Via Michelin has just given me Calais - Paris - Orléans - Clermont - Millau route.
I agree with Michelin's southern part ie using the A75 across the Massif Central thus avoiding the A6/A7, Lyon, Valence NImes etc. and the heat of the southern Rhone valley The upside of the A75 is that it is usually not busy (except possibly around Clermont Ferrand depending on circumstances). The downside (for a caravanner) is the gradients on the Clermont - Lodève section. These never bother me coz I don't tow a tin box around.
What I would do is go Calais - Rouen - Evreux - Dreux - Chartres - Orléans. This route is usually much less fraut so better than going via Paris
Bitto (The French travel expert since 1965)
------------- Bitto.
European road and rail travel expert since 1965
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I suppose with you living in Essex, it is doo-able, in one hit, but for folk like me with almost a 300 mile drive to Dover, I really do need those two overnight stops in France, on my way to the Cote d Azur.
Via Michelin has just given me Calais - Paris - Orléans - Clermont - Millau route.
I agree with Michelin's southern part ie using the A75 across the Massif Central thus avoiding the A6/A7, Lyon, Valence NImes etc. and the heat of the southern Rhone valley The upside of the A75 is that it is usually not busy (except possibly around Clermont Ferrand depending on circumstances). The downside (for a caravanner) is the gradients on the Clermont - Lodève section. These never bother me coz I don't tow a tin box around.
What I would do is go Calais - Rouen - Evreux - Dreux - Chartres - Orléans. This route is usually much less fraut so better than going via Paris
This is our first year without a van as it is already in the South of France but when we were towing, we always took the above route to avoid Paris. We came back through Paris last year without the van and it was chaos.
Strange, we have used Paris for the past 4 years towing either a trailer or a caravan and it has been no problem, suppose it similar to our M25, sometimes there are accidents or hold ups.....
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We've just come back using the route described above, and the A75. We had an overnight stop on Friday at Aire de la Baie de Somme and then Saturday night in Nevers, and reached Camping Neptune at Agde at 4.30 pm on Sunday - and that was mostly on non-toll roads - in fact we paid a total of 13 euros 40 in tolls on the way down.
Some of the non-toll routes are actually motorways, you just don't have to pay for the privilege.
On the way back, after leaving Nevers, we came back via the A104 Francilienne, and then the toll autoroute to St Omer and this time paid around 40 euros in tolls.
We've just come back using the route described above, and the A75. We had an overnight stop on Friday at Aire de la Baie de Somme and then Saturday night in Nevers, and reached Camping Neptune at Agde at 4.30 pm on Sunday - and that was mostly on non-toll roads - in fact we paid a total of 13 euros 40 in tolls on the way down.
Some of the non-toll routes are actually motorways, you just don't have to pay for the privilege.
On the way back, after leaving Nevers, we came back via the A104 Francilienne, and then the toll autoroute to St Omer and this time paid around 40 euros in tolls.
Val,
Is the A104 a really busy route? I have visions of it being like the M25. If we went that route we would be hitting it at about 4 pm on a Friday in July so would that be one to avoid? Would hitting Rouen at about the same time be any better? Still really not sure which route to go (Calais to Cap d'Agde) but we like the look of the site at Gien or the municipal at Salbris depending on which way we go.
Susie
------------- Live every day as if it's your last - don't waste it
The Francilienne was quiet on Sunday afternoon when we used it - but I would imagine a Friday in July might be different - although I doubt as bad as the M25. It's several years since we used it but we were supposed to be meeting our sons near Fontainbleau where they were climbing. In fact we didn't because it was such a hot day that they'd had a late start and we were just wanting to get our steadies down at Gandspette so we took the quickest route. This is not like us as we usually prefer non-toll roads.
When we go via Rouen we don't actually get anywhere near to the busy part - we take the N28 down towards the town but after the Darnetal tunnel (before you get to the river) we go off to the right, heading towards Le Havre/Paris - and then take the N15 alongside the Seine which takes you away from the traffic problem areas. We follow the N15 (which is sometimes shown as the D1015) back on to the autoroute at the junction with the A13. If you do 'Google maps' and ask for Rouen, then zoom in you get the road numbers overlying the satellite picture which is a very easy way to find your routes. You can print out specific sections, magnified up to whatever zoom you need to find your way even through quite complicated junctions.
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We have always travelled via Rouen when having the van on the back and never had a problem. We were advised to stick to the 'Zone Industrial' which is the way our sat-nav took us anyway and it has always been a doddle. I seem to remember when you have cleared the industrial zone that you come to a fork in the road which either takes you to Le Mans or the route we were going which was Chartres, Orleans etc etc
We stopped at http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7702 in Salbris last year for an overnighter which was quite nice. Our pitch was right next to the lake. No problems with mozzies either which I was a little worried about. They also have a very friendly Beaver.
Now I have planned a route to Begur going to salbris via rouen,then Millau on to Agde and into begur.It has worried me going down from clermont over the central massif as it first time with caravan.But seeing an earlier post about gradients thinking of changing route. Is going from Salbris to Montauban and down into Begur any easier your thoughts would be appreciated
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Have done it many times and would estimate 17 hours with stops. Can be done in a lot less if you want to arrive completely worn out. The choice is yours
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Dunkerque to South of France
