Help and Advice needed Europe 2011

[Bobbyspit]

I have over the last few years planned and organised a little outings to Scotland.

Each year the nights have increased from the original 3, to this years successful trip of 6 nights.

Well Scotland is gorgeous and I would go back tomorrow but! Europe calls.

I am looking at planning 6 nights riding Alp type passes, I want roads with the WOW factor and campsites to boot.

I did do a few thousand miles last year in the classic car in Europe (10 countries in 5 days) but only had two nights over in B&B type hotels, but only saw some of the countries as we drove most nights.

I was looking at France/Italy/Swiss area.

Any help, Suggestions on routes, roads, campsites and eateries gratefully received.

Thanks
Rob

 

[wessie]

I am looking at planning 6 nights riding Alp type passes, I want roads with the WOW factor and campsites to boot.

I did do a few thousand miles last year in the classic car in Europe (10 countries in 5 days) but only had two nights over in B&B type hotels, but only saw some of the countries as we drove most nights.

I was looking at France/Italy/Swiss area.

Any help, Suggestions on routes, roads, campsites and eateries gratefully received.

Thanks
Rob

Well, that's a first. Vampires on UKGSer.

My advice, stick a pin in a map and then use that as a base. Buy Michelin 1:200,000 maps for the surrounding area and pick scenic routes using the green lines to guide you.

You may want to avoid France, what with the garlic

 

[Bobbyspit]

Well, that's a first. Vampires on UKGSer.

My advice, stick a pin in a map and then use that as a base. Buy Michelin 1:200,000 maps for the surrounding area and pick scenic routes using the green lines to guide you.

You may want to avoid France, what with the garlic

LOL, I already have the Map just hoping for experienced UKGSer's to point the way, especially in the campsite area of expert.

PS I love garlic, especially garlic bread its the future

 

[kennyc]

you could do worse than the Lauterbrunnen valley in Switzerland theres camping and reasonably (for Switzerland) priced Hotels. the scenery is stunning and you are close to the Susten,Furka,Grimsel and Gothard passes.

 

[wessie]

LOL, I already have the Map just hoping for experienced UKGSer's to point the way, especially in the campsite area of expert.

PS I love garlic, especially garlic bread its the future

the Alps cover a huge area from France all the way to Slovenia. You may get better responses if you can pick out an area. With just 6 days, I would stick to one or two areas e.g. just the French Alps or Austrian Tyrol & Dolomites.

 

[robroy]

My two personal picks (since you asked for opinions )?

Both been mentioned, so this is extra endorsement.

• The Dolomites and Austrian Tyrol - base yourself at Arraba.
• The Lauterbrunnen valley is spectacular and a must-see if you're in the area, although I would probably recommend Andermatt as a base.

 

[Norrie]

the Alps cover a huge area from France all the way to Slovenia. You may get better responses if you can pick out an area. With just 6 days, I would stick to one or two areas e.g. just the French Alps or Austrian Tyrol & Dolomites.

Have to agree with Wessie Rob it'll take you two days to get down there unless you do the iron Butt thing.We based ourselves in Les Houches nr Chamonix and were able to do the Grimmsel,Furka,& Susten pass's all be it a long day,and the Col du Grand St Bernard into Italy as far as Aosta then back via Courmayuer, Bourg St Maurice,Megeve, and St Gervais beautiful roads and fantastic scenery.There are loads of other Col's within striking distance of Chamonix but hey what evere you do ENJOY it

Norrie

 

[steve1]

RE- Campsites

I have recently returned from a circuit of france and spain and all i used was a garmin and the european campsite file from the archies website (i think there's a link on here somewhere) The campsites are so numerous you just ride till you get tired and then look for the nearest one on your sat nav.
If you get a dodgy one just go for the next one.

 

[Bobbyspit]

Have to agree with Wessie Rob it'll take you two days to get down there unless you do the iron Butt

Norrie

I was looking at day one would be Manchester to Reims a distance of 584 miles. That should break its back. Then I would be in striking distance of some very nice roads.
I would love to increase the trip to say 10 days, but others in the trip cannot push to the time off and expence. I already have a trip planned next year with the classic club I am in for 10 counties again as last year. So two trips in 12 months to Europe will be my max for next year. I certainly plan on a longer trip in 2012 (poss Morocco)?

