6 days in France 🇫🇷 in Sept 25

[JohnnyBoxer]

Just booked the ferry to France for late September for a short break, with another GS’er

It’s been 6 years since I have toured in mainland Europe, so a bit rusty

Arriving in Caën at 6.30am so we can make a bit of progress on day 1

Suggestions for up to date ……places/routes/itineraries/accommodation etc and things to see

Do we do the coastline or Normandy/Brittany or venture down to Vendeé?

Alternatively head inland to Loire/Dordogne ?


I don’t think either of us wants to do a lap of France in 6 days and the Alps may be a schlep too far

 

[gerarddwatts]

JB, for years we had zipped through France to get to the Alps, Provence, Pyrenees etc etc, then a couple of years ago decided to spend time in the 'middle' bits, albeit on 4 wheels, and had a great week exploring the byways; Puy, Sancerre , Rocamadour etc etc....can thoroughly recommend it!

 

[leadfarmer]

Depends on what you’re into

Down the Loire valley to visit chateau’s and vineyards

Or across to the East, war cemeteries , trenches, and across into Belgium

 

[wessie]

We are returning to the Volcanes region this year in early Sept. West of Clermont Ferrand. With an early start, you can get there on the first day, although it is 8 hours riding avoiding motorways so maybe break the journey at Blois on the Loire if you want a more relaxed first day. Great place you can use as a base to tour the mountains. La Bourboule or Le Mont Dore are two nice spa towns in the upper reaches of the River Dore that becomes the Dordogne. Puy Mary is a nice place to visit.

Did you book a hotel with the ferry to get the 30% discount? If not, you can add one retrospectively. We booked our last night in Saumur before a ferry home, in the Best Western on the river island. You only need to add one hotel to get the discount.

We are getting to Le Mont Dore via an overnight ferry to St Malo, 2 nights in La Rochelle, 2 nights in the Lot/Célé gorge at Cabrerets, 2 nights in the Tarn/Jonte Gorge at Meyrueis, 2 nights in Le Mont Dore then the last night in Saumur before an overnight ferry home from Le Havre.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

We are returning to the Volcanes region this year in early Sept. West of Clermont Ferrand. With an early start, you can get there on the first day, although it is 8 hours riding avoiding motorways so maybe break the journey at Blois on the Loire if you want a more relaxed first day. Great place you can use as a base to tour the mountains. La Bourboule or Le Mont Dore are two nice spa towns in the upper reaches of the River Dore that becomes the Dordogne. Puy Mary is a nice place to visit.

Did you book a hotel with the ferry to get the 30% discount? If not, you can add one retrospectively. We booked our last night in Saumur before a ferry home, in the Best Western on the river island. You only need to add one hotel to get the discount.

We are getting to Le Mont Dore via an overnight ferry to St Malo, 2 nights in La Rochelle, 2 nights in the Lot/Célé gorge at Cabrerets, 2 nights in the Tarn/Jonte Gorge at Meyrueis, 2 nights in Le Mont Dore then the last night in Saumur before an overnight ferry home from Le Havre.

Thanks
Plenty of food for thought there
The hotel suggestions are great and the fact they can be added to BF booking retrospectively too

 

[Davey B]

Where in France haven't you been? And what do you fancy doing....6-8hrs riding...or a 2-3 hr ride and then some history...as above, Chateaux etc Bourges, nice small city, Nevers, likewise...
The big empty bit across from Limoges to Clermont Ferrand taking in the Volcanic regions and loads of nice small towns and deserted well surfaced roads.
For me....I reckon I'd bimble round Brittany (I've never been) towards Nantes, then along the Loire towards Blois..having lunch in the square in front of the chateau while watching the dragons..... and then perhaps the Chateau de Chambord or Chenonceau

The House of Magic

en.chateaudeblois.fr

 

[leadfarmer]

Down the west coast is nice too, through Brittany, maybe down to les sables d’Olonne, la Rochelle, l’île de Ré, île d’Oléron

Maybe come inland, visit Oradour sur Glane then back up through the middle, Le Mans etc

 

[J biker]

If after good roads, I would head towards Limoges. Then anything East and South is good. Clermont, Le Puy, Aurillac area.
Suppose it depends what you like, for me there has to loads of bends and elevation changes.
I have had many a good ride on varying roads in the Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne which is around 1.5hours from my last house. Little traffic., friendly folks and fantastic scenery.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

If after good roads, I would head towards Limoges. Then anything East and South is good. Clermont, Le Puy, Aurillac area.
Suppose it depends what you like, for me there has to loads of bends and elevation changes.
I have had many a good ride on varying roads in the Parc naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne which is around 1.5hours from my last house. Little traffic., friendly folks and fantastic scenery.

