European road trip
Discussion
A friend and I are planning a trip from central Scotland down through France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany then up to Amsterdam. these are rough plans and wanting to stick to mountain passes national parks as much as possible and avoid busy motorways etc.
has anyone done this and have a good route. Our idea is to head somewhere but let the road guide us to an extent.
this is an basic idea of the route planned.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/dunfermline/Vale...
Open to suggestions tips and any hidden gems.
has anyone done this and have a good route. Our idea is to head somewhere but let the road guide us to an extent.
this is an basic idea of the route planned.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/dunfermline/Vale...
Open to suggestions tips and any hidden gems.
Pick up a 'paper' European road Atlas.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-2019-Multiscale-A...
Look for windy/twisty backroads (yellow) along river valleys.
Plan for closed fuel stations on Sundays. :-)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-2019-Multiscale-A...
Look for windy/twisty backroads (yellow) along river valleys.
Plan for closed fuel stations on Sundays. :-)
Slushbox said:
Pick up a 'paper' European road Atlas.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-2019-Multiscale-A...
Look for windy/twisty backroads (yellow) along river valleys.
Plan for closed fuel stations on Sundays. :-)
Very "Old School" https://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-2019-Multiscale-A...
Look for windy/twisty backroads (yellow) along river valleys.
Plan for closed fuel stations on Sundays. :-)
Use an app like MyRoute-App to plot a days riding. Open up www.bestbikingroads.com Pick routes rated at 4 or above in the general direction you want to travel. Play "join the dots" to give a days riding. Load into sat nav.
This ensures you are riding roads recommended by other bikes, not just those that look OK on a map.
Like others on here I've being riding round Europe for quite a few years and when we first started our little group did the same as you've done, try and cover as many miles/nice roads as possible in one trip.
Now we pick a number of destinations of interest and join them together with nice roads.
A part the the first and last days we never plan to ride more that 200 each day, sometimes a lot less. I can assure you that is plenty of you want to enjoy good food, wine and the places you pass through.
Now we pick a number of destinations of interest and join them together with nice roads.
A part the the first and last days we never plan to ride more that 200 each day, sometimes a lot less. I can assure you that is plenty of you want to enjoy good food, wine and the places you pass through.
I just got back from a road trip (in the car) with mates to Italy and back - we took in Gotthards, San Bernardino passes as well as Interlaken. All were head and shoulders better than Stelvio. I know also its only a tiny part of your trip but we stayed on Lake Como as our base for a week and if you drive around it the other side its much better you are right by the lake and go through nicer places like Bellagio.
Also, as you are down there, you could always divert off just past Milan and go to Monza F1 circuit. The tour is pretty good you get to stand on the podium, go into the press rooms, control rooms etc. Also you can freely walk around the place, we climbed up and sat in the bleachers on one of the corners of the track (which last weekend we could see on the TV!).
Also, as you are down there, you could always divert off just past Milan and go to Monza F1 circuit. The tour is pretty good you get to stand on the podium, go into the press rooms, control rooms etc. Also you can freely walk around the place, we climbed up and sat in the bleachers on one of the corners of the track (which last weekend we could see on the TV!).
Personally I reckon a maximum of 200 miles per day when touring, this gives you enough time to take the interesting roads and put a few stops in rather than spending all day on a boring main road.
The road past Lake Valvestino was a highlight for me last time I was in Northern Italy, not that far from Stelvio. Some great roads around Davos, and Andermatt is worth a visit with decent passes all round.
There aren't many interesting roads around Amsterdam, but the window shopping is interesting
The road past Lake Valvestino was a highlight for me last time I was in Northern Italy, not that far from Stelvio. Some great roads around Davos, and Andermatt is worth a visit with decent passes all round.
There aren't many interesting roads around Amsterdam, but the window shopping is interesting
We did a similar route from Scotland in 2010. I think we just did more passes on the road South, and went via Monaco. Used Lake Como as a base, and didn't go as far east as Vienna. We were car sharing in a TVR, so relatively more comfort and less fatigue, but I think we did the 3,500 miles in two weeks. We did the same and took the ferry to the mainland from Dover, then back up via Amsterdam I think.
It's not the same in a car obviously, but I would say be wary of the time of year, as above the snow is a real consideration.
