Driving to Pyrenees - need a mid point stopover

[BigBazza]

We are going on a 4x4 expedition/camping holiday in The Pyrenees in August.

We are from Oop North so first leg is to get to Dover, then sailing Dover Calais so going to need a halfway stopover point en route to Pau.

Any ideas welcome, either to pitch the tent or a nice little hotel/B&B close enough to major routes.

[smifffymoto]

If I do it overnight,Calais - home it takes about 10-11 hours,the same on a Sunday day going through Paris.If you want to stop I would say north Dordogne.

[BigBazza]

We are sailing first thing Friday morning and meeting in Pau on Sunday so we have most of Friday and all day Saturday to make the journey. We've got 3 young children so want to make it as easygoing as possible for them. Was thinking, in simplistic terms, somewhere nice just south of Paris for the Fri night and then somewhere between Brives and Pau for the Sat night if anyone knows any nice towns/villages/B&Bs etc.

Thanks

[pugwash4x4]

Hey Bigbazza

we did a Pyrenees route from Pau about 18 months ago (are you self guided, with a group, or follwing a road book?)- very lovely it was too- look out for golden eagles and vultures. In may we spent 4 days in the moutnaints and didn't see another human for all that time - it was brilliant (far quieter than the High Atlas in Morocco). We are going out to do some more of hte Pyrenees in 2 weeks time- from Andorra Eastwards.

Anyway- we drove from Dover as you did- we kept a list of Formula1 Handy and when we got tired just found the nearest one and stopped- only had one problem coming back and that was because the F1 was full- there are always 4-5 other hotels handy though . We also took a list of quiet Aires and prepared to camp if we had to. iirc our night on the trip down was outside Poitiers.

HTH

jim

[Nobby Diesel]

Have a look at http://www.chateau-de-chanteloup.com/gb/index.html
Just east of Le Mans, by about 10 miles.
Ideal for pitching the tent, but they also have some rooms available.
Pool, bar, restaurant, showers etc.

[BigBazza]

Marvellous, this is a good start thanks chaps.

We are doing a "treasure hunt" for the week, only about 20km between campsites but 80-100km of driving and a day off to do white water rafting mid week too.

Looking forward to it!

Cheers

[ianash]

We had a brilliant night at http://www.aubergedechassignolles.com/web/ which is South East of Clermont Ferrand. Run by a couple that also run a London gastro pub.

[Bill]

We've stayed here a couple of times while heading south and really enjoyed it. Although it might get booked up in August (like most of France...)