As you say Norrie, I will try and enjoy where ever we go.

Thanks for all your input Guys.

 

[E. Buygum]

I was looking at day one would be Manchester to Reims a distance of 584 miles. That should break its back. Then I would be in striking distance of some very nice roads.
I would love to increase the trip to say 10 days, but others in the trip cannot push to the time off and expence. I already have a trip planned next year with the classic club I am in for 10 counties again as last year. So two trips in 12 months to Europe will be my max for next year. I certainly plan on a longer trip in 2012 (poss Morocco)?

As you say Norrie, I will try and enjoy where ever we go.

Thanks for all your input Guys.

Hi, have done Chester-Reims as day 1 a few times; it's quite a long day but works well via Calais, albeit a lot of motorway. Next year we're a bit short of time so we're doing the simple thing, heading to the Alps and spending a few days based in Valloire via the Hull-Zeebrugge ferry (expensive luxury). It's about 600 miles Zeebrugge-Valloire so we'll probably be breaking the journey here:

http://www.hotelchevalbronze.com/

We'll avoid motorways completely the whole week-apart from the M62 to Hull

The advantage of Valloire is that there's a campsite near the centre so you can walk to bars, restaurants. If you're not all into camping, there are plenty of hotels. There are, of course, lots of nice roads in the area.

 

[wessie]

I live in S Wales and often use Reims as a staging post, usually on the way back as it is an easy ride home on the last day.

I can't help with camp sites in Reims, but there is bound to be a municipal one. However, there are loads of cheap hotels on the outskirts such as Premier Classe or Formule 1. Personally, I always try to stay in the city centre. It's a lovely place to spend an evening so worth a few extra quid on a mid-priced hotel such as the Ibis or this place http://www.sejours-affaires.com/uk/hotel-residence-aparthotel-reims-177.html which has underground parking.

From Reims, you can easily get to Annecy for day 2. A lovely place to use as a base. I'm sure someone can recommend a camp site, although I'd be staying in the Kyriad in the centre of town. 2 nights here then take a scenic route via the Jura & Vosges to get home. Get to the northern end of the Route des Cretes at St Marie aux Mines and you are within range to get back home in a day.

 

[Swiss Mike]

you could do worse than the Lauterbrunnen valley in Switzerland theres camping and reasonably (for Switzerland) priced Hotels. the scenery is stunning and you are close to the Susten,Furka,Grimsel and Gothard passes.

+1

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Another vote for Andermatt as a good Alpine base for some great, high, scenic passes. I stayed in a hotel there for a few nights and toured around, but there is definitely a campsite there too. Susten, Furka, Grimsel, Nufenen, Oberalp, St Gotthard passes all within easy reach. Switzerland didn't seem like that much fun, to be honest, but the roads are unbelievable.

If you want to go further South, try the Route des Grandes Alpes from Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) down to the Med coast. Val d'Isere, Col de Vars, Bonnette, and loads of others. Two great days riding in huge scenery. Probably a slightly better chance of good weather, and a virtual guarantee of hot and sunny weather on the Med coast. Also options to follow a different route not quite so high if the weather closes in.

Decide whether you want to blast to the mountains on motorways, or make a trip of the journey. My personal preference is to blast down there, spend a few days in the mountains, then take a more scenic route back towards the Channel. You can go from Alps via Jura, Vosges or Black Forest, and Ardennes on lovely roads and only have a couple of hours on motorways through Belgium to get you back to Calais.

Have a look at Alpine roads.com for as much information on the roads as you'll ever need.

 

[Bobbyspit]

Thanks everyone for the replies, there is a lot of info on the web given here on the above links.
Rob

 

[Wapping]

Between now and 2011 you should be able to work something out.

You want six days in 'Alps type' roads.

Is that six days starting when you are there in the Alps? Or six days away in total, including your travelling from and back to Madchester?