Similar
Like flowing mountain roads and bends, with elevation changes & views ….but also twisty roads following rivers (one of my favourites is Sedan to Verdun, via Stenay)

 

[jasp]

Cue curt post from Wapping about Google being your mate, bods and biker mates.....

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Cue curt post from Wapping about Google being your mate, bods and biker mates.....

I prefer the spoken (written) word from fellow GS’ers

Yes I have done a lot of France (and most of Europe) since the 1980’s etc …..but nothing for last 6 years whatsoever (due to the Covid years & looking after my aged Mum, until recently) so pretty rusty on accommodation front and places that I might have missed altogether /not seen fully and hence the question

Volcane region is a good shout, as is CF area

Me in 1997 in the Ardeché, on my first GS - bought new 6 weeks earlier & en route to Bol D’Or

 

[wessie]

For Volcanes, in La Bourboule, Hotel L'Aviation was good a few years ago. Garage parking, although not a worry in that part of France.
For Le Mont Dore, we are using the Grand Hotel this year which seems to be the only one in the town centre with its own parking.

Brittany Ferries hotels here https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/holidays/search
I used the show map feature to find a hotel in a place that suited us. The amount we saved on the ferry price effectively paid for the hotel, just booking one night in Saumur.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Brittany Ferries hotels here https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/holidays/search
I used the show map feature to find a hotel in a place that suited us. The amount we saved on the ferry price effectively paid for the hotel, just booking one night in Saumur.

Thanks for the link (not explored it fully)

Can you make savings on the BF endorsed partner hotels, once you have already booked the crossing ?

We booked the BF crossing yesterday/today as part of an ABR offer (£157 each for 6 day return P>C with a single occupancy cabin & night crossing outward & day crossing on the return)

 

[wessie]

Thanks for the link (not explored it fully)

Can you make savings on the BF endorsed partner hotels, once you have already booked the crossing ?

We booked the BF crossing yesterday/today as part of an ABR offer (£157 each for 6 day return P>C with a single occupancy cabin & night crossing outward & day crossing on the return)

You can certainly add a hotel retrospectively to a standard booking as it has been reported here recently

Whether you can combine the two promotional offers is another matter I cannot answer. I doubt it would be possible but try!

I have only used the BF hotel offer for the two bikes & 3 people using the Portsmouth routes. We have another couple joining us who will use the tunnel as they live in Essex. They will have an overnight near Rouen before joining us in La Rochelle.

I have either used hotels.com or direct to the hotels for the rest of the accommodation. With 5 people all getting on a bit and 5 months until the holiday, we need to have flexibility with dates and late cancellation options just in case. We have already had 1 couple pull out as they are encumbered by something called a job limiting their dates. We have another maybe that might be a late addition pending a house sale. BF only allow amendments 6 weeks before travel. After that, it is a cancellation subject to fees so not so easy to add or remove those who change their mind. The delights of being the dumb fuck volunteer for coordinating others' holidays!

 

[timeandtide]

I prefer the spoken (written) word from fellow GS’ers

Yes I have done a lot of France (and most of Europe) since the 1980’s etc …..but nothing for last 6 years whatsoever (due to the Covid years & looking after my aged Mum, until recently) so pretty rusty on accommodation front and places that I might have missed altogether /not seen fully and hence the question

Volcane region is a good shout, as is CF area

Me in 1997 in the Ardeché, on my first GS - bought new 6 weeks earlier & en route to Bol D’Or

View attachment 400209

You haven’t changed much!
Sarlat’s nice.

 

[Deleted account 250722001]

Maybe take a couple of extra days and go visit Cinque Terres?
Often missed by 'tarmac noses' !

 

[stever1]

JB, how about a trip down the west coast, I did it last year. I got as far as Ile de Rey ( worth a visit in itself)
Leaves you time for a bit of culture

 

[stever1]

Maybe take a couple of extra days and go visit Cinque Terres?
Often missed by 'tarmac noses' !

Er, I think that’s the wrong country mate.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Another option would be to go across to north eastern France and explore the Vosges mountains and Alsace. I’ve been there a few times and the grand ballon area is spectacular

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

JB, how about a trip down the west coast, I did it last year. I got as far as Ile de Rey ( worth a visit in itself)
Leaves you time for a bit of culture

Last time I went to Ile de Ré was 1985 - so after 40 years I am maybe due a re-visit