Also Bikeshuttle is a nice idea, it not only gets rid of the boring UK bits but also the boring toll roads in France, but it obviously adds complexity and cost. You also still need to ride to somewhere like Northampton so it's not the huge convenience for us. It's also not as good financially unless you're doing a return trip with them, and from your route that seems unlikely an option, I think if you really wanted to cut out that part of the route just getting a return ferry to Amsterdam would make more sense.
I'd build in as much flexibility as you can and bring an OS map, maybe things have got better since 2010 but Google maps was bulls
t when I was there. We were absolutely murdering it and there was still no hope of doing the times posted, so we spent a lot of time reading maps over hot bonnets.
But yeah, Monaco, Lake Como, more passes, watch for snow, and bring a map. You'll have a great time.
It's not the same in a car obviously, but I would say be wary of the time of year, as above the snow is a real consideration.
Also Bikeshuttle is a nice idea, it not only gets rid of the boring UK bits but also the boring toll roads in France, but it obviously adds complexity and cost. You also still need to ride to somewhere like Northampton so it's not the huge convenience for us. It's also not as good financially unless you're doing a return trip with them, and from your route that seems unlikely an option, I think if you really wanted to cut out that part of the route just getting a return ferry to Amsterdam would make more sense.
I'd build in as much flexibility as you can and bring an OS map, maybe things have got better since 2010 but Google maps was bulls
t when I was there. We were absolutely murdering it and there was still no hope of doing the times posted, so we spent a lot of time reading maps over hot bonnets. But yeah, Monaco, Lake Como, more passes, watch for snow, and bring a map. You'll have a great time.
we are heading to the alps this Friday. ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, ride to dusseldorf where we load the bikes onto a nightjet train (OBB) which takes us 750km to innsbruck. we are based in Landeck so we will have 6 full days of riding mountain passes.
I have done the whole riding to the alps thing and to be honest, it's fking hard work! Northern France / Belgium / Luxembourg is a ballache and there's nothing to see. by taking the overnight train you are effectively cutting out 1 or 2 days boring riding and arriving fresh for around the same cost it would be for fuel / accommodation when travelling down to the alps.
I have done the whole riding to the alps thing and to be honest, it's f
king hard work! Northern France / Belgium / Luxembourg is a ballache and there's nothing to see. by taking the overnight train you are effectively cutting out 1 or 2 days boring riding and arriving fresh for around the same cost it would be for fuel / accommodation when travelling down to the alps. As has been said previously that is a load of riding........
We've been going aborad for years and have always based ourselves for a few days in a single location so that way we can have a day off when we get there and aren't constantly packing up, checking out and moving on as that is a PITA when you do it daily.
The way we have done it is to pick a region that we want to visit, for example eastern Alps, central Alps or Dolomites. Coincidentally on Friday we are off to the Pyrenees basing ourselves in Lourdes.
Our trips generally go like this.............
Leave Friday to catch Newcastle to Hamsterjam ferry
Saturday - ride to Stuttgart for an overnight stop
Sunday - ride to Cortina d'Ampezzo
Monday - day off to relax
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday - ride passes in the Dolomites
Friday - ride to Wurzburg for an overnight stop
Saturday - ride to Hamsterjam to pick up ferry to Newcastle
Sunday - ride home
Horses for courses though for whatever suits you. Don't overthink and overplan it as things will scupper the best laid plans.
We've been going aborad for years and have always based ourselves for a few days in a single location so that way we can have a day off when we get there and aren't constantly packing up, checking out and moving on as that is a PITA when you do it daily.
The way we have done it is to pick a region that we want to visit, for example eastern Alps, central Alps or Dolomites. Coincidentally on Friday we are off to the Pyrenees basing ourselves in Lourdes.
Our trips generally go like this.............
Leave Friday to catch Newcastle to Hamsterjam ferry
Saturday - ride to Stuttgart for an overnight stop
Sunday - ride to Cortina d'Ampezzo
Monday - day off to relax
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday - ride passes in the Dolomites
Friday - ride to Wurzburg for an overnight stop
Saturday - ride to Hamsterjam to pick up ferry to Newcastle
Sunday - ride home
Horses for courses though for whatever suits you. Don't overthink and overplan it as things will scupper the best laid plans.
STe_rsv4 said:
we are heading to the alps this Friday. ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, ride to dusseldorf where we load the bikes onto a nightjet train (OBB) which takes us 750km to innsbruck. we are based in Landeck so we will have 6 full days of riding mountain passes.
