French / Belgium road adive sought

[Rasher]

Although I am sorted for this years trip, next year is gonna be a bit tricky as I have a wedding to pay for and it is looking highly unlikely "we" will have time / money for a decent tour, however the boys may be able to dash over the pond for a long weekend.

Much as I would love to go to the Alps, Pyrenees or even Vosges / Pico's they are all a fair trek as me and my buddies are between 3 and 6 hours from Folkestone, and therefore need somewhere just a few hours from Calais.

I was thinking the Ardennes may be a good place to go, it looks to be under 200 miles and 4 hours from Calais, I assume being mountainous (hilly?) and forrested there are some great roads in the region, and also a bit of WW2 history to check out.

Anyone got any tips for this region, or an alternate location, we would have a max of 3 nights giving 2 days riding after getting there / back.

Some great roads are the main agenda, I would just "drop in" on any historical sites of interest that happen to be near these roads.

Vosges are possible but I would rather not have to travel the extra 180 odd miles,for me Scotland is Further and the Lake district is a similar distance so it makes sense to go to France.

Oh, and it would be early May so cannot go anywhere too high where roads may still be closed.

 

[NeilDD]

Hi Rasher,

I'm signed up for "Wapping's" long weekend at the end of April (Royal wedding weekend)

If you're prepared to wait until we come back, then some first hand experiences will be available.

Neil

PS
Size of your group may influence any info I can give you

 

[wessie]

I enjoyed my trip to the Ardennes with Wapping & co last summer. We stayed at http://www.hotelposte.be/ in Bouillon. Very pleasant location with a wide choice of bars & restaurants.

Day trips into Lux, Germany & France can be made.

If you want cheaper accommodation then stay the French side of the border where you will find the usual chain hotels. Maubeuge has some of the Accor hotels such as an Ibis in the town centre and the uber-utilitarian Formel1 on the outskirts. Same with Charlie-Mez & Sedan.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Hi Rasher

The Ardennes are great. As good as the Vosges, if a little lower, but then in early May there will still be snow on the top of in the Vosges melting rapidly and soaking the racing lines.

I'm very close to France - about as close as you can get without smelling the garlic - and have had several weekends or long weekends in the Ardennes. It's hilly, fairly empty, very pretty and has loads of great roads.

I'd take the motorway (all toll free from Calais) to Namur via Dunkirk, Tournai, Mons. Then follow the Meuse south to Dinant - it is traditional for different members of your party to take different sides of the river - and meet in Dinant, where the scenery starts, for lunch. (It's less than three hours from Calais to Dinant.) From there pick any road lined in green on a Michelin map.

I really like the French Ardennes. Montherme is a good place to aim for. The road east from Montherme through Bohan and Vresse follows a really pretty river, the Semois, with the occasional 'short cut' up and down a hillside, and is one of favourite ever roads.

Luxembourg is all hills and if you avoid Luxembourg City and the motorways, you'll find some great roads. Strange atmosphere to the place, all a bit too nice, but I had one of the best nights of my life in Diekirch town square. Teh road along the Luxembourg-Garmany border is good. Vianden is a good destination for a lunch stop. Petrol cheaper in Luxembourg (or at least it was last year).

Belgian Ardennes has loads of great roads, including some very bumpy ones. Over towards the Belgium-Germany border is the Haute Fagne park, with a road like a race-track up to and over Belgium's highest point, Baraque Michel, around 2,000 ft I think. All the roads around Francorchamps are lovely.

You will notice how green it all is there. This implies lots of water. Any supposition that this means it rains a lot there is entirely.....correct. My impression is that it doesn't rain any more frequently there than it does where I live, but when it does rain it can be quite heavy.

The temptation is to think of the Ardennes as a poor man's Alps or somehow second rate because it is closer than the other options. But that's far from the truth. It's a great destination for a few days riding around.

 

[Deleted account 231002001]

From Dinant head south to Fumay and then Revin and then east to Montherme, Bohan and keep going. Bertrix, Bastogne, La Roche. Lovely area.

