How to link the Pyrenees to the Alps?

[Deleted account Cooperman]

I'm thinking of creating a loop route coming from the Pyrenees and across to the Alps picking up the Route des Grandes Alpes.

Any suggestions for a scenic connection?

Thoughts would be based upon:

• Not adverse to the odd bit of Mway to keep the pace up.
• Avoid all major cities - especially Monte Carlo.
• Do you need to go all the way over to Nice to enjoy the RDGA? What would be a reasonable point to join further north?
• A nice stop on the Med would be an option - but not full on touristy.
• How long should I reasonably allow for the connection?

 

[mrsroynie]

Drop down towards the Med and pick up the Route Napoleon (N85) at Cannes, which will take you as far as Grenoble.

Something we've been meaning to do for years.

 

[Wapping]

Which end of the Pyrenees? Atlantic or Med? Or somewhere in the middle?

Get yourself this Michelin map:

and marry it into Michelin's excellent 1:200000 scale map book:

 

[Wapping]

Here's a map of the RDGA, you could join it at jet about anywhere. Barcelonnette can work well, for instance.

 

[John Armstrong]

Foix - mototorway around Toulouse - Albi - Rodez - Millau - Orange - Mt Ventoux - Digne.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Which end of the Pyrenees? Atlantic or Med? Or somewhere in the middle?

Thinking of getting the ferry down to northern Spain, across the Pyrenees and then over to the Alps. I would like to make the across France connection part of the journey - not a boring Mway blat.

Then explore the RDGA, northern Alps and eventually get the ferry back from Rotterdam

 

[Rasher]

How long have you got?

I did route Des grand Alpes this year and with adding a few other nice rides into the mix and spending a day on the beach at Menton it was about 8 days worth of amazing riding and you could easily double that up just on the roads and passes along the way.

We also stopped off at grenoble for a couple days to take in the Vercors, and again could easily have spent twice as long there too.

Unless you have a lot of time (3-4 weeks) or only have one chance to get away on your bike and are desperate to tick "the Alps" and "The Pyrenees" of a list in one go I would go with one or t'other rather than dash about on main routes trying to squeeze too much in.

I reckon it would take me 6-7 weeks of riding all day every day to ride all of the Alpine routes I quite fancy (The Alps cover about the same area as the UK), the Pyrenees is much smaller, but must stll have enough good riding for ten days or so.

 

[Baz]

Looking at something similar for Sept. My route would be Pyrenees (either 618/918 or N260 dependent on weather), Milau, Tarn Gorge, Verdon Gorge then the Route Grande Alps or Route Napoleon ( weather) up to Annecy.

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Cooperman,

SPOOKY Followed you last year.

Julie and I have started planning our 2012 jaunt, looked at Santander or Bilbao ferry crossing then ride across off motorway. Call into Narbonne,Adge,Pezanas,Provence en-route to Pick up RGAlpes at Menton ride back up it. Not enough brass in`t coffers.Two bikes is a little expensive for us on ferry option . Much greater mileage also not in our budget .

So

Decided on riding down to Menton from Grenoble following Route Napoleon with some diversions en route. Then RGAlpes from Menton back to Annecy up through France to Chunnel. Over two weeks.

Yours is an excellent idea, go for it.

http://www.ign.fr

Routes Des Grandes Alpes carte touristique.

and also in French but very good

Michelin , Europe , Les Alpes a Moto



Andrew

 

[Wapping]

Looking at something similar for Sept. My route would be Pyrenees (either 618/918 or N260 dependent on weather), Milau, Tarn Gorge, Verdon Gorge then the Route Grande Alps or Route Napoleon ( weather) up to Annecy.

That's a pretty good way to go.

Now, Mr Cooperman, is that enough?

Or, we can work on something a bit more detailed (if you want specific roads) or maybe miss out the Millau bridge if you have 'seen it & done it' before.

Three questions in addition, please:

(1) How many days do you have between leaving SW France before you have to be tucked up on the ferry? It's a serious question as, if you have only three days then it's going to be mostly motorway to the RGA and after Grenoble, say.

(2) Are you stuck on the RGA, as opposed to the Route Napoleon? I guess so, just want to be sure.

(3) What sort of rider are you / what do you want to achieve? I ask as bods are very different. You can see that Rasher took over a week to go less far.... but he had days off and took pictures, plus he had a pillion.... you can read it all in his excellent trip report. I and some mates did Calais, Masif Central, Calais in not much over four - clocking up several thousand miles - but didn't stop to take one snap.

If you are a get up at 10, leave at 11, lunch at 12:30, in the hotel latest 16:30 and stops inbetween merchant (great if you are) it is very different to someone who gets rolling at 08:30, stop for coffee, an hour for lunch and fuel, a quick stop for afternoon tea and at the hotel (fuelled up for tomorrow) at 18:30 (great if you are, too).

Look forward to the news..... Let's see if we can build you something really good :beer jug:


PS It's quite a common question, so anything that is slotted together will not be wasted effort.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Done a bit more work on this

After the ferry to Bilbao I plan to spend some time on the French side of the Pyrenees. Pau/Lourdes look likely.

Having done Millau last year and looking for some beach time I'll stick to the coast heading east. The Camargue Natural Park below Arles is recommended but just on is Martigues - the 'Venice of Provence'. This looks promising.

Then the plan would be to do some of the Gorges du Verdon with a possible base at Castellane before joining the Route des Grandes Alpes and heading north.

Any thoughts/tips

 

[Wapping]

A cunning enough plan.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

OK - the route is coming together.

• Ferry to Bilbao
• Pau - up and over the Pyrenees
• Sete - beach time on the Med after a run across the French Pyrenees
• Castellane - via the Gorges du Verdon
• Val-d'Isere - time for the Route des Grandes Alpes
• Andermatt - continue the RDGA and come over the St Bernard Pass and Furka
• Bad Oberdorf - from Lucerne a visit to our skiing base in Bavaria (Oberjoch Pass)
• Cochem - or somewhere similar to break up the return leg
• Rotterdam - ferry back to Yorkshire

Time to book the ferries to get things rolling

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Cooperman,

Narbonne is a very nice place to visit especially on market day I`m sure someone posted a bike friendly hotel nearby. Old Adge is also a worn tired but very active Town especially at night. Had many a family meal on the pontoons by the river. Excellent place. Both Narbonne and Adge and Cap d` Adge have good beaches.
Julie and I are doing a run through France to Castellane, then RGAlpes from Menton , back to Lac Annecy a slow ride back to Calais.

Your plan looks Grand.

Enjoy.

 

[Wapping]

I would miss out the Karhlsrurh, Stuttgart, Ulm leg. Nothing much in the roads of the industrialised Ruhr.

Baden-Baden, Freiburg, Basel and then across, maybe?

 

[Timolgra]

OK - the route is coming together.

You'll miss virtually all of the best Pyrenees roads, better stay south on the Spanish side using the the N260

 

[cookie]

what about the gorge du tarn? can't be far off that route.

edit: and what tim said. the spanish side of the pyrenees is awesome.

 

[John Armstrong]

I would miss out the Karhlsrurh, Stuttgart, Ulm leg. Nothing much in the roads of the industrialised Ruhr.

Baden-Wurttemburg I think for Ulm.

 

[Timolgra]

In fact, what a shite route

 

[Wapping]

In fact, what a shite route

You'll only upset him