Car trips to the continent over a long weekend...

[AdvocatusD]

I'm about to turn my mind to organising a three day trip to the continent (via either Ferry or the Tunnel) for some friends and I.

The plan would be to leave on a Friday after work, returning Monday evening (back at work Tuesday morning!).

Could anyone suggest a few routes? I'd love to get to Italy over the weekend, but having done it in the past, I know that it is a bit of an ask for the non-driving wives and girlfriends that will join us.

Britanny ferries to Bilbao/Santander looks tempting as a starting point, but I think the distances and times involved mean a 3 days long weekend will not be enough.

I'm guessing it will need to be France only? I wasn't blown away by the quality of the driving in Brittany, so hoping there are other options?

[Pesty]

Italy in three days might be doable but you need to be obviously driving a lot.

Remember that top gear where they went looking for the best roads one was Switzerland. That would be easily doable.

I'd probably route Napoleon but that would mean lots of motorway and tolls to get there.

[Roastie ITR]

Have a read of this thread, it includes links to write up's of lots of Euro road trips that people have been on, should give you plenty of inspiration.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Given your time, I'd maybe head to chamonix which has some great roads including the Great St Bernard Pass. Below is a link to when the Pistonheads went to the Alps around that way.


http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=2&a...

[braddo]

What about the Eifel region of Germany? Beautiful scenery and the Rhine/Moselle rivers with all the castles etc, plus I hear there's a race track there somewhere which has nice surrounding roads.

[Motorrad]

Cheap DFDS Dover to Dunkirk- stay in one of the cheap places nearby, steak, frites, bottle of red.

Saturdayff to Spa. Some nice driving roads around there, maybe take a look at the circuit if there is anything going on. 2.5hr drive over there, time for some spectating then a little driving.

Stay somewhere swish around spa sat evening- loads of nice hotels and restaurants with good food.

Sunday morning- off to the Nurburgring, do a lap or two if you fancy or just spectate. Again some great driving roads.

You could then either stay in the area or nip over to one of the nice towns in the local area- Gerolstein is quite picturesque.

Monday- nice easy drive back to Dunkirk via a Hypermarche where you stack the cars with fine wines and pate de foie gras

[E30Addict]

What about the Black Forest region of Germany? Google reckons it is about 6.5hrs from Calais (and gors via the scenic citis of Reims, Metz and Strasbourg).

There are some brilliant roads around the Black Forest itself and you can also venture into Switzerland if it takes your fancy. Less time spent getting there will mean that you have more of the weekend to explore the region and find some good roads.

[nickfrog]

You could even accidentally schedule a Ring lap...

[AdvocatusD]

Thank you all. Motorads is probably the most helpful, so thank you particularly.

There are a lot of good suggestions here, but a few do ignore the basic premise that we do need to keep things as "local" as possible. I've been to the Black Forest, but there is no way you can do this in a long weekend without a lot of motorway which isn't the point of the trip.

Any particularly good stuff/country lanes around Spa and the 'Ring?

[HemiCommander]

I did the Mont Saint Michel and St Malo over new year, that worked well. The Portsmouth to Caen/Le Havre/St Malo ferries are all good options although the Caen ferry is much nicer than the Le Havre one.

[nickfrog]

HemiCommander said:

I did the Mont Saint Michel and St Malo over new year,

Good idea.

Suggested itinerary :

Newhaven - Dieppe boat.

Saint-Valery
Fecamp
Etretat (beautiful)
Honfleur (beautiful)
Deauville (posh)
Trouville (less posh)
Cabourg
Bayeux (tapestry)
D Day beaches (humbling)
Mont St Michel (unmissable)
Cancale
St Malo - boat back to the UK


Google those places for more info.

[AdvocatusD]

nickfrog said:

Good idea.

Suggested itinerary :

Newhaven - Dieppe boat.

Saint-Valery
Fecamp
Etretat (beautiful)
Honfleur (beautiful)
Deauville (posh)
Trouville (less posh)
Cabourg
Bayeux (tapestry)
D Day beaches (humbling)
Mont St Michel (unmissable)
Cancale
St Malo - boat back to the UK


Google those places for more info.

Thanks Nick. Sorry, I should have mentioned that our emphasis is on driving (i.e. the country roads) and as such tourism is a small bonus if and when we stop! If there are any particularly routes you would suggest in the region do let me know. I was here en route to Royen and I didn't think the driving was any great shakes...

[braddo]

AdvocatusD said:

Any particularly good stuff/country lanes around Spa and the 'Ring?

I see posts on here sometimes that describe the local roads around the 'ring as being as much fun as the track itself (particularly when virtually all UK car insurance is invalid on the 'ring). There seem to be great roads between Spa and the 'ring too.

The area is full of hilly, lush forest. It is guaranteed that the Germans will have put high quality tarmac twisting through it all. (ETA: no such guarantee on the Belgian side!)

Perhaps try a couple of PHers who live near the 'ring - Dale Lomas and there might be an Adenaur?

[nickfrog]

AdvocatusD said:

Thanks Nick. Sorry, I should have mentioned that our emphasis is on driving (i.e. the country roads) and as such tourism is a small bonus if and when we stop! If there are any particularly routes you would suggest in the region do let me know. I was here en route to Royen and I didn't think the driving was any great shakes...

Fair enough. No the roads will be boring. If you don't mind 3 hours of mway first after Calais then the Eifel/Ardennes region works. Aim for Eupen, leave the motorway there and aim for the Ring for example. 100km of decent a/b ondulating roads to Nurburg.

[freshmicropig]

The roads around both Spa and Nurburgring are fantastic, even if you just pass through without taking in a lap.

[NormalWisdom]

E30Addict said:

What about the Black Forest region of Germany? Google reckons it is about 6.5hrs from Calais (and gors via the scenic citis of Reims, Metz and Strasbourg).

There are some brilliant roads around the Black Forest itself and you can also venture into Switzerland if it takes your fancy. Less time spent getting there will mean that you have more of the weekend to explore the region and find some good roads.

I did part of this at the beginning of the month - very nice

http://www.ultimatedrives.net/top-10-roads/details...

Some other options (near and far) here

http://www.ultimatedrives.net/top-10-roads/index.p...

NW

[iguana]

Ref ring, I'd say better route down to prum,pos nip down a junction or 2 as its derestricted from there, light traffic too so ideal for high speed, then return to prum & to ring that way, better fast open roads than the eupen way.

[nickfrog]

A big thank you Mr Lizard!! I had never noticed that road and always used the bloody tank road through the border from Eupen (it does get nicer further on though). Will test your route in May for my next TF days. Will also try not to have to dial your number while I am at it...

[lowdrag]

Why, going back to the original idea, (but you lose 36 hours on the ferry each way) not take in the Paradors and some of the delightful roads in the Pyrenees? Some lovely driving roads there including up to Andorra. However, driving raods can be found anywhere if you get a good map and spend time researching it. Living at Le Mans most seem to rush down and get here as quick as possible, but I have used the back roads from Caen for years, lose little time, have a wonderful blat and no plod. Such roads can be found all over Europe if you look hard enough. Me, I'd probably head for the Alps and take in some passes if you are doing this in summer. No, not the Stelvio which is much overrated, but the Nufenen, the Gavia, the Simplon, the St. Bernard and so on. Exhilarating.

[Vaud]

For max fun diving time... on a short weekend, don't drive there.

Cheap flight to Milan, Nice, Geneva or Zurich.
Hire small cars.
Drive the wing mirrors off them.
Fly home.

Much more tolerable to partners and drivers and much more alpine fun. Probably about the same cost all in.