PH convoy to the Classic

[Ben Lowden]

I appreciate everyone will be on different crossings – but I'm wondering if there's a significant amount doing a particular crossing that might fancy a PH convoy?

We've always shot down the motorway, but want to take an interesting route this year. We haven't booked our crossing yet so are open to doing Folkstone > Calais and driving down from there, or Portsmouth > Caen.

We'll be in a Mustang Mach 1 and shooting a Dream Drive feature, so naturally want to find a fun route and get some PHers involved if we can!

[Ben Lowden]

Hoonigan said:

MrC986 said:

We’re on the 21.30hrs Portsmouth-Caen Wednesday night ferry if you fancy joining us Ben to “convoy” down on the Thursday morning?!

Same crossing as us, Convoy, Convoy, Convoy….

Damn, I think it's unlikely we'll be able to make Wednesday as we have some important meetings in London all day and it might be a bit tight. But we'll see!

hmg said:

Large group of cars on the on the 08.30 DDFS Dover - Calais. Will probably be splitting up into more manageable groups for the drive down.

Any favourite non autoroute itineraries you would care to share ?

What day are you crossing? I'm going to look at some routes, but the general consensus is that there's nothing interesting to drive north of Rouen, so it's a case of following the motorway down for the first leg, and then heading towards Caen for the more interesting roads. Which is partly why I'm thinking of just getting the ferry to Caen instead. Hmm...

[Ben Lowden]

Sortie 10 said:

No good driving north of Rouen? You cannot be serious...
My username gives a clue as to where you should turn off the Autoroute - checkout:
Forges les Eaux, Lyons la Forêt (stunning village - one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ) Les Andelys (so you miss Rouen)
If anything the Jimmer Le Mans crew prefer the roads north of Rouen to those south - mixture of cracking twisty D roads, arrow straights, woodlands.
Will probably be fined heavily by the committee for disclosing our route!

Amazing thank you, I've struggled to come across anything north of Rouen and a lot of other threads I've read all say to head straight for Caen. Will take a look at your suggestions when planning our route!

hmg said:

Ferry crossing is 0830 Dover - Calais Thursday morning.

Superb. Sadly it looks like we'll need to cross on Friday now due to work commitments, but I'll share my rough route here once planned and perhaps we can get a convoy sorted for next year with a bit more advanced planning.

[Ben Lowden]

Sortie 10 said:

Ben, apologies for not replying sooner to your query on Sunday. Clearly not spending enough time on PH - should I hand in my membership card?
TBH it's a bit of a ball ache getting from Les Andelys to Louviers (slightly fiddly after crossing the Seine - keep your eyes on signs & gps) then
Le Neubourg
Conches
L'Aigle
Mortagne-au-Perche
Mamers
Le Mans

You mean you have a life outside of PH? That's great thank you, really appreciate it. I'll take a look!

[Ben Lowden]

Right then – I’ve stitched together a couple of route options based on various suggestions and other threads on PH.

Option one: Calais to Le Mans, 6hr30, 442km taking in:

• Forges-les-Eaux
• Lyons-la-Forêt
• Les Andelys
• Le Neubourg
• Conches-en-Ouche
• L'Aigle, 61300
• Mortagne-au-Perche
• Mamers
• Le Mans

Route map here https://goo.gl/maps/jkGCHMPWPLfoS1Wr7

(Thanks Sortie 10 & Dblue)

Option two: Calais to Le Mans via Caen, 6hr09, 514km taking in:

• Fastest route to Caen from Calais (3hr30)
• Le Lion Verd
• Pré-en-Pail
• Courcité
• Saint-Saturnin
• Le Mans

Route map here https://goo.gl/maps/41Byv4z13eSbz3Q97

(Thanks lowdrag)

I’m undecided on which route we’ll take yet, but any further suggestions on tweaks and places to stop will be much appreciated!