 

[bmmonty]

Belgian Ardenne

Have to say the boys are right.

Go there about 5 times a year been doing it for the last 15 years and its great.

Cant go wrong for a 4 day trip.

Enjoy

 

[LBL]

Ive been about 6 times ( see Wappings thread ) and am booked with WorthingWelsh for the end of April, i have some great routes for round there if you want them.

I stay in Bouillon too, great base, i would highly recommend it.

Lloyd

 

[Glyno]

Just Google any you fancy visiting




Historical Museum "December 44" - La Gleize (Belgium) - Detailed information
"Ardennen Poteau 44" Museum - Recht (Belgium) - Detailed information
"Battle of the Bulge" Museum - La Roche-en-Ardenne (Belgium) - Detailed information
Bastogne Historical Center - Bastogne (Belgium) - Detailed information
Mardasson Memorial - Bastogne (Belgium) - Detailed information
Original Museum - Bastogne (Belgium) - Detailed information
"I was twenty years old in 1945 in Bastogne" (temporary exhibition) - Bastogne (Belgium) - Detailed information
Remember Museum 39-45 (Part 1) - Thimister-Clermont (Belgium) - Detailed information
Remember Museum 39-45 (Part 2) - Thimister-Clermont (Belgium) - Detailed information
Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History - Brussels (Belgium) - Detailed information
Canada War Museum - Adegem (Belgium) - Detailed information
"From war to war" (temporary photo exhibition) - Liège (Belgium) - Detailed information
Trushbaum Museum - Butgenbach (Belgium) - Detailed information
Spitfire Memorial Museum - Florennes (Belgium) - Detailed information
Museum of "Ardennes Chasseurs" - Marche en Famenne (Belgium) - Detailed information
Atlantic Wall Museum - Raversijde (Belgium)- Detailed information
Commando Museum - Flawinnes (Belgium)- Detailed information
3rd Regiment of Lancers Museum - Namur (Belgium)- Detailed information
Tanks in Town 2007 - Mons (Belgium)- Detailed information
Tank storage facility of the Royal Museum of the Armed forces: Open doors day 2007 - Kapellen (Belgium)- Detailed information
2nd/4th Lancers Regiment: Open doors day 2007 - Saive (Belgium)- Detailed information
Ensival Historical Museum 1940-45 - Ensival (Belgium) - Detailed information
Battle of the Salm River Museum - Ennal (Belgium) - Detailed information
40-45 Memories Museum - Aywaille (Belgium) - Detailed information
A "Duty First" 2007 re-enactment production: Hemroulle 1944 - Hemroulle (Belgium) - Detailed information
Museum of Remembrance of the Wars 1914-18 and 1940-45 - Ecaussinnes (Belgium) - Detailed information
Baugnez 44 Historical Center - Baugnez (Belgium) - Detailed information
Tank storage facility of the Royal Museum of the Armed forces: Vissenaken (Belgium)- Detailed information
Seafront Museum (Foxtrot Russian Submarine): Zeebrugge (Belgium)- Detailed information
Hitler's HQ 1940 - Brûlis-de-Pesche (Belgium)- Detailed information
Museum of Resistance and Concentration Camps - Huy (Belgium)- Detailed information
Dodge Company 2008 (Part 1) - Jurbise (Belgium) Detailed information
Dodge Company 2008 (Part 2) - Jurbise (Belgium) Detailed information
A "3rd US Spearhead" re-enactment production 2008 - Remicourt (Belgium) Detailed information
Field Depot 2008 - Perwez (Belgium) Detailed information
KW [Koningshooikt-Wavre] Line Museum - Chaumont-Gistoux (Belgium) Detailed information
French 1st Army Museum - Cortil-Noirmont (Belgium) Detailed information
Breendonk Fort - Willebroek (Belgium) Detailed information
Jeep 40-45 Museum - Gembloux (Belgium)
40-44 Lieutenant Cook Museum - Monceau-Imbrechies (Belgium) Detailed information
Eben-Emael Fort - Eben-Emael (Belgium) Detailed information
Tanks in Town 2008 (Part 1) - Mons (Belgium)- Detailed information
Tanks in Town 2008 (Part 2) - Mons (Belgium)- Detailed information
Maison Musée (40-45 War) - Haccourt (Belgium)- Detailed information
Rebecq Historical Association 40-45 Re-enactment Group - Soignies (Belgium)- Detailed information
International Museum of the Air Base of Chièvres - Chièvres (Belgium)- Detailed information
