France in September

[samwise]

Thinking about taking a couple of weeks and going off to France, so wondered where to go. I went down the autoroutes to St Juan Les Pins a couple years ago (stopping off at Avignon with a ride up Ventoux and going along the Corniche de l'Esterel from Agay to Cannes) and back up via the Rte Napoleon to Grenoble, Autoroute back to Calais from there.

This time, as I'm aiming to take a bit longer than a week, I'm thinking of avoiding the Autoroutes as much as possible, sticking to the Ns and Ds and trying to see more of France.

Not sure which direction to go, but possibly starting from Cherbourg or St Malo this time, as I'll be on Dartmoor for the weekend before leaving (no point doing two trips and giving the IOM Steam Racket more money than necessary ), and was thinking of maybe including the Monts du Cantal area (stopping off at Oradour sur Glane on the way down), but not sure where else.

Any ideas on places to go, and roads to ride, naturally , much appreciated.

 

[madman]

There is so much to see here in France and every region is very different to the others. I would say try to avoid the areas that you have visited before and you should have a whole new experience in another area. You could take a trip to France once a year for 10 years and find new things and different cultures every time.

 

[mart]

In the Limousin here!

If ya heading down this wat sam ya right near us here near Limoges!
mart & maggie.
www.lebellerive.net

 

[wessie]

As you are going to be in the West Country then using a longer channel crossing makes sense. The service from Poole is good. LDlines from Portsmouth is much cheaper, though.

Personally, in September I'd head down to the SW where temperatures are likely to be much warmer. Perhaps stop off in the Auvergne/Massif Central on the way down. Then, if there aren't any gales blowing in off the Bay, work your way back up the west coast.

Apart from a short visit to the Massif I haven't visited any of the areas. It's just that this trip is something I have been meaning to do one autumn, just not got around to it.

 

[Wapping]

Here's my suggestion.

The service from Pool is OK except I think it brings you into Cherbourg which is miles from anywhere on dullish roads.

I would think about Portsmouth to Caen on the speedcat (check the sailing times / days) or, perhaps, better still the overnight boat into St Malo.

Then, Caen or St Malo, to Le Mans, then swinging due south to, say, Saumur for the first night's stop. Thereafter the roads pick-up. Arm yourself with the Michelin touring map and the local Michelin map (see sticky thread) and the thread about French hotels / camp sites.

From these simple maps you will be able to pick out routes and destinations that suit you, your pocket and expectations....it is your holiday (not ours) after all. This is not meant to be rude, just realistic. Some people only want to do short mileages, stopping for long lunches and then stay in chain-store type hotels. Some want to blast but stay in family private hotels, or any combination you like. So getting suggestions is fine but ultimately much more satisfying if you do it yourself, then post up your results.

 

[samwise]

Cheers guys, yes I'm planning to plan most of it myself, just looking for ideas on stuff I shouldn't miss out

It's a bit of a toss-up for me - I'm not a great sailor anymore (I was, as a kid, but lost the knack, so normally use the tunnel now when coming from the island), so the slightly shorter crossing from Poole appeals, but I could be tempted by St Malo.....

I've just picked up the 522 and 525 Michelin regional maps (Auvergne & Limousin and Midi-Pyrénées), but left them at work , but will be looking over them, getting ideas (I do love Michelin maps ), and will probably buy the non-spiral France road atlas from Michelin too.

I'm going over for one week on my own, and then a mate is joining me for a week, so will have to find out what he wants to do, but that'll have to tie in to the run back to the island.

Love your guides by the way, Wapping

 

[Wapping]

Cheers guys, yes I'm planning to plan most of it myself, just looking for ideas on stuff I shouldn't miss out

It's a bit of a toss-up for me - I'm not a great sailor anymore (I was, as a kid, but lost the knack, so normally use the tunnel now when coming from the island), so the slightly shorter crossing from Poole appeals, but I could be tempted by St Malo.....

I've just picked up the 522 and 525 Michelin regional maps (Auvergne & Limousin and Midi-Pyrénées), but left them at work , but will be looking over them, getting ideas (I do love Michelin maps ), and will probably buy the non-spiral France road atlas from Michelin too.

I'm going over for one week on my own, and then a mate is joining me for a week, so will have to find out what he wants to do, but that'll have to tie in to the run back to the island.

Love your guides by the way, Wapping

Good stuff.

I share, to some degree, your view on ferries, though the overnight to St Malo is good.

If you get the big non-spiral bound book, you will not need the local maps, unless you want to fold them into a tankbag map case. I cannot recommend the Michelin's 'Tourist route' map enough, it's excellent. Michelin also do another one, on the same scale, that shows only France's 2Attractive villages and towns"...it's worth getting.

Michelin now do a waterproof map of France, too. Quite handy. You can mark it with a chinagraph / wax pencil and wipe off later.

Have fun.