Travelling in France

[riderbob]

I'm travelling to the Pyrenees in May and would like to get there in two days.

A two part question:

1) I'm getting the first morning ferry to France arriving around 0900. How far would you get south without travelling on the motorways? I don't mind a bit of motorway travel (perhaps to get past Paris), but would like to use the nationals roads mostly.

2) Once in the general area can someone recommend a good biker-friendly camping ground? I'm assuming somewhere in central France or if it is possible around Bordeaux.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[Twistgrip]

I'm travelling to the Pyrenees in May and would like to get there in two days.

A two part question:

1) I'm getting the first morning ferry to France arriving around 0900. How far would you get south without travelling on the motorways? I don't mind a bit of motorway travel (perhaps to get past Paris), but would like to use the nationals roads mostly.

2) Once in the general area can someone recommend a good biker-friendly camping ground? I'm assuming somewhere in central France or if it is possible around Bordeaux.

Any advice appreciated.

1a)Which French port of entry?
1b) Depends how long you ride for! Route Nationales can be slow going,ie lots of trucks,etc.

2)In 40 odd years of Continental touring,I don't know what you mean by a "biker-friendly"campsite. I've yet to find a "biker unfriendly" campsite!

 

[Greg Masters]

It's difficult to gauge how far you could travel.

If you got your head down, you could easily reach the Loire at, say, Tours, or even as far as Bordeaux.

On the other hand, you could fill a day and not even reach Abbeville.

I think you have to decide whether your mission is to get across the map (as I often do), or if you want to see the real France. If the latter, don't even consider the peages, stick with the RNs.

Greg

 

[riderbob]

Thanks,

1) Boulogne point of entry.

2) If they are all biker friendly then great, but I have stayed at campsites that attract bikers more than other sites. Mostly in Germany; just wondering whether they have the same thing in France.

1a)Which French port of entry?
1b) Depends how long you ride for! Route Nationales can be slow going,ie lots of trucks,etc.

2)In 40 odd years of Continental touring,I don't know what you mean by a "biker-friendly"campsite. I've yet to find a "biker unfriendly" campsite!

 

[riderbob]

Thanks Greg for the input,

Perhaps day one a blast on the motorway and day two a slower route. Food for thought anyway.

Cheers,

Bob

It's difficult to gauge how far you could travel.

If you got your head down, you could easily reach the Loire at, say, Tours, or even as far as Bordeaux.

On the other hand, you could fill a day and not even reach Abbeville.

I think you have to decide whether your mission is to get across the map (as I often do), or if you want to see the real France. If the latter, don't even consider the peages, stick with the RNs.

Greg

 

[madman]

If you are coming into Boulogne, then avoid Paris and go via Rouen. I take this route all the time when I visit the UK. It will be hard to not use motorways, and if the weather is a bit grotty then I would use the motorway to Brieve (south of Limoges) at least. That is mostly free and puts you into the area where the weather should be much better and the back roads more interesting. You would spend a very enjoyable few days crossing to the western end of the Pyrenees through the Dordogne and then move along them to the East.

Bob
http://www.bikesindordogne.blogspot.com/

 

[Davey B]

As above, via Rouen and then a autoroute blast on day one, easily make Tolouse in 9/10 hrs...or slightly more leisurely make Brive as stated above...then chill for the rest of the journey south....if you stick to Route Nationals you will be shocked at how long it can take to get far

 

[riderbob]

Thanks Dave & Bob

Any ideas on where to stay around Brive or Rouen?

Ta

 

[Greg Masters]

Thanks Dave & Bob

Any ideas on where to stay around Brive or Rouen?

Ta

Rouen is not the sort of place I'd want to stop in - it's twinned with Norwich, but I think Dudley or Gateshead would have been a better match!

Press on to La Sarthe and stay in Le Mans!



Greg

 

[Twistgrip]

Camping Moto on D57 at Vezac,about 5km south west of Sarlat,which is about 60km south west of Brive. It's motorcycles only,well,almost!

 

[Major Moto]

Can't help with camping info I'm afraid, but I did Kent to Pau (Pyrenees) in two days last November all on RN (no stinking peage) on my way to Africa.
Caught the 10:00 ferry from Dover and reached Le Mans the first evening (350 miles). Second day was to Pau via Tours, Poitiers, Angouleme, Bordeaux (400 miles) Easy route finding.

Piece of advice: do not underestimate the difficulty in route finding once you stray from the RN. It is an art form! Also there is a subtle difference between "Centre Ville" and "Toutes Directions". I found that a good study of the map, together with a list of major roads and big towns to aim for seemed to work for me.

Pyrenees was absolutely fantastic!! Enjoy.

 

[madman]

I would avoid staying around Rouen too. I know Veyzac quite well as it is just down the road and I have friends near there. If you are in this area then it might be a good idea to spend a day looking around.
If there are just one or two of you then I might be able to help out with a room for the night. You will have to contact me through the blog on http://www.bikesindordogne.blogspot.com/,

Bob

 

[John Armstrong]

Piece of advice: do not underestimate the difficulty in route finding once you stray from the RN. It is an art form! Also there is a subtle difference between "Centre Ville" and "Toutes Directions". I found that a good study of the map, together with a list of major roads and big towns to aim for seemed to work for me.

Pyrenees was absolutely fantastic!! Enjoy.

The major reason for me getting a GPS - "Toutes Directions"

Tells you either Paris / Marseille or the next two house hamlet

Now with a GPS

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I often stop in Blois on the first night when travelling South, it's a lovely place and, IIRC, there is a camping municipal on the banks of the river (and an old guy comes around in his van in the morning selling fresh croisants ).

I always stay in a cheap a cheerful Hotel about 200m to the right of where the piccie was taken.

Andres

 

[Redbreast]

Get in touch

I would avoid staying around Rouen too. I know Veyzac quite well as it is just down the road and I have friends near there. If you are in this area then it might be a good idea to spend a day looking around.
If there are just one or two of you then I might be able to help out with a room for the night. You will have to contact me through the blog on http://www.bikesindordogne.blogspot.com/,

Bob

Hi Bob we over near Duras . Get in touch if you would like On here or at
[email protected]

 

[columbus]

Last september two of us left Glasgow around 9pm drove to portsmouth got the morning ferry to Caen and drove to limoges. That was followed by a good sleep and a short drive the next morning to pau. Most of the route was peage but it was required that we do the distance in a short time.Although the road was boring the scenery was still good.

 

[Paul Rochdale]

A few years ago I rode from Calais down to Barcelona and took three days to do it.
My route was Calais - Abbeville - Rouen - Le Mans - stopping the night in Saumur. Second day was Saumur - Chatellerault - Oradour-sur-Glane(!) - Limoges - Perigeux - Agen - stopping near Fleurance. Third day was Fleurance - Toulouse - Carcassonne - Narbonne - Perpignan - Girona - arriving in Barcelona mid-afternoon.
About half of the trip was on motorways and the remainder on N-roads. The N-roads were superb and the motorways fast but dull.