Driving Holiday
Discussion
I took my old lhd samrt on a tour of norway and sweden - beautiful scenery, friendly people, bloody expensive beer. Mind you the speed limits are ridiculously low there, 60mph on the very short motorways they have. And there are alot of toll roads as well, which I'm still getting (and ignoring) letters about! The plus side is that it's not part of the EU so new legislation that allows member states to prosecute drivers for crimes committed elsewhere wont apply! Well not in Norway anyway.
i have been very lucky to have done 5 or 6 big driving holidays in the past couple of years - the most recent, 3000 miles in 10 days ending up in Tuscany then going up east coast of Italy via supercar country in the Elise.
AWESOME!
The big factors will be;
duration
cost
type of roads
As a suggestion, have you looked at www.eurohoon.com ? I will be on this trip (Monaco in September) and have done every one of their trips for 2 years. It, quite simply, is fantastic.
So, the key is probably duration; 4 days, then get your bum to the Highlands. If it's 7, perhaps down through france,germany,switzerland, and just touch the top of italy. If it's 10 days, get down the west coast of italy on the Mille Miglia route (look at the Roccastrada videos in my profile; they are the Mille Miglia route. No road will ever quite seem the same again
)
Hope that's all of use!
Tony
AWESOME!
The big factors will be;
duration
cost
type of roads
As a suggestion, have you looked at www.eurohoon.com ? I will be on this trip (Monaco in September) and have done every one of their trips for 2 years. It, quite simply, is fantastic.
So, the key is probably duration; 4 days, then get your bum to the Highlands. If it's 7, perhaps down through france,germany,switzerland, and just touch the top of italy. If it's 10 days, get down the west coast of italy on the Mille Miglia route (look at the Roccastrada videos in my profile; they are the Mille Miglia route. No road will ever quite seem the same again
) Hope that's all of use!
Tony
eyore said:
Great Lotus roads in Ireland ,especially the west coast from Kerry through Clare,Galway,Mayo and Donegal.Far less traffic than mainland Europe and stunning scenery.
This is what I have heard and seen in a ltd way. I have stayed in Belfast and Dublin. My neighbour toured Ireland last year and said it was incredible. But I would LOVE to see some more of Italy....
Italy: great roads in the mountains but up north the bits in between can be very busy and not too pleasant to drive, making the M25 look like a picnic. If you're going check out www.stelvio.org.uk - as it's the Elise's 10th birthday this year the annual September gathering on the Stelvio pass will be extra special. If you can make it come along and join us.
Scotland: some lovely roads and very helpful locals. Watch out for drifts of grit on the "interesting" roads if you're going in spring or early summer. On your way there or back check out the Hartside Pass and some of the lake district ones if you can.
Ireland: Only thinking about this the other day. Not driven it in a Lotus but have memories of some great empty roads in Mayo from a trip about 10 years back. Expect lots of wet weather out west. Hopefully the overall road quality has improved since I was there as there were lots of potholes.
Spain: Knocks Italy into a cocked hat. Lots and lots of superb roads and not that many people on them. Have done two Stelvio trips there and they were the best ever. The north is arguably the most scenic and fun to drive (Picos de Europa etc) but the Basques have chips on both shoulders. Elsewhere we found the locals on the roads to be surprisingly helpful.
Scotland: some lovely roads and very helpful locals. Watch out for drifts of grit on the "interesting" roads if you're going in spring or early summer. On your way there or back check out the Hartside Pass and some of the lake district ones if you can.
Ireland: Only thinking about this the other day. Not driven it in a Lotus but have memories of some great empty roads in Mayo from a trip about 10 years back. Expect lots of wet weather out west. Hopefully the overall road quality has improved since I was there as there were lots of potholes.
Spain: Knocks Italy into a cocked hat. Lots and lots of superb roads and not that many people on them. Have done two Stelvio trips there and they were the best ever. The north is arguably the most scenic and fun to drive (Picos de Europa etc) but the Basques have chips on both shoulders. Elsewhere we found the locals on the roads to be surprisingly helpful.
Second Shangani, took our Liz up to Scotland last year shortly after buying it. The roads once you get well north are simply awesome; probably best to pull over to enjoy the scenery if driving hard. Nearly got heat stroke on the way up there when the M6 became a car park, and nearly drowned on the way back in the torrential rain - week of landslides in Scotland and Boscastle Flood, but thoroughly enjoyed every moment. [url]www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm[/url] has a great route, we started from Dornie just outside Kyle of Lochalsh. Tremendous fun 
I'm planning a similar thing will definitely be through France, Switzerland and Italy and for 9 or 10 days. I will be with my wife but I want to take in certain things I have always promised to see like the Schlupf museum (full of Bugattis) and there is an Alfa Romeo museum in Milan that is for private viewings. Also I rather like the look of the new bridge in France plus an Alps pass and a few days at the Lakes. 
Rich...
see here www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=232602
will definitely be through France, Switzerland and Italy and for 9 or 10 days. I will be with my wife but I want to take in certain things I have always promised to see like the Schlupf museum (full of Bugattis) and there is an Alfa Romeo museum in Milan that is for private viewings. Also I rather like the look of the new bridge in France plus an Alps pass and a few days at the Lakes. Rich... see here www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=232602
turnamere said:
Kyle of Lochalsh.
