Trip to Europe

[Dario]

Just turned fifty ( in tosser years young ? ). Now planning a trip to Europe on bike. Due to work can only go for about 5 days. There will be 3 of us. Going down to Hull and across to Zeebrugge. As i said