Museum of Military History - Mons (Belgium)- Detailed information
Memorial Museum of 12th Line Regiment Prince Leopold - Spa (Belgium)- Detailed information
1st Wing Historical Centre - Beauvechain (Belgium)- Detailed information
"ABC" 2008 - Bastogne (Belgium)- Detailed information
A "RMAMC" 2008 Tank ride - Vaux-Sur-Sûre (Belgium)- Detailed information
A "GBRHM" 2008 re-enactment production: Battle of the Bulge 1944 - Vaux-Sur-Sûre (Belgium)- Detailed information
"Ivanhoe 2009" an "Indianhead" 2nd US Infantry Division re-enactment production - Remersdaal (Belgium) Detailed information
BMVT "Winter Rally 2009" - Houffalize (Belgium) Detailed information
"In the footsteps of the 82nd Airborne Division (2009 edition)" - Bra (Belgium) Detailed information
Télévie 2009 - Baisy-Thy (Belgium)
"Dead Man's Ridge Walk (17th Airborne Division) (2009 edition)" - Flamierge (Belgium) Detailed information
American Supply Depot (Stock américain "Harry") - Baisy-Thy (Belgium)
Le Grand Curtius (weapon) Museum - Liège (Belgium)
101st Airborne 326th Engineers: Celles 2009 - Celles (Belgium)- Detailed information
A "GBRHM" 2009 re-enactment production: Remember day - Bon-Secours (Belgium)- Detailed information
Thy Remember Day 2009 - Thy-Le-Château (Belgium) Detailed information
The Battle of the Bulge viewed from the sky - Saint Hubert Airfield (Belgium) Detailed information
Historia Mundi (2009 edition) - Bastogne (Belgium) Detailed information
The Battle of Waterloo (2009 edition)- Waterloo (Belgium) Detailed information
A "GBRHH" 2009 re-enactment production: The Battle of Haut-Le-Wastia - Dinant (Belgium) Detailed information
Museum of Remembrance (Inauguration Day) - Malèves (Belgium) Detailed information
BMVT "Lantin Fort 2009" - Lantin (Belgium)
Tanks in Town 2009 - Mesvin (Belgium)- Detailed information
BMVT "Liberty Convoy 2009" - Lens to Noorbeek (Belgium & Netherlands)
"La Roche Rally 2009" by 1944 Allied Remembrance Group 703 TD - La Roche (Belgium)
BMVT "One Day Rally 2009" - Blegny (Belgium) Detailed information
For Freedom Museum - Ramskapelle (Belgium) Detailed information
Stavelot 44 Temporary Cartoon Exhibition - Stavelot Abbey (Belgium)
A Duty 1st re-enactment event (Battle of the Bulge 65th anniversary) - Remagne (Belgium)- Detailed information
An HMRA re-enactment event (Battle of the Bulge 65th anniversary) - Vaux-sur-Sûre (Belgium)
Liberty jump and McAuliffe HQ Museum (Battle of the Bulge 65th anniversary) - Bastogne (Belgium)
A 101st AB 326th ENG re-enactment event (White Xtmas 2009 at night) - Celles (Belgium)
A 101st AB 326th ENG re-enactment event (White Xtmas 2009) - Celles (Belgium)
A 101st AB 326th ENG re-enactment event (White Xtmas 2009) Part 2 - Celles (Belgium)
83rd Infantry Division "Thunderbolt" March - Bihain (Belgium) -Detailed information
Supply Depot and 1944 Allied Remembrance Group (Battle of the Bulge 65th anniversary) - Salmchâteau (Belgium)
BMVT "Winter Rally 2010" - Houffalize (Belgium) Detailed information
"In the footsteps of the 82nd Airborne Division (2010 edition)" - La Gleize (Belgium) Detailed information
"Dead Man's Ridge Walk (17th Airborne Division) (2010 edition)" - Bertogne (Belgium) Detailed information
Télévie 2010 - Baisy-Thy (Belgium)
101st Airborne 326th Engineers: Celles 2010 - Celles (Belgium)- Detailed information
An "HRMA" 2010 re-enactment production: The Battle of Haut-Le-Wastia - Dinant (Belgium) Detailed information
Base Camp One - Zwevegem (Belgium)
Field Depot 2010 - Malèves (Belgium)
Indianhead "Top Hat 2010" - Barvaux (Belgium)
Tanks in Town 2010 (Part 1) - Mons (Belgium)
Tanks in Town 2010 (Part 2) - Mesvin (Belgium)
Tanks in Town 2010 (Part 3) - Mons (Belgium)
Eole Rally 2010 - Aische-en-Refail (Belgium)
Sanicole Sunset Airshow 2010 - Hechtel (Belgium)
BMVT "One Day Rally 2010" - Blegny (Belgium)
GBRHM"Prisoners of Time 2010" - Flemalle Fort (Belgium)
An "HMRA" and "Duty First" 2010 re-enactment production (Battle of the Bulge 66th anniversary) - Cobru (Belgium)