That place sounds absolutly wonderful!
My parents went on honeymoon there and they also had a memorable time at Lake Kyle in Zimbabwe....
Thread hijack of my own thread. People who know me will understand, sorry for the rest of you, so many people so little gooby.
turnamere said:
[url]www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm[/url]
]
I have just looked at this link, what an incredible road. Very tempting!
I may sound like a heathen (not the first time today) but Ireland has the atmosphere, great pubs and the craik. Does scotland have a good atmosphere?
Yes Scotland most certainly does. Lots of varied country - little traffic further north. Argyll makes a great return journey. No ferries needed. Many options along the way - hey for those of climbing disposition we could throw in the three peaks. Also interesting stops to be had - Ben Nevis ski station - great views, beer. There are loads of fascinating pubs in the highlands.
The route mentioned there is absolutely fantastic. I have been on those roads - brilliant driving and a great return route back south as well. Would need a week though.
>> Edited by shangani on Wednesday 4th January 17:21
The route mentioned there is absolutely fantastic. I have been on those roads - brilliant driving and a great return route back south as well. Would need a week though.
>> Edited by shangani on Wednesday 4th January 17:21
Driving holiday in the Elise is the most fantastic fun, but it's no fun for a passenger.
I will need two holidays this year. I am driving my wife and my parents around Scotland (flying up and hiring a car)and then I intend to go to Stelvio, alone if I possibly can. Most 2nd time Stelvio drivers don't take the wife or GF. I have only been in the passenger seat for a short time and I don't like it. I pity anyone going on a long trip as a passenger.
Phil.
I will need two holidays this year. I am driving my wife and my parents around Scotland (flying up and hiring a car)and then I intend to go to Stelvio, alone if I possibly can. Most 2nd time Stelvio drivers don't take the wife or GF. I have only been in the passenger seat for a short time and I don't like it. I pity anyone going on a long trip as a passenger.
Phil.
Did an Alps/Stelvio trip with 5 others last summer, our route was designed to limit driving to 5-6 hours a day - bear in mind it can get very tiring and stressful, especially Switzerland, where making progress is only a step away from manslaughter and far worse than hoarding Nazi gold. Our route was:
Day 1 Dover - Dijon (except the hotel in Dijon's overnight check-in system had malfunctioned so Days 1 and 2 became one and the same)
Day 2 Dijon - St Foy (near Val D'Isere) via Geneva and Mont Blanc - the tunnel's as Clarkson described it and a nightmare if you're lacking sleep!
Day 3 St Foy - Barcelonnette via Col D'Iserean, Col de Mont Cenis, Col D'Izoard and Col D'Vars
Day 4 Barcelonette - Vence via d902, Col De La Cayolle, Gorges de Daluis and N202
Day 5 Vence - Lake Como (mostly Autostrada plus outskirts of Turin!)
Day 6 Rest day
Day 7 Lake Como (Menaggio) - Stelvio via Passo Di Gavia
Day 8 Stelvio - Mulhouse (very long drive, though - 95% in car-hating Switzerland but some incredible scenery on the Furkapass and Grimselpass)
Day 9 Mulhouse - Reims (via the excellent Ballon D'Alsace)
Day 10 Reims - Dover (via the old GP Track)
It's an excellent route and a rest stop was a definite must. Some of the days were shorter and these usually ended up at decent hotels (such as Vence), whereas longer days stopped at more basic accommodation where a bit of grub and kip were all that was needed (although we only ate in the same place we slept on 3 occasions).
What I would suggest, if you are travelling with others that are driving, is to do a few runs with them - there were a few disagreements on driving techniques on our trip, something that would get worse the longer the driving days.
However, I would recommend driving the Alps to any Elise owner as a must, I have some great memories of last summer.
Day 1 Dover - Dijon (except the hotel in Dijon's overnight check-in system had malfunctioned so Days 1 and 2 became one and the same)
Day 2 Dijon - St Foy (near Val D'Isere) via Geneva and Mont Blanc - the tunnel's as Clarkson described it and a nightmare if you're lacking sleep!
Day 3 St Foy - Barcelonnette via Col D'Iserean, Col de Mont Cenis, Col D'Izoard and Col D'Vars
Day 4 Barcelonette - Vence via d902, Col De La Cayolle, Gorges de Daluis and N202
Day 5 Vence - Lake Como (mostly Autostrada plus outskirts of Turin!)
Day 6 Rest day
Day 7 Lake Como (Menaggio) - Stelvio via Passo Di Gavia
Day 8 Stelvio - Mulhouse (very long drive, though - 95% in car-hating Switzerland but some incredible scenery on the Furkapass and Grimselpass)
Day 9 Mulhouse - Reims (via the excellent Ballon D'Alsace)
Day 10 Reims - Dover (via the old GP Track)
It's an excellent route and a rest stop was a definite must. Some of the days were shorter and these usually ended up at decent hotels (such as Vence), whereas longer days stopped at more basic accommodation where a bit of grub and kip were all that was needed (although we only ate in the same place we slept on 3 occasions).
What I would suggest, if you are travelling with others that are driving, is to do a few runs with them - there were a few disagreements on driving techniques on our trip, something that would get worse the longer the driving days.
However, I would recommend driving the Alps to any Elise owner as a must, I have some great memories of last summer.
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