Normandy - First Ever Trip on GS

[HTB]

This site really does have too much information on it and it's difficult to find it all, so my apologies if this has been asked before - I'm snowed under with advice

Off to stay in Le Mesnil-Tove, Manche, Normandy (France!) and although I can find a couple of routes on the site for Normady, I'm kind of lost as to how I best get from Calais (that Tunnel thing) down to this area in the most scenic and yet brisk way - N roads? Will be using my Nav II for the first time, and will also be taking a Michelin map so I can check I've got it right, and maybe try and work out a route before hand. Does anybody have a route down to this area that they've ridden and could recommend?

Thanks for your help.

Harry

 

[Totoro]

Went to Manche last year. (Anneville sur mer). The whole area is fantastic.

I would take the autoroutes A16, A28, A29 to get down there as quickly as possible (make sure you cross the Pont de Normandie. It is a stunning bridge) so you can spend more time in the area. There is so much to see and beautiful roads. Get a map for that area also as it will highlight many of the local sights.

 

[Mike Werner]

From Calais do indeed take the autoroute heading south. Get off around Dieppe and head for the coast. Take the D75. great road, beautiful scenery, twisties, cliffs, beaches, etc.

Follow the D75 until Veules-les-Roses. Use the GPS route I've got posted on my http://visitnormandy.org/ website (Routes). You can download the whole route. It starts in Yvetot but you can join up at Veules. Follow that route all the way to Honfleur (you can print out the road boak, there are restaurant and visit suggestions).

At Honlfuer, you can follow the D513 up to Caen. Depending on time, you can then continue the last bit on the autoroute, or head for the coast and follow the war graves section (Omaha etc) until Grandcamps-Maisy and then cut through to the coast and head for Mont St.Michel.

 

[MikeP]

From Calais do indeed take the autoroute heading south. Get off around Dieppe and head for the coast. Take the D75. great road, beautiful scenery, twisties, cliffs, beaches, etc.

Follow the D75 until Veules-les-Roses. Use the GPS route I've got posted on my http://visitnormandy.org/ website (Routes). You can download the whole route. It starts in Yvetot but you can join up at Veules. Follow that route all the way to Honfleur (you can print out the road boak, there are restaurant and visit suggestions).

At Honlfuer, you can follow the D513 up to Caen. Depending on time, you can then continue the last bit on the autoroute, or head for the coast and follow the war graves section (Omaha etc) until Grandcamps-Maisy and then cut through to the coast and head for Mont St.Michel.

That's a nice route.

Don't forget that when you reach Honfleur, stop outside the town walls, shout in you loudest voice, "Once more unto the breach or fill the gap with our English dead!"

It's a tradition started in 1415 and much appreciated by the locals.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Tut tut. Go to the back of the class.

That was Harfleur, not Honfleur. Not a million miles away, though--Harfleur is on the north side of the Seine estuary.

Tim

 

[HTB]

Do I get to shout at them too....

 

[Timolgra]

I was in Honfleur last year, and what a lovely place, with a great camp site only half a mile away.

Great food just ignore the snotty French waiters

 

[wildernessrob]

Hi HTB
Im riding down to Arromanche next month with a group from work, so Id glad to know how you get on.

We are coming from Dieppe, but I like the sound of the coast road, rather then an " A" road blast. Hopefully I might have a GPS by then

We are staying at Adrian Cox's B&B, and want to do as much of the WW2 landing areas as we can in a weekend.

 

[Totoro]

If you go to Arromanche make sure you go to the D-Day Museum.

And Mike is right. Try to get to Mont St Michel. It is stunning.

 

[MATKAT]

Easter

Sue and I are going 13th - 18th April via calais.
Staying at Le Mulberry Hotel in Arromanches.
Recommended by Adrian Cox(round the corner) as he is full, but i'm sure we will be round for a beer.
Any Gsers there then maybe we can do a ride together,

 

[HTB]

Thanks for the help all! Hopefully I've mapped the route correctly (complete Garmin beginner) which takes in some of your suggestions. Lunch in Honfleur, probably, if I, err..mapped it correctly....

Taking the Tunnel at about 9.30 on Friday 14th - I'm sure it won't be at all busy! Running with the panniers for the first time; Using Baglux for the first time; Using GPS for the first time (in anger, so have map as a back-up); Using Starcom for the first time; Using Tour-X for the first time... this could be a disaster in the making!

So, if you see a '06, grey 1200GS wobbling around, two up, it'll be me.