Stelvio Pass from Scotland

[mpgscott]

Hi Folks,

Been having a look at the various routes both on this site and others and wanted to ask if anyone could share a good route or have experience so good stops for me and the missus two up to have a look at planning for.

Fancy a nice run that we would both enjoy so if anyone has taken notes of routes and places to stop off that would be brilliant. We would be heading off from Inverness and it would be the other halfs first real long run.

Any thoughts much appreitated, or guidance on where to look to plan.

Mark

 

[leedude03]

A little more info would help, like are you planning to travel from inverness to the tunnel or catch a ferry from one of the ports on your way down to any number of the available ports in france holland or belgium. How long is your time off, and how many miles are you or your good lady prepared to do in a day and what type of roads do you wish to use, are you camping or hotel/b&b, so many variables to take into account. I have done the said trip a couple of times but only from derbyshire, you have between 400-450 miles extra to do from Inverness depending wich way you go. More info will help.

 

[sven]

I last visited in 2010 taking a non motorway route except for the first couple of hours out of Zeebrugge.

Zeebrugge - Strasbourg via Verdun - Lake Luzern via the Route des Cretes - Chur via Furka and Grimsel Passes - Arabba in the Dolomites via Lenzerheide, Ofen, Fuella, Umbrail and Stelvio passes

I've done the Chur to Stelvio section three times now and it still ranks as one of the best days riding I've ever had
https://flic.kr/s/aHsjXWsBqp
Heading back, I'd go over the Timmelsjoch pass towards Breganz and then head up the Black Forest to Heidelburg. There are two fantastic technical museums near Heidelburg in Sinsheim and Speyer (cars, planes, trains, tanks etc.).

Nip onto the autobahn towards Bingen and then follow the Rhine. There are loads of nice places to stop in the Rhine gorge or Mosel Valley. I like Boppard and Cochem as they both have a decent choice of restaurants. From Cochem head to Aachen via the Nurburgring and B258 before heading back for the ferry.

 

[mpgscott]

The last euro tour i was on we went via Hull but im easy where we go from to be honest, so if its best experience to take the tunnel then that would be a nice to try also. Would like to ideally do around 250miles a day, would prefer to avoid the motorways as much as possible. Hotels or B+B would be ideal so any good suggestions again greatly appretiated.

Its the part once across the channel im ok getting to any of the ports UK wise.

Thanks for any help.

 

[mpgscott]

Thanks Sven, thats what i would like dont mind a few hours on the motorway like you did but would prefer to avoid as much as possible, meant to ask over how long did you do that route Sven??

 

[Blackal]

Get up early and head for Newcastle - Ijmuiden ferry.

Day 1 would be Ijmuiden via Monschau - to Cochem on the Mosel. Great roads, and Cochem is a good overnight location.

Not thought it out beyond that, I'm afraid

Al

 

[mpgscott]

Aye Newcastle over to IJmuiden is the best option me thinks..

 

[mpgscott]

I've done the Chur to Stelvio section three times now and it still ranks as one of the best days riding I've ever had
https://flic.kr/s/aHsjXWsBqp
Heading back, I'd go over the Timmelsjoch pass towards Breganz and then head up the Black Forest to Heidelburg. There are two fantastic technical museums near Heidelburg in Sinsheim and Speyer (cars, planes, trains, tanks etc.).

Great Pics there Sven, did the missus enjoy the trip?? What sort of miles were you doing a day and did you stay in hotels??

Cheers

 

[Gargy]

A couple of years ago a group of us went from Dusseldorf to Villach on the Autozug. Saves all that travelling through Europe to get to the good roads. And it works out at about the same price as fuel/hotels/ servicing costs on the bike.

 

[Peirre O`Bollox]

You may consider hitting the auto routes for a short period to get across country.
I did the stelvio and several other passes in 2013 running up from Riva del Garda to Naunder, Thusis, Grindelwald, Munster, and up to Combles using this route https://www.dropbox.com/s/mpcpca0edez4ats/combles to riva del garde.gdb?dl=0

 

[GSAMark]

Stopped in this place a couple of years back,

http://www.garden-grill.it/defaultEng.asp

You wouldn't believe the quality and low cost of this place and biker friendly even down to the motorcycle parking bays, garage cover for you bike and drying facilities. Food was exllent and room comfy and warm and pleasantly decorated with balconies facing lake Idro.

