From Caen to Le Mans
Discussion
I've published this so many times, but here goes:-
On leaving the ferry follow the green signs to Falaise
On the ring road of Falaise leave the N158 and follow the D909 towards Putange-Pont-Ecrepin. There is a lovely hotel there right by the river called Le Lion Verd. Good spot for a coffee and a croissant. They speak English.
Continue south to Rânes, over the crossroads and on towards Carrouges on the D909
Follow the D909 until you meet the N12, turn right and go through Pré-en-Pail. There is a service station there if you need fuel.
Go through the town and then follow the D20 left signposted Villaines-la-Juhel. You will travel through a forest with beautiful swinging roads.
Now follow the D13 to Courcité and from there the D16 to Sillé-le-Guillaume and from there the signs to Le Mans.
Of course, you can be extremely boring and take the motorway, missing out all thatmakes France such a great country to travel through. I have been using this route for nearly forty years, and it never fails to please. Great driving roads, never a BiB, and people waving as you go through the towns. On your way home the Lion Verd is a great place to dine before catching the ferry. They used to have lobsters but sadly no more.
Enjoy the route. Take the time to look around you and take in the scenery. It never ceases to please me.
On leaving the ferry follow the green signs to Falaise
On the ring road of Falaise leave the N158 and follow the D909 towards Putange-Pont-Ecrepin. There is a lovely hotel there right by the river called Le Lion Verd. Good spot for a coffee and a croissant. They speak English.
Continue south to Rânes, over the crossroads and on towards Carrouges on the D909
Follow the D909 until you meet the N12, turn right and go through Pré-en-Pail. There is a service station there if you need fuel.
Go through the town and then follow the D20 left signposted Villaines-la-Juhel. You will travel through a forest with beautiful swinging roads.
Now follow the D13 to Courcité and from there the D16 to Sillé-le-Guillaume and from there the signs to Le Mans.
Of course, you can be extremely boring and take the motorway, missing out all thatmakes France such a great country to travel through. I have been using this route for nearly forty years, and it never fails to please. Great driving roads, never a BiB, and people waving as you go through the towns. On your way home the Lion Verd is a great place to dine before catching the ferry. They used to have lobsters but sadly no more.
Enjoy the route. Take the time to look around you and take in the scenery. It never ceases to please me.
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 2nd June 14:44
Yes. Just follow the road from Cherbourg to Caen then the route above. Or, if you have a map book, half the fun is planning a route yourself not following main roads but only D roads. Two minutes with Google Earth gave me Caen - St lô - St Jean-d'Elle - Caumont-sur-Aure - Les Monts d'Aunay - Bonnemaison - Le Hom - you can do the rest yourselves in a few minutes. No GPS will give you back roads like these.
Of course, if you find this difficult, Cherbourg to Caen then pick up the motorway to Le Mans or the old Route Nationale. Plenty of McDonalds on that one, but on the back roads you never know when you might find a little restaurant you will remember for the rest of your life.
Of course, if you find this difficult, Cherbourg to Caen then pick up the motorway to Le Mans or the old Route Nationale. Plenty of McDonalds on that one, but on the back roads you never know when you might find a little restaurant you will remember for the rest of your life.
Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 21st June 07:30
That is a question that is difficult to answer because each department has made up its own mind. La Sarthe is 90kph/56mph - BUT - remember that since Brexs
t they can no longer send you a fine if you set a fixed camera off. not that I would encourage you to do so of course - ahem. Only the major roads are 90 though and the rest can be anything from 30kph to 80 kph. When I leave my house to go to the golf at Mulsanne I have this performance over 10 kms:-
80 -70 50 - 80 - 50 - 70 - 50 - 40 - 50 - 90 and that is only six ruddy miles!
The route I have posted I have never seen the BiB so I wouldn't worry too much - famous last words. They are sometimes outside of Caen so at first be careful, but once clear of Caen I have never seen any radars, and until last year I was using the route five times a year. HTH
t they can no longer send you a fine if you set a fixed camera off. not that I would encourage you to do so of course - ahem. Only the major roads are 90 though and the rest can be anything from 30kph to 80 kph. When I leave my house to go to the golf at Mulsanne I have this performance over 10 kms:-80 -70 50 - 80 - 50 - 70 - 50 - 40 - 50 - 90 and that is only six ruddy miles!
The route I have posted I have never seen the BiB so I wouldn't worry too much - famous last words. They are sometimes outside of Caen so at first be careful, but once clear of Caen I have never seen any radars, and until last year I was using the route five times a year. HTH
Edited by lowdrag on Monday 20th June 15:14
I've used Portsmouth - Caen for over thirty years and the last time security was far higher with submachine guns in evidence, but while I saw a shady character or two before you get to the shops and restaurants none were in evidence once inside the port area. And I'm sorry, Luke but controlling the temperature is beyond my pay grade.We could make a fortune though inventing air-conditioned tents I suppose.
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