Ferry booked! Now for the planning!

[katyotter]

That's it, the ferry's booked and now for the fun planning bit. We're taking the F700 and the F800 and going from Poole to Cherbourg latish May with the return from Santander to Plymouth two weeks later. The current plan is to go down the west coast of France and possibly some way into Spain before going back up to Santander, however we've plenty of time for detours and nothing's set in stone except the tickets. Any suggestions re. accommodation, must-see/do very welcome.

 

[wessie]

Rocamadour would be a good place to spend a day or two before heading across the Pyrenees.

Some friends run a B&B near there http://www.lanoyeraierocamadour.com/

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

Great guesthouse in the Picos.

http://www.lapisa.co.uk/englishhomepage.html

 

[katyotter]

Thanks Wessie and Trippy, will look in to both

 

[moody]

I have no suggestions about accommodation etc but I am very jealous!
I hope you enjoy the trip and take lots of photos for us to see.

 

[katyotter]

Will do Moody. When are you going to buy the caravan?

 

[drinkingparrot]

That's it, the ferry's booked and now for the fun planning bit. We're taking the F700 and the F800 and going from Poole to Cherbourg latish May with the return from Santander to Plymouth two weeks later. The current plan is to go down the west coast of France and possibly some way into Spain before going back up to Santander, however we've plenty of time for detours and nothing's set in stone except the tickets. Any suggestions re. accommodation, must-see/do very welcome.

I booked mine last week, not waitng till may, being the impatient type I'm booked on the Portsmouth to Caen then St Nazaire to Gijon at the end of Febuary, returning Bilbao to one of the P's at the end of March. I have everything crossed hopeing the roads are going to stay clear abd I dont get holed up somewhere

 

[moody]

Will do Moody. When are you going to buy the caravan?

If it is still for sale next Easter, let me know

 

[Humbug]

Done this trip many times.

We always use the excellent Alaister Sawdays site to choose B&B's. These are fantastic places to stay and need not be expensive. Website HERE.

A must place to stay in Spain would be CASA ZALAMA. It's beautiful Casa situated about 50 miles from Santander. The ride from there to the port over the Cantabrian mountains is stunning and a great end to any holiday. Marie Cruz and Graeme are wonderful hosts and she cooks the most fantastic local cuisine. The surrounding are is one of Spain's hidden gems as most folk either head south or go to the Picos. Stay. You won't regret it.

I see you don't live far from us so if you want to pick our brains over a cuppa or a glass of wine you're more than welcome.

Andy

PS If you're catching the early morning fastcraft from Poole it's worth paying the extra for Commodore seats.

 

[katyotter]

Hey Andy -we're shallow! Not the fastcraft because there's not enough difference in time to warrant it but on the slower one we have a day cabin! Great to dump all your stuff! Thanks so much for your info-extremely helpful, and the invite. We'll take you up on it at some point if you don't mind. Where are you in Somerset? We're in East Devon, 6 miles from Lyme Regis over the border.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Personally I wouldn't head down the West coast of France unless you have to. It's a bit flat and boring and can be quite busy and crowded. I'd stay inland where the scenery and roads are so much nicer.

But I'm still jealous.

 

[katyotter]

Like I said, we're v. flexible. Good point

 

[Fanum]

Like I said, we're v. flexible. Good point

"In preparing for a trip, I have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable."

Dwight Eisenhower (nearly)

The best trips are the ones with bare bone sketches that you change all the time, adapting to circumstances, IMHO.

Or.....

“No trip plan survives contact with the reality”

― Helmuth Von Moltke the GSer

 

[Wapping]

As we are getting all lyrical....

Maybe something for some to have in mind.....

“Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to.” – Alan Keightley

 

[Humbug]

Hey Andy -we're shallow! Not the fastcraft because there's not enough difference in time to warrant it but on the slower one we have a day cabin! Great to dump all your stuff! Thanks so much for your info-extremely helpful, and the invite. We'll take you up on it at some point if you don't mind. Where are you in Somerset? We're in East Devon, 6 miles from Lyme Regis over the border.

Katy, we're about 6 miles north of Taunton on the Somerset Levels near the village of North Newton. PM me for an address and contact number. You will be very welcome.

 

[Paul Rochdale]

Consider stopping at Oradour-sur-Glane, near Limoges, a place everybody should visit once in their lifetime.

 

[katyotter]

That's already a definite Paul. It was high on my husband's list!

 

[Wapping]

Consider stopping at Oradour-sur-Glane, near Limoges, a place everybody should visit once in their lifetime.

Bingo!

You can set your watch by it

 

[Wapping]

That's already a definite Paul. It was high on my husband's list!

Where is hubby in all of this? Pressing wild flowers, perchance?

 

[katyotter]

Where is hubby in all of this? Pressing wild flowers, perchance?

Happy riding his 800 I would think. Don't really understand your point.