday next weekend.

I've been meaning to do a road trip for years but I never found the time, hence the very short one...

I've been doing a load of research and found some cracking routes... all starting about 8-900 miles away, which is the problem!

Bizzarely I found this hany article on the guardian website..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2010/feb/06/europ...

I quite liked the look of the Basque circuit but time just doesn't allow for the long drive down there, and the ferry is definitely out. Same goes for Italy, Bavarian alps, etc..

Best bet so far seems to be the NW france, Pas de Calais route... however I'd like to really get out of France as I've spent a lot of time there over the years, Belgium, Germany, Holland, all appeal much more...

But I've no idea where to even start other than random googling...

Any tips or recommendations gratefully received!

Thanks

Dave

[davepoth]

Scotland is about right for three days.

[ILoveMondeo]

davepoth said:

Scotland is about right for three days.

Nice idea, I hear it's stunning up there (I've only ever seen Edinburgh for business) however, I'm in the south east, France/Belgium/Holland are all (much) closer than scotland, germany is about equidistant.

I'd rather be on pretty much ANY road in europe than the M6 or M1 on a bank holiday in the UK.

Ta.

[Oi U]

Weather in Scotland might be iffy.
How about a short tour of ex F1 circuits, eg a circular route via Zandvoort and Reims?

[iva cosworth]

Is Stuttgart too far ?

Porsche and Mercedes museums there .

Best check they are open all weekend

Pop into a certain one way Toll road on the way

[ILoveMondeo]

Oi U said:

Weather in Scotland might be iffy.
How about a short tour of ex F1 circuits, eg a circular route via Zandvoort and Reims?

Good one, could even do a night in hamsterjam as well!

[DaveEssex]

This has got to be worth considering:-

http://www.motorbikestoday.com/trackguides/nurburg...

[ILoveMondeo]

iva cosworth said:

Is Stuttgart too far ?

Porsche and Mercedes museums there .

Best check they are open all weekend

Pop into a certain one way Toll road on the way

That was the original idea, drive to ring, go round ring, come home again.

Unfortunately there's racing on all over the easter weekend.

It's turning into a more "scenic jaunt" rather than "mad dash to the ring" now, so it's possibly a bit to far, it's certainly still on the list though, thank you!

[davepoth]

ILoveMondeo said:

davepoth said:

Scotland is about right for three days.

Nice idea, I hear it's stunning up there (I've only ever seen Edinburgh for business) however, I'm in the south east, France/Belgium/Holland are all (much) closer than scotland, germany is about equidistant.

I'd rather be on pretty much ANY road in europe than the M6 or M1 on a bank holiday in the UK.

Ta.

I did it last year on the Royal Wedding weekend from Somerset - everyone was going south so it was surprisingly clear.

I did Bath - Gretna on the first day going up through the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales, Day 2 I went Gretna to John O'Groats along the A9/A99 coast road and back down to Inverness, and day three I went home.

[ILoveMondeo]

^^ Okey dokey, it'll leave it on the list then!

I'm putting together a shortlist to mull over with the GF when she's home tonight... Knowing her she wont care so long as Paris is on the itinerary, but frankly I dont fancy playing bumper cars through gay paris.

[ILoveMondeo]

DaveEssex said:

This has got to be worth considering:-

http://www.motorbikestoday.com/trackguides/nurburg...

not open on the hoilday weekend

[Gixer]

Reims. Or Metz is a nice old town with some great roads to/from Calais if you want to keep off the motorways. Need to have an idea of what's too far as that's different for different people. End of last year we took the first Saturday train out, spent the weekend at Le Mans and came back Sunday night. Doing similar in a few weeks.

Bruge is always a nice town but isnt that far. Valkenburg is a great town full of restaurants. Located in a hilly part of Holland not far from the German border. Thats a nice distance for a weekend trip. Spa isnt too far from there either.

[iva cosworth]

ILoveMondeo said:

iva cosworth said:

Is Stuttgart too far ?

Porsche and Mercedes museums there .

