Bank Holiday in France - go south, east or west..?

[Ffirg 005]

We just made a late decision to spend the bank holiday weekend in France with the Tamora. So the ferry's booked leaving Dover for Calais at a ridiculous hour on Saturday morning, returning late Mon night. Now we need to decide where to go for 3 days

Anyone got any suggestions on roads, destinations, B&Bs? Not keen on driving much more than 4 hours to get anywhere...

Also... I've got an Origin B2 but haven't got around to fitting the laser detection bit yet. Is it therefore legal to have in France? I know the GPS bit won't work without local data but I want to have it in the car for the trip to Dover and back.

Don

[DustyC]

They'll still take your B2 and fine you heavily even though it doesn't work.
Just leave it at home.
Hear horror stories about this every year at Le Mans.

Have a good time though and let me know how it goes.

[mrmaggit]

Went to the Ardennes at the end of June, great scenery and beer, not too far from the ports, hardly any Brits though. Going back late september for a long weekend. Staying in Bruges and Bouillon (Matlock Bath in Belgium).

[DustyC]

mrmaggit said:

...hardly any Brits though.

Surely a plus point.

[jim'schim]

Ffirg 005 said:

Also... I've got an Origin B2 but haven't got around to fitting the laser detection bit yet. Is it therefore legal to have in France? I know the GPS bit won't work without local data but I want to have it in the car for the trip to Dover and back. Don

What? you think you're going to be driving fast in the South of England on a bank holiday weekend?

[manek]

Brittany or south Normandy (south-east of Caen) are pretty attractive places.

[thegamekeeper]

Rheims to see the old Grand prix circuit, fantastic pits grandstands etc, and some nice places to stay. Then across to Mulhouse in the Alscace and a visit to the Schlumpf museum( absolutely awe inspiring) and then nip into Germany to the Nurburgring (east of Koblenz) to drive the Nordschleif, the old Eiffel mountain Grand Prix circuit about 20kms of heaven. It costs 14 euros a lap or 56 euros for a day pass.Check its open, they are restricting public access more nowadays but it is worth the trip if its open.

PERFECT WEEKEND sTeVeR

[thegamekeeper]

ps to the above. If you are likely to have a birthday next year get the other half to treat you to the Ring Taxi. go to www.nurburgring.org.uk and click in the ring taxis

[mrmaggit]

DustyC said:

mrmaggit said: ...hardly any Brits though. Surely a plus point.

Yes, but make sure your french is up to scratch. Or sharpen your fingers!

[brentstevens]

My suggestion. Take the A16 for speed (N1 for fun driving) towards Rouen. Very quiet roads - no one seems to use them!! Head east out of Rouen, follow the River Seine in Paris direction. Some beautiful villages en-route - stay in Les Andelys at La Chaine D'or (right on the river and has the best restaurant I have ever been too). From Les Andelys, you could visit the home and gardens of Monet at Giverny about 30 minutes away. Take a boat trip along the Seine.
A great way of spending a couple of days without driving too far.

[Ffirg 005]

Thanks for all the thoughts...

Manek - Brittany/Normandy is definitely an option. Downside is that it's a bit of a dull (albeit fast) drag there and back from Calais, or have I not taken the right roads...?

SteveR - Like the idea of Rheims, Alsace, Nurburgring. That's going to be over 1000m or driving which is a bit much, but the 'Ring is a bit too much petrol-hedonism for a romatic weekend anyway so if we skipped that and went to north Alsace instead of the south then it could be a go-er.

Brent - We did the trip down on the way to Le Mans last year - fast but not too much to look at. The restaurant and drive along the Seine sounds appealing, and we could take a small detour to visit some family in Fontainebleau...

Ardennes also a good option, maybe even down to Luxembourg. Lack of Brits in the locale is not a particular concern for this Kiwi as I'll be bringing one with me . Apart from forest walks, beer, and Battle of the Bulge relics... is there much to do in the Ardennes?

Dusty - cheers, will leave all stealth gadgetry at home.

Any more for any more?

[jonnyb]

Going to Reims myself this weekend, taking the chim. May see you down there!

[mrmaggit]

Bouillon is just like Matlock Bath, Promenade with shops/bars resaurants on the river bank. Pedallos on the river, 13th century castle on the hill above the town, 130m tunnel underneath it (great for TVR's with open exhausts, cough, and kill-switch antics on motorbikes). Through the tunnel and it could be Chatsworth Park.

[thegamekeeper]

You never mentioned a romantic weekend,thats different. 1000 miles is ok, I've done it in a Grantura and driven the Nurburgring and from Cheshire but if its too far its too far.Why not take the Ring Taxi idea for next year, now thats romantic, she buys you a birthday present.
Try Rheims, but make sure you go look at the old Grand Prix pits etc.If you can stretch to it, mileagewise the Schlumpf Museum is a must.Top tip stay off the Peages(BORING) and use the yellow roads (Michelin France road atlas)Have a good weekend, envious

[selmer]

thegamekeeper said:

Rheims to see the old Grand prix circuit, fantastic pits grandstands etc, and some nice places to stay. Then across to Mulhouse in the Alscace and a visit to the Schlumpf museum( absolutely awe inspiring) and then nip into Germany to the Nurburgring (east of Koblenz) to drive the Nordschleif, the old Eiffel mountain Grand Prix circuit about 20kms of heaven. It costs 14 euros a lap or 56 euros for a day pass.Check its open, they are restricting public access more nowadays but it is worth the trip if its open. PERFECT WEEKEND sTeVeR

Ditto.
The city is fantastic and to the North slightly you have Fismes and the Champagne region (rolling hills, twisty B roads and Laon on top of a funicular served hill. North again you are into poppy field country.
Have great time.

[Ffirg 005]

OK, a plan is forming...

Saturday - Calais to Reims, taking in Laon and the Reims GP circuit on the way. (What's the best road to take from Calais to Reims?)
Overnight in Reims

Sunday - Reims to Bouillon.
Exit east through Champage-Ardenne countryside into Luxembourg, loop up through the Ardennes - Vianden, Clerveaux - and then down to Bouillon.
Overnight in Bouillon

Monday - Bouillon to Calais.
Leisurely start in Bouillon, head back out of the Ardennes towards Calais in the afternoon.

AutoRoute tells me that makes 676 miles on main roads, so allowing for some back roads it should still be less than 800 miles, which would be comfortable.

Perfect! Merci mes amis de, er, têtes de piston. Any more fine tuning, restaurant or B&B recommendations, ping 'em in...

[maddog-uk]

Look out for a yellow tamora saturday! We are heading down to the loire for Sunday via a village near rouen. Should be in france for early saturday via eurotunnel!

[Apache]

maddog-uk said:

Look out for a yellow tamora saturday! We are heading down to the loire for Sunday via a village near rouen. Should be in france for early saturday via eurotunnel!

If yer near a place called Beaugency (sp) stop in at L'Abbeye it's a haunt for foodophiles of the region and the building is amazing

[anonymous-user]

Why not pay Gerjo a visit as he seems to have a nice place?

[Ffirg 005]

Maddog - we should be rolling off the ferry about 8:30am Saturday (French time). If the timing works, what do you say to a quick cafe-au-lait and croissant in Calais somewhere before hooning our separate ways?