France road trip - Roscoff - Bordeaux - Le Mans - Paris

[jenksndubs]

Hi Folks

Very long time lurker - always been meaning to participate more as Facebook groups are rubbish, just can’t beat a forum. Maybe that’s me turning 40 and listening to Radio 2 though?

Anyway that’s my guilt trip over with.

I’m from Edinburgh and we have Xmas down with the inlaws in Cornwall. I always joked it’s basically France but thanks to Harry’s Garage and the fact I haven’t done a European road trip in over 12 years I thought now is the time, let’s get a ferry to France for New Year!!!

Add to the fact I have on my bucket list - ‘drive a 2CV to a vineyard in Bordeaux’ thanks to Rick Stein’s Long Weekends programme. (Getting worried now, inspired by old Harry and Rick?)

So the 2CV and Bordeaux Air BnB is booked.

Rough plans are as follows:
29th Dec - Arrive at Roscoff ferry terminal early
Morning - drive to La Rochelle? Looks nice on map? Stay night here?
30th Dec - La Rochelle to Bordeaux
31st - Bordeaux
1st Jan - depart Bordeaux for Paris via Le Mans (you can sort of drive the circuit roughly yeah?)
2nd Jan - Day in Paris
3rd Jan - depart Paris for Euro tunnel

Ticking a few boxes as never done Euro Tunnel - always got the ferry to Amsterdam for ring and Stuttgart trips.

Weapon of choice is GR Yaris

So looking for input on nice roads or worthwhile stops - any better stop overs than La Rochelle?

I assume as we are going to Paris via Le Mans there may be good routes or worth while petrol head stops?

Anything worth doing from Paris to Calais?

Look forward to the responses and I will do a readers ride post soon!

Michael

[sherman]

Paris to Calais has not much really worth stopping for.
Calais however has
The Calais Wine Superstore https://share.google/I3qtTG4vwZYlviKtn.

Stock on your allowances of beer and wine before popping round to the eurotunnel.

The prices are alot cheaper than Scotland

[johnpsanderson]

Paris to Calais can easily take you through prime WW1 territory if you have any interest in that sort of thing.

[omniflow]

La Rochelle is nice and would make a decent overnight stop.

If you've got time when you're in Bordeaux, take a trip to St. Emilion. It is quite touristy, but deals with it pretty well and it's a stunning place.

Don't stock up with wine in Calais, buy it when you're in Bordeaux or St. Emilion. Most wine producing areas will have a co-operative where they sell all the local wine and you can usually pick up some good value wine - bag in a box will be the best value and will be much better wine that you'll find in similar packaging in a supermarket.

Not tried to do the circuit in Le Mans, but you can definitely drive down the Mulsanne Straight. Probably best to keep a fair way under 200MPH though.

[jenksndubs]

Thanks for the input folks. I did think there would be a bit of WW interest around the Calais area.

omniflow said:

La Rochelle is nice and would make a decent overnight stop.

If you've got time when you're in Bordeaux, take a trip to St. Emilion. It is quite touristy, but deals with it pretty well and it's a stunning place.

Don't stock up with wine in Calais, buy it when you're in Bordeaux or St. Emilion. Most wine producing areas will have a co-operative where they sell all the local wine and you can usually pick up some good value wine - bag in a box will be the best value and will be much better wine that you'll find in similar packaging in a supermarket.

Not tried to do the circuit in Le Mans, but you can definitely drive down the Mulsanne Straight. Probably best to keep a fair way under 200MPH though.

Thanks for this, fantastic advice! Will definately check St Emilion out, do you know any decent vineyards in the area?

Thanks!

[NDA]

Are you going to drive into Paris? You might need a Crit'Air sticker for the car:

https://www.leshuttle.com/uk-en/discover/traveller...

Yes, you must definitely visit St Emilion, it's a pretty town and a must see to be honest.

Unless you're desperate to see Paris, I'd probably change the final leg to having a night in Honfleur en route to the Eurotunnel.

Are you travelling with someone else? I only ask because the motorways have toll booths with card readers on the left of the car - easy for a passenger to operate than a driver on the right. Use the card machines at the booths, far easier than cash.

[Landlubber]

jenksndubs said:

Thanks for the input folks. I did think there would be a bit of WW interest around the Calais area.

omniflow said:

La Rochelle is nice and would make a decent overnight stop.

If you've got time when you're in Bordeaux, take a trip to St. Emilion. It is quite touristy, but deals with it pretty well and it's a stunning place.

Don't stock up with wine in Calais, buy it when you're in Bordeaux or St. Emilion. Most wine producing areas will have a co-operative where they sell all the local wine and you can usually pick up some good value wine - bag in a box will be the best value and will be much better wine that you'll find in similar packaging in a supermarket.

Not tried to do the circuit in Le Mans, but you can definitely drive down the Mulsanne Straight. Probably best to keep a fair way under 200MPH though.

Thanks for this, fantastic advice! Will definately check St Emilion out, do you know any decent vineyards in the area?

Thanks!

They're all good, seriously. Always buy from the caves or from the cooperative if you can, it's not snobby or elitist but you will be cutting out a lot of the middle men.
Traffic around Le Mans can be very heavy at times, for the toll roads simply get a tag for the windscreen and never try to drive in Paris. Roads and driving are generally very conducive to driving and the further south you get are generally very quiet, speed limits are becoming more of an issue so be warned although the myth about you being timed between the payage stations is just that.

[Landlubber]

And if you're gong to Le Mans, stay here.

https://www.lhoteldefrance.fr/sejour-le-mans-tours...