Best check they are open all weekend

Pop into a certain one way Toll road on the way

That was the original idea, drive to ring, go round ring, come home again.

Unfortunately there's racing on all over the easter weekend.

It's turning into a more "scenic jaunt" rather than "mad dash to the ring" now, so it's possibly a bit to far, it's certainly still on the list though, thank you!

According to "Bridge to Gantry" Touristenfarht all easter weekend on Nordschleife.


Is the racing on GP circuit ?

I have some mates going over at easter for a full weekend of TF

http://bridgetogantry.com/2/index.php?option=com_c...

Edited by iva cosworth on Saturday 31st March 12:32

[Gixer]

iva cosworth said:

ILoveMondeo said:

iva cosworth said:

Is Stuttgart too far ?

Porsche and Mercedes museums there .

Best check they are open all weekend

Pop into a certain one way Toll road on the way

That was the original idea, drive to ring, go round ring, come home again.

Unfortunately there's racing on all over the easter weekend.

It's turning into a more "scenic jaunt" rather than "mad dash to the ring" now, so it's possibly a bit to far, it's certainly still on the list though, thank you!

According to "Bridge to Gantry" Touristenfarht all easter weekend on Nordschleife.


Is the racing on GP circuit ?

I have some mates going over at easter for a full weekend of TF

I would keep away that weekend. It's a holiday weekend, and there's racing on. From previous experience I would expect it to be really busy.

[qualityscrew]

Alsace in France, great roads, scenery, towns, villages and food & wine!

[iva cosworth]

Gixer said:

iva cosworth said:

ILoveMondeo said:

iva cosworth said:

Is Stuttgart too far ?

Porsche and Mercedes museums there .

Best check they are open all weekend

Pop into a certain one way Toll road on the way

That was the original idea, drive to ring, go round ring, come home again.

Unfortunately there's racing on all over the easter weekend.

It's turning into a more "scenic jaunt" rather than "mad dash to the ring" now, so it's possibly a bit to far, it's certainly still on the list though, thank you!

According to "Bridge to Gantry" Touristenfarht all easter weekend on Nordschleife.


Is the racing on GP circuit ?

I have some mates going over at easter for a full weekend of TF

I would keep away that weekend. It's a holiday weekend, and there's racing on. From previous experience I would expect it to be really busy.

The trip organiser has been each year for 5-6 years but never been at Easter before so will

wait till he returns for his findings

[Gixer]

iva cosworth said:

The trip organiser has been each year for 5-6 years but never been at Easter before so will

wait till he returns for his findings

Luck also plays a big part. A few years back we were there over August bank holiday weekend. It was apparently the first dry weekend for ages so was already very busy and then a massive accident on Saturday has it closed pretty much all day. Sunday was insane. Our German friends that meet there every two weeks wouldn't go round (I followed their lead). The couple in our group that did go round were gone hours just getting to and from the track entrance. We were only at Bruchen so would normally take a few mins.

[Oi U]

So that's sorted:
Check long range weather forecast - go south.
Compile short list of places, eg Zandvoort, Am'dam, Spa, Reims, Le Mans, Alsace.
Check for planned activities at each location.
Decide if to join in or avoid.
Check ferry costs/availability/timings
Draft plan with aid of Google maps or viaMichelin
Refine and print
Go for it

[ILoveMondeo]

This is a bit of a puzzler, are you sure those heading to the ring arent going to be disapointed?

http://www.nuerburgring.de/fileadmin/PDF/Eventkale...

Clearly racing all weekend (6th 7th 8th) on the official event calendar...

I am confuse....

[Gixer]

ILoveMondeo said:

This is a bit of a puzzler, are you sure those heading to the ring arent going to be disapointed?

http://www.nuerburgring.de/fileadmin/PDF/Eventkale...

Clearly racing all weekend (6th 7th 8th) on the official event calendar...

I am confuse....

The GP circuit and the ring are separate circuits. It's quite common for there to be racing on the GP loop and tourists on the ring. Only a few race meets race on the full circuit;)