Northern France

[Wapping]

Basically, if you are determined on Belgium, anywhere beneath this line, will give you easy access to Luxembourg and Germany:




This area works well too, but it’s maybe a bit more Belgium / German centric:

 

[Davey B]

A group of 4 of us recently stayed in Monschau. 4 hrs to 7hrs depending how much autoroute you take. Ideally situated for some great riding in the Ardennes, down to Luxembourg, East to the Eifel etc. Monschau is a lovely little tourist town but like most places in Germany, you don't get ripped off eating out. Great kebab house just outside town, Aldi too, for you nightly beer and nibbles/food.
It's pretty much smack in the middle of Mr Wappings red circle.

 

[Rick 1600]

I love winter time so I can sit down with a beer and wait for Wapping to organise someone’s summer holidays and then hijack it.

 

[HGS]

Staying in Butgenbach in June 26 for a week
Nicely located for forays around Belgium and into Germany & Luxembourg
Got the days out routes planned already....started getting cold and dark here a month ago
Taking in Bastogne, the Eifel area and even a day out to Cochem

 

[MartinK]

just planning this. Ferry out on 8th Sept I think (going to try and book whilst the "early bird" 20% off deals are on (before 8 Dec).

Looking forwards to seeing Stalag Luft III (the Tom Dick and Harry tunnels of The Great Escape) and the associated museum.



We scratched the surface of Czechia in 2023, and were really impressed. Great roads, and much cheaper than France/Spain/Belgium etc. The Harz is awesome...the B85 really is an awesome road - as awesome as the map suggests:


I think we will be a fairly large group this year...

 

[Davey B]

Does a high level plan mean it goes on high up roads or is it just for management and us lowly plebs get told to 'follow me' ? (Looks a really interesting route tho')

 

[the woodster]

I ride quite a bit in France and Germany and roads in both are pretty good. I find Belgium a bit ropey but it depends where you are. Ardennes is normally fine. There are good roads and bad roads everywhere but the reason France has become popular for me and my biker mates is that in general the roads are good and relatively traffic free once you get outside the towns...plus we do like French food. The Logis website is great for looking for accommodation - especially when you use the search on map function and an overnight stay normally is reasonably priced so you don't break the bank.
Personally I like the eastern side of France - Verdun downwards. Champagne, Vosges, Le Morvan, LÁubrac, Dordogne....plenty of nice places

Agree. That's where I'd go. 7 days in total you could do a big loop to include those places. Seems like the guys don't mind long days and big mileage and MRA or Calimoto is your friend for the curvy roads that join the places.

 

[EPG_19]

I'm so pleased I spent time trying to help

I still appreciate it

 

[Wapping]

just planning this. Ferry out on 8th Sept I think (going to try and book whilst the "early bird" 20% off deals are on (before 8 Dec).

Looking forwards to seeing Stalag Luft III (the Tom Dick and Harry tunnels of The Great Escape) and the associated museum.

View attachment 462162

We scratched the surface of Czechia in 2023, and were really impressed. Great roads, and much cheaper than France/Spain/Belgium etc. The Harz is awesome...the B85 really is an awesome road - as awesome as the map suggests:
View attachment 462163

I think we will be a fairly large group this year...

Great but…

A. The OP wants to go to Belgium. Or, I guess , loosely into the Benelux / western edge of Germany,

B. Your route is 1,800 miles. The OP has five days, which is 360 miles a day, with no breaks.

Nice holiday though.

 

[Wapping]

Staying in Butgenbach in June

For a week.

Great, we are in the right month for (near enough) the correct period of time.

Nicely located for forays around Belgium and into Germany & Luxembourg

Great, we are in the right area. It matches in with the OP’s (and three mates) request for help. You are ahead of the game.

Got the days out routes planned already....

Great.

Please now:

A. Share the accommodation details.

B. Share the routes.

Who knows, you might well be the winner.

 

[HGS]

For a week.

Great, we are in the right month for (near enough) the correct period of time.



Great, we are in the right area. It matches in with the OP’s (and three mates) request for help. You are ahead of the game.



Great.

