advice on spain/france road trip.

[pneumothorax]

i've booked the plymouth-santander ferry for the first week of august. need to get down to gibraltar to see the in law's and then am trying to put together an interesting route back up, through france and channel tunnel back. i've got 10 days to get back from gib and would be grateful for some real world advice, particularly given the time of year i'm going, i hate traffic.

[JCW]

Gibraltar - Sevilla - Salamanca - Santiago Compostela - Pamplona - Pau - Toulouse - from there take your pick.

[Murph7355]

JCW said:

Gibraltar - Sevilla - Salamanca - Santiago Compostela - Pamplona - Pau - Toulouse - from there take your pick.

Sounds about right.

You could add Leon as a stop between Santiago Compostela & Pamplona and then you've done the Pilgrims' Route (both nice towns).

If your with female, Carcassonne is only a little South East of Toulouse and probably a nicer bet.

If you could bag a track day at Dijon, I'd go there en route. Otherwise do Blois/Orleans/Reims.

[king_of_herts]

Make sure you have an equal amount of Hi Viz vests to passenger ratio, it is a legal requirement in France so I believe, Oh, and don't speed on the French motorways, your time stamped toll ticket will get you an instant fine if the Gendarmes are at the next toll. Either that, or bring lots of Euro's with you!

[king_of_herts]

Oh, and ALWAYS wear a seatbelt in Spain (yes, I know you should wear one at all times) but I learnt the hard way and got a 120 Euro on the spot fine from a Guardia Civil trafico officer a few years back.....

[Jasper Gilder]

From Gib I'd do Carmona Parador and visit Seville - then drive to Cordoba and either stop or head north to Guadalupe and stop at the Parador - or if you want to push the boat out - Granpalacio Hotel Gourmand at Punte de Arzbispo is one of the best hotels in Spain. Next to Toledo (Parador is best), then Lerma (Parador), then the Pyrennees and Carcossonne. If you head a bit west you could aim for Clermont Ferrand which does trackdays, then Reims, then home

[thermister]

just done a similar trip from pamplona take the n-240,na-178,na2011 to larrau then to a great b&b at pissos if you do that in one day, fantastic

[bobt]

JCW said:

Gibraltar - Sevilla - Salamanca - Santiago Compostela - Pamplona - Pau - Toulouse - from there take your pick.

Go with this or close to it. I have done the drive from the Algarve to Toulouse seven or eight times. Seville is great for a night, Salamanca the best Spanish City, andd I've done Barcelona and Madrid many times too. North of Salamanca many options, but Pamplona is good, was there a few weekgs ago. Good alternative is San Sebastian for the best Tapas bars. Pau is great. Most roads in Northern Spain are new or nearly so. The there's some great Pyrenees passes.

Are you travelling alone or with wife g/f? if your with your other half, then look up the Paradores on route. Worth signing for the Amigos card to get discounts. If you are alone, other options available