Madchester to Arabba (which someone has suggested) will probably take you two days, as it is a touch over a thousand miles.... or course you can do it in one, if you fancy it.

When in 2011 are you going? I have just returned from Arabba / the Austrian Tirol / Vosges, where it has just started snowing lightly on the higher Austrian / Italian passes. Many of them will be shut much before early to mid June, don't forget.

What type of rider are you? Are you a: Can't leave the hotel much before 10 AM, need to stop to take lots of pictures, have frequent tea, coffee, pee and lunch stops and be rolling the bike into the garage a bit before 16:30, who wants to avoid motorways and thinks 250 miles in a day is ball breaking ? I only ask as it will dictate the distances you will go.... as will the likely dates of your trip.

My suggestions:

Get yourself a decent paper map or two.

Sit down and work out what YOU will enjoy and what YOU are capable of / want to achieve.

Cut your cloth accordingly.

When you have some rough ideas (of at least where places are and how long it might take you to get there) come back to us.

If you want places to go a bit nearer home but still bloody good roads, look at the Vosges / Black Forest area.

 

[franco]

.

As has been mentioned, France is bloody big Even locally here I can spend a week in the Alps doing different Cols every day with wow factor scenery and barely get more than 100 miles from home.
For campsite information there's a good site here which gives lots of info.

Wherever you go in the Alps is lovely. Personally, from the UK, Annecy as a base gets my vote. Go to the Captain Pub for a great selection of beers...

Bon route.../Rob

 

[Brian ROSEN]

France is big enough!

I live just South of Lyon. If i walk about a kilometre up the road i can see the Alps stretched out on the horizon - but they are 100 km away! Any detailed advice I would offer regarding touring areas and campsites would very according to the time of year. Avoid july and August if you can and you automatically avoid many problems from congestion on the roads to suffering from heat stroke!
Someone said put a pin in a map and start from there and it is true that you are almost bound to be satisfied in any one of a vast range of regions. The Alps (an enormous area in fact) will probably offer the most spectacular scenery but there are plenty of other areas offering good roads, good weather good food and wine and excellent campsites - what more do you want? Use the autoroutes as a very quick and safe way of getting to the centre of the area you pick. If you want more information about my area (Rhône Alpes) which is huge, don't hesitate to ask

 

[Wapping]

I live just South of Lyon. If i walk about a kilometre up the road i can see the Alps stretched out on the horizon - but they are 100 km away! If you want more information about my area (Rhône Alpes) which is huge, don't hesitate to ask

Brian makes a good observation vis-a-vis the size of the Alps.

To carry it further, you can see the same Alpine mountain range (just different mountains, that's all) as you drive a little south from Munich.

Munich to Lyon is about 460 road miles.......

 

[Homer1968]

I did Reims to Doncaster in one hit in August and its well managable. We stopped at a superb municipal campsite on the south of the city( Cant remember exactly where ) 6 euros for the night and a nearby local supermarket.
As for where to go in the Alps there are some good posts here already and the world is your oyster. Just hit the button on your sat nav to find the nearest site, that never let us down.
We did The Andermatt circuit in july and it was 1 degree c and snowing at the top of the Furka pass. Also Stelvio was just about manageable because of all the traffic there. I personally found the lesser known passes much better Silvretta, Splugen, and i think its Majlo from St Moritz towards Lake como on the Italian border.
Next year i want to do the Dolomites and the B500 in Germany again. This is the best road ive ever ridden.

Good luck and half the fun for me was looking at the map book for Europe , in winter and working out routes with a nice bottle of wine on the go

 

[Farmgirl]

We just had an amazing 15 days riding through the alps - so much to see and do. I'd recommend reading 'motorcycle journeys through the alps and beyond' and then plan it around a few countries rather than trying to squeeze it all into 6 days. My favourites from this trip were Switzerland, stelvio and the dolomites.....

You don't really need to plan campsites in advance as there are loads - just decide on the day where and when you want to stay and find the closest on your gps. We only found one crap one the whole time we were away and that was in some dodgy german countryside town on the way back!!