We travelled to holland, Den Bosch and got the motor ail train down to Alexandria, Northern Italy. Cost about £450 for the train. That included bike, sleeper cabin, evening meal. Just an option if SWMBO doesn't want the full trip. It's a beautiful ride down through the Rhine Gorge. And rested when you get there and still plenty of rubber on the back tyre. Details can be got at "Railsavers" based in Blackpool. They book it all for you.

The hotel/B&B is located about 1.45hr South of Stelvio so not that far and a lovely ride to get to.

All the best with your planning

 

[The Grey One]

A couple of years ago a group of us went from Dusseldorf to Villach on the Autozug. Saves all that travelling through Europe to get to the good roads. And it works out at about the same price as fuel/hotels/ servicing costs on the bike.

Sadly not running this year.

John

 

[ebbo]

Sven's route did it for me

Add Riquiwher to your list of places to stop by, its just east of the top of Route Cretes

 

[John Armstrong]

Think in hours not miles, eg 250 miles in the Dolomoites is probably 2 days of riding, on the autoroute only just over 3 hours.

Like others I'd use the autoroute to get onto the Routes des Cretes, hop across to Freiburg, along the Danube a bit near Sigmaringen, then own to Davos and onto the Stelvio, or Timmlesjoch to the Stelvio.

Keep an eye on this websites webcams:

http://www.alpineroads.com/passstatus.php

Newcastle - Ijmuiden is the logical ferry distance wise. BUT they always, IME, disembark the bikes last, so not only do you get fumigated by the cars / trucks etc, you're then last through the immigration etc, and that's at both ends

 

[sven]

Great Pics there Sven, did the missus enjoy the trip?? What sort of miles were you doing a day and did you stay in hotels??

Cheers

Our overnight stops in 2010 were Strasbourg, Lake Luzern, Chur, Arabba, Kaprun (4 nights), Nordlingen, Cochem (2 nights). We never camp and like a nice B&B and the occasional posh hotel, although the 2010 trip was done on a budget using Ibis, Etap and cheap hotels, except for the one in Nordlingen which was a posh NH Hotel.

I can't remember the exact mileage, but we reached our hotels before 6pm each day including leisurely lunch stops and lots of photos.

Trudi loves riding pillion, unlike the ex, so is happy riding all day provided we avoid motorways and have short breaks every couple of hours. She just sits on the back taking photos and singing badly through the intercom

 

[mpgscott]

Thanks for all the info guys much appretiated.

The train might be an option but im keen for us to do the trip and i like the route that Sven has given. Yep hear what your saying i think we could manage a good 6hrs a day on the bike and maybe take a few days longer.

Right away to start planning me thinks, out of interest when in the year was it you went Sven??

Cheers
Mark

 

[Giles]

I went to Stelvio last summer with some blokes from work. It was a seven day trip I think, and we decided to each take responsibility for a days route and overnight accommodation. For all of us the highlight of the week were the back roads in the Black forest and also Passo di Giau. (That was just stunning). If I'm honest, Stelvio didn't really do it for me. Yes lots of hairpin bends, and a bit of a Tick that one off the list, but Giau knocked it into a cocked hat.

 

[DING-DONG]

I went up the stelvio in July last year, the first time ever I've experienced the weather up there to change within seconds and it started to snow, i tell you something i could not get down fast enuff thinking ill be stuck up there.

 

[gerarddwatts]

Avoid the Newcastle Ferry out bound at a weekend full of stags and such....we go out on a Sunday.

Stayed here on the outward journey to Malta..

https://www.booking.com/hotel/de/gerber.en-gb.html?sid=8c16d429d80b9cdd264e13df7e7b48da;dcid=2

Easy zoom down the motorway from Amsterdam, and an easy days run to Carinthia...

But Carinthia isn't very close to the Stelvio....

 

[El Capitano]

Did the Stevio for the first time last September and kind of enjoyed it but at the top felt like I had survived more than anything else. My tips would be -

1. Avoid the weekends - we went fairly early on a Saturday morning and it was mega busy - hundreds of cars, bicycles, etc getting in your way and sports bikes, Ferraris, Lambos, etc up your chuff. No matter how awesome a rider you think you are you can't match the locals and they are all out at the weekend.

2. If possible go up the West side and down the East.

More experienced Stelvio riders might disagree!