If you don't mind me asking what does the nightjet train cost? STe_rsv4 said:
I have done the whole riding to the alps thing and to be honest, it's fking hard work! Northern France / Belgium / Luxembourg is a ballache and there's nothing to see. by taking the overnight train you are effectively cutting out 1 or 2 days boring riding and arriving fresh for around the same cost it would be for fuel / accommodation when travelling down to the alps.
Totally agree about the northern Europe being a ballache and hard work. king hard work! Northern France / Belgium / Luxembourg is a ballache and there's nothing to see. by taking the overnight train you are effectively cutting out 1 or 2 days boring riding and arriving fresh for around the same cost it would be for fuel / accommodation when travelling down to the alps. If you don't mind me asking what does the nightjet train cost?
I think it has worked out about 200 euros (return) which includes a sleeper cabin for 4 of us. when you factor in fuel / tyre wear/ overnight stops over 750 km, I reckon this is a no brainer.
to be honest, we wouldn't be doing this trip (we went 3 years ago) if it wasn't for this train service as I swore I wouldn't ride 350 miles a day down motorways on a sportsbike again
I did pretty much exactly this same trip in June but from Essex where I live. It was something like 4000 miles in 9 days
Having done a few runs to nurburgring I didn't find I needed to plan anymore than usual. Couple things I did find after though was anything less than 100 miles as a road ride here in England felt like I'd barely warmed up
And doing 300+miles daily become quite normal although my shoulders and arse struggled at times
Having done a few runs to nurburgring I didn't find I needed to plan anymore than usual. Couple things I did find after though was anything less than 100 miles as a road ride here in England felt like I'd barely warmed up
And doing 300+miles daily become quite normal although my shoulders and arse struggled at times
STe_rsv4 said:
I think it has worked out about 200 euros (return) which includes a sleeper cabin for 4 of us. when you factor in fuel / tyre wear/ overnight stops over 750 km, I reckon this is a no brainer.
to be honest, we wouldn't be doing this trip (we went 3 years ago) if it wasn't for this train service as I swore I wouldn't ride 350 miles a day down motorways on a sportsbike again
Thanks - makes sense and i will note for our next trip. to be honest, we wouldn't be doing this trip (we went 3 years ago) if it wasn't for this train service as I swore I wouldn't ride 350 miles a day down motorways on a sportsbike again
I've got the full length of the UK from Edinburgh to ride to Bournemouth on Friday and then Cherbourg to the Pyrenees at the weekend.
StonedRollin said:
Thanks - makes sense and i will note for our next trip.
I've got the full length of the UK from Edinburgh to ride to Bournemouth on Friday and then Cherbourg to the Pyrenees at the weekend.
In a similar vein to getting a train across Europe, if you're heading for the Pyrenees another option is the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry. Costs a bit and takes a day, but the alternative is 2 days riding on boring roads with associated fuel/accommodation costs. Plus you get the Pico's thrown in with some great roads and decent tarmac.I've got the full length of the UK from Edinburgh to ride to Bournemouth on Friday and then Cherbourg to the Pyrenees at the weekend.
We’re on our 2nd alps trip at the moment. Stopping just north of andermatt.
We’ve used Bike shuttle both times. Great service and as people have said it cuts out the motorway slog. Stelvio is great to say you’ve ‘done it’ but there are far better, less congested passes.
We stopped at Davos for a few days, great roads but plenty of rain. It brightened up the day we left! As a lot of these hotels are used for skiiing in the winter they have facilities to dry your kit out.
Last year we moved from hotel to hotel every night. This year we’ve stopped in a just a few. Much easier to base yourself in one place for a few days. And do a day ride out.
I bought a few cheap t-shirts, and packed old pants and socks and i’ve Been bin-ing them as I go. Saves loads of re-packing of dirty stuff.
Doggydog.
We’ve used Bike shuttle both times. Great service and as people have said it cuts out the motorway slog. Stelvio is great to say you’ve ‘done it’ but there are far better, less congested passes.
We stopped at Davos for a few days, great roads but plenty of rain. It brightened up the day we left! As a lot of these hotels are used for skiiing in the winter they have facilities to dry your kit out.
Last year we moved from hotel to hotel every night. This year we’ve stopped in a just a few. Much easier to base yourself in one place for a few days. And do a day ride out.
I bought a few cheap t-shirts, and packed old pants and socks and i’ve Been bin-ing them as I go. Saves loads of re-packing of dirty stuff.
Doggydog.
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