Austria via whistlestop tour of Germany

[Rasher]

I am after some general advice on a trek across Germany enroute to Austria and the Dolomites next year.

Already decided to go to Austria and the Dolomites and I know many of the routes I want to ride once there, but I am wondering about taking a different route to the Normal blast across France.

Much as I am happy enough with a two day blast across France, I am wondering if perhaps I should look to see some more of Europe and maybe a trip across Germany may be a good option.

I am thinking of heading East from Calais, crossing Belgium and then through the Eifel area on day one and possibly stopping at a Dambusters Dam or two. Then on the Second day swooping a little bit further North to quickly run across the Hartz mountains before stopping near Colditz.

Day three would see me driving south along the Czech broder past Salzburg and into Austria.

Is this a good plan :?:

Will this route be a nice ride, or a congested nightmare :?:

I know both the Eifel and Hartz regions are quite small so crosssing them in a straight line will only be a couple of hours for each, but at least I will get a taster of these regions.

I am wondering about the routes between them, they look quite rural sitting half way between the much more congested looking Cologne and Frankfurt regions, so I am hoping they will be relatively light on traffic and it will be easy to keep up a fair pace.

I also have no idea what the Eastern border area of germany is like, again this looks more rural and I am hoping it might be a nice run from Colditz to Austria, it may also be possible to cut across a bit of the Czech republic, this looks slightly shorter, but takes longer - I have no idea what the Czech roads are like and how fast you can whizz along them, but possibly worth doing just because it is there.

Any info appreciated

 

[Allan Davies]

Why not head for Koblenz, do the Mona Dams etc, back down the Mosel, Bernkastle etc, Baden Baden, Blackforest, Konstanz, Lech Valley, Garmish, and then skirt along the German Border to Salzburg and then as you were. I think that the further you go east into Germany the more Big cities you hit so have to stay on the AutoBahn more, unless thats what you want.

 

[The Grey One]

Don't know about the rest of the journey but I do know a fair bit about the roads south of Salzburg- Avoid the A10 in high summer especially at weekends.
The B159 and then the B99 are a better route. We are 6 kms off the B99 (turn right at the roundabout outside Gmünd) The Nockalmstasse is just off the B99 (turn left at Kremsbrücke) Loads of good roads around here-our "patch" extends into Italy and Slovenia-you are spoilt for choice.

Hope you get some more route advice from others along the way.

John

 

[Baz]

Heading out to the Dolomites next June via Germany but only have a week so doing the trip down & back over two days. Looking at Heidleberg on the way out and probably Koblenz on the way back

 

[Pablo1]

TRY OTHER FERRY CROSSINGS

You might want to think about getting a bit nearer to Germany as a starting point, in terms of germany itself usually we just blast across as far as the blackforest area, we use the newcastle to ijmuiden crossing but im sure theres several other options further south taking you int belgium/holland.
we are doing czech, austria, italy, south france,swiss, germany this year, ive put my routes on here if there any help
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=310159

 

[AlanI]

Heading out to the Dolomites next June via Germany but only have a week so doing the trip down & back over two days. Looking at Heidleberg on the way out and probably Koblenz on the way back

A nice route (depending upon how much of the Black Forest you actually want to see) and with only a short leg of motorway towards the end is to use the motorway exit just before Stuttgart airport and head SE on the B27. The route then follows B312, B28, B465 and B312 to Memmingen. This route takes one through an area known as the Schwabischer Alb.
At Memmingen join the A7 for the short run down to the Austrian border where the same road now becomes the B179 (non motorway) and goes over the Fern Pass. Follow the B179 to the village of Reid im Oberinntal which translates to Reid in upper Inn valley - Inn being of course the river Inn. Here is a very nice biker friendly hotel with garage parking for bikes called the Hotel Riederhof http://www.hotel-riederhof.at/en.html
The next morning head off north again for a few kilometres before turning east followed by turning south once again to join the B186 and over the Timmelsjoch pass and onto Canazei in the Dolomites.

 

[Allan Davies]

A nice route (depending upon how much of the Black Forest you actually want to see) and with only a short leg of motorway towards the end is to use the motorway exit just before Stuttgart airport and head SE on the B27. The route then follows B312, B28, B465 and B312 to Memmingen. This route takes one through an area known as the Schwabischer Alb.
At Memmingen join the A7 for the short run down to the Austrian border where the same road now becomes the B179 (non motorway) and goes over the Fern Pass. Follow the B179 to the village of Reid im Oberinntal which translates to Reid in upper Inn valley - Inn being of course the river Inn. Here is a very nice biker friendly hotel with garage parking for bikes called the Hotel Riederhof http://www.hotel-riederhof.at/en.html
The next morning head off north again for a few kilometres before turning east followed by turning south once again to join the B186 and over the Timmelsjoch pass and onto Canazei in the Dolomites.

Nice. (and i'm not changing my route again ) Seeing as you mentioned the B186, I have to mention the road from Elmen near Stanzach, Lech Valley. L266 which turns into the L246 to Imst, I think the locals call it the Austrian Alps pass or something along those lines, superb road just like your going through the Alps. After Imst hook up with the B186 onto Blonzano.I'm coming back that way in the next couple of weeks, leaving on the 17th

 

[Baz]

A nice route (depending upon how much of the Black Forest you actually want to see) and with only a short leg of motorway towards the end is to use the motorway exit just before Stuttgart airport and head SE on the B27. The route then follows B312, B28, B465 and B312 to Memmingen. This route takes one through an area known as the Schwabischer Alb.
At Memmingen join the A7 for the short run down to the Austrian border where the same road now becomes the B179 (non motorway) and goes over the Fern Pass. Follow the B179 to the village of Reid im Oberinntal which translates to Reid in upper Inn valley - Inn being of course the river Inn. Here is a very nice biker friendly hotel with garage parking for bikes called the Hotel Riederhof http://www.hotel-riederhof.at/en.html
The next morning head off north again for a few kilometres before turning east followed by turning south once again to join the B186 and over the Timmelsjoch pass and onto Canazei in the Dolomites.

I may take a look at that. It all depends whether we head out on the Friday Morning or get a late Chunnel on Friday Afternoon

Ta Baz