 

[Wapping]

i think you have three choices, all doable in a day and all offering some excellent riding when you are there.

(1) The Ardennes, which is closest. Very easy to get to. Two alternative routes to arrive and return.

(2) Roughly, Dijon. This is furthest away but worth the effort. You can get there in a day, comfortably, with say 100 miles of so of motorway to get away from Calais. After that it is N and D roads all the way. Nice roads for your two days off, too.

(3) Across to Normandy / the peninsula bit of France.

All will be OK in May.

When I get a chance I will lob an outline suggestion together.

You could also have a look at the 80 Virees a Moto routes, stitching some of the routes together to suit your time away and expectations.

No great rush as you are not going until 2012 it seems.

 

[Rasher]

Thaks everyone, exactly the info I was after, sounds like an ideal location and ticks all the boxes:

With time being short and cash being an issue 4 days is probably my max and I expect on at least one night beer consumption may be considerable (which makes Belgium sound like the better side of the border to be) which probably leaves a full days riding on the 2nd day and maybe an afternoons riding on the third.

I think Weather is always a lottery in France / Belgium / Germany so will have to keep fingers crossed.

Does anyone know if our bank holidays raise the Hotel rates much in these places, the first holiday in May would be good for me as it reduces the impact on everyones leave entitlement - I know Eurotunnel will up the Ante but I can probably live with that to preserve a days holiday / earnings.

 

[Wapping]

Prices?

You can check them yourself.

Go to assorted websites and have a look at the hotels / ferry / train prices for jan / feb / march / april / may / june 2011. It is a fairly safe bet the price variations will be the same in 2012. you are only planning on two or three nights away, it ain't going to ruin your holiday either way.

Ps May day is a big holiday in Europe. Check out an online French calendar for their holiday dates. Mother's day is another.

 

[Giles]

....And you're not a million miles from a day trip to Nurburgring ... Check out their website for dates when they are open to the public (most days of the week during the summer, some times all day, sometimes evening only ...)

 

[colint]

Try http://www.aeaventures.com/ great couple near Spa

 

[Wapping]

Rasher:

Have a look at:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130841

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=238391

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145740

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112301&highlight=dijon

Me?

I would do either the Ardennes / Bouillon / 'Ring in four days jaunt OR the Dijon four day'er. Both are good.

Here is a Mapsource file for a Bouillon jaunt I made for me and some fellow Tossers last year. The blast back along the Belgium motorway (you don't miss much on the 'scenic' road front) is the way to come back. Leaving Bouillon at say 09:00 should see you on the 14:30 train (or there abouts) with a snack stop on the motorway.

Here is the Blerancourt ride, in Mapsource.