Please now:

A. Share the accommodation details.

B. Share the routes.

Who knows, you might well be the winner.

I'll update it tomorrow
Is there a prize?

 

[Wapping]

I'll update it tomorrow
Is there a prize?

The forum’s undying admiration.

 

[Wapping]

OP, once the four of you get to somewhere beneath the line, you can ride around in just about any direction and have a good time. If proof were needed, here’s a screen shot from my MyRoute library of routes in Belgium;



I have a broadly similar library for Luxembourg and / or for that part of the western edge of Germany.

Why so many?

A. Because the area is easy to get to from Calais / the North Sea ports.

B. Because there are a lot of good / interesting roads to ride or drive. Are they all virgin smooth? No, but hey, it’s part of the fun. If you must have virgin smooth, go to Luxembourg and / or over the border to Germany.

C. Because there are enough towns / large villages, to make finding accommodation easy. But, the popular places do get busy and booked. Why? We are not the first and only people to know about the area.

D. A combination of A, B and C.

What to do now?

Between the four of you, buy a half decent Michelin map of Belgium, another of Luxembourg and one of the area of Germany closest to the Belgium / Luxembourg border. From the map(s), chose a town that gives easy access to roads that look half decent. You’ll not go too far wrong, trust me.

One tip: Try to find a town on a crossroads or T-junction. Why? Crossroads are good, as they have roads feeding off them in various directions. Various directions, gives choice. It explains why the Germans spent days trying to take Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge and why the Americans fought hard to retain it.

 

[Doc]

Staying in Butgenbach in June 26 for a week
Nicely located for forays around Belgium and into Germany & Luxembourg
Got the days out routes planned already....started getting cold and dark here a month ago
Taking in Bastogne, the Eifel area and even a day out to Cochem

Now i definitely know a bit about Cochem.

 

[HGS]

Right....out Hull to Rotterdam on the Friday, will return from Rotterdam the following Saturday so as to get 7 nights at the house
Got the ferry booked 22/10 as they had 15% offer off all except food
Checked a couple of days ago using the BF 20% off and it was slightly dearer. I am assuming the dynamic pricing has had an effect
Ferry was 2 x inside 4 berths, 7 people, 7 bikes. Food package each way for the 7 - £239.67 each

This years house not as expansive as the one we had this year in France - https://www.ukgser.com/community/threads/not-lost-in-france-for-a-week.484735/
but in better area for rides out as the France trip was to do the WW2 sites
Been to the Eifel area a few times before, staying in few places but slighlty more to the east. Last one was 6 years ago
Did stay one week near Spa in 2013

This area opens up the same areas and a bit more. Got some things to see WW2 related and in the process of adding them to the routes as waypoints

Accomodation - £1108 between 7

https://nl.belvilla.be/be/100016973...VR&utm_campaign=BE-4750-03&utm_content=global

https://www.booking.com/hotel/be/am...4ba28d13c37c3f93d84f6df723&type=total&ucfs=1&

Routes are all from and to the house. If anyone wants the gpx files PM me. Not easy to edit in Base Camp but in MRA, maybe easier?

 

[HGS]

Now i definitely know a bit about Cochem.

Been a few times for days out but not to the level of culture you have

 

[Doc]

Been a few times for days out but not to the level of culture you have

Best not go that far.

 

[Wapping]

Staying in Butgenbach in June 26 for a week
Nicely located for forays around Belgium and into Germany & Luxembourg
Got the days out routes planned already....started getting cold and dark here a month ago
Taking in Bastogne, the Eifel area and even a day out to Cochem

HGS kindly shared the files with me.

Here’s his circular route:

It matches this:

I save it as a track, as that is (perhaps) the most accurate way to reproduce it in MyRoute.

It looks quite fun.

 

[Wapping]

I have uploaded HGS’ other routes to MyRoute and will post them up. I must say that, with a bit of gentle massaging (ie. they - not unreasonably- are centred on the house he plans to stay in) they might well suit many bods here. Not least, they do confirm that there is a load of decent riding, even within this section of the Belgian Ardennes.

 

[Wapping]