Here is the four day jaunt I did with some other Tossers (or maybe some of the same Tossers) to sort of Dijon / Troyes area, again in Mapsource.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

It is not difficult

Go anywhere you like and you will find roads that, by English standards, are empty and interesting. You can contact the locals - try http://www.bikeclubfrance.com/ where you will find plenty of Brits scattered all over France, happy to give advice; (try me for Rhône Alpes for instance - a fantastic area for biking, skiing, sailing, water skiing, skating etc.
I do not think that hotels are permitted to raise their rates officially - but many will be full at peak periods; Ask someone local. And if you book anywhere you should realise that unless you are on a 50 cc bike or something goes wrong you will have no trouble cruising at about 80 to 90 (on the clock) and you will average 70 mph. (And be unlikely to offend anyone including the gendarmes; ( Limit on motorways is 130 kph = 80 mph (which probably means about 90 on your speedo.)

 

[Rasher]

Thanks everyone.

I have ridden in France for last 3 years and love it, but have always headed further afield (Black Forest / Alps / Pyrenees) which is tricky to do with just four days including outbound / inbound journey.

Depending on ferry timetables next year I may be able to stretch to a couple of days in the Pico's if the Santander ferry runs on a Thursday Friday and returns on a Monday / Tuesday.

Does anyone know of decent bike hire companies in the UK as one of my mates who no longer has a road bike fancies the trip. Does not need a flash bike, just something that will be reliable - in fact he can't be trusted with anything fast!

Found Raceways and Superbike Rental on the web - any one got experience?

The lead 110 or NT700 look ideal for him, or maybe the XL125

 

[Shredder]

ardennes

Rasher,
I don't think you can go wrong with the Ardennes, a group of us go every year. The tighter twisty roads seem to be made for a GS. We found the Hotels prices are cheaper in the end of June than September October as Hunting is a big thing at that time of year. This bit of advice will sound a bit crazy but, when you leave Calais jump on the autoroute for about 80 miles to around Cambrai or St Quentin, This will get you down to the good roads, then plot a route eastwards through Bohan, Montherme etc. Hotel wise we tried several and have settled on the Hotel Val De Poix, it's very motorcycle friendly and in the middle of some great roads. I won't post any routes as you'll probably have more fun finding your own. I would from experience recommend 4 days and not three, otherwise you come back feeling you need a holiday.
Hope this helps

Shredder

 

[Wapping]

What an odd fellow you are sometimes.

You plan on having four days away in May 2011 so understandably ask for advice on somwhere reasonably close to Blighty and Calais with good roads, identifying the Ardennes as a good possibility. This all makes pretty good sense, and is doable.

Now you appear to be happy to lob away the bulk of two twenty hour periods, riding a ferry to northern Spain and back, just to spend a couple of days in the Picos. Add in the cost of the ferry tickets and chummy's bike hire and it looks like an expensive jaunt made for the sake of it. The Picos will not go away, save them for 2013, perhaps? Expense was one your of your chief concerns, when you asked how much hotels put their room rates up by..... For a three night stay.

Vis-a-vis the bike hire. If you are hellbent on the Picos. Save yourself a lot of time and expense. Buy two bucket shop airline tickets, book yourself into one of the many local organised 'adventure biking' companies' jaunts (using their bikes) and spend some time with them. Then fly back.

 

[Rasher]

Good points, the Pico's is probably best saved for another day, just has the attraction of possibly being a lot warmer, 2 days riding in sunshine appeals more than 3 days in the p***** rain - but your probably right about costs etc.

Matey will need to hire a bike whatever happens, unless he can blag or borrow something, and anyone who knows him would piss themselves at the suggestion, although if anyone has a bike that they want rid off (or in 1000 pieces) then send me a PM.

 

[Wapping]

..... And are you sure it will not be raining in the Picos on your two days in May 2012.... But convinced it will be in the Ardennes?

A local weather forecast much nearer the time will tell you, for sure.

Chummy's bike problem. Tell him to save his pennies for the next 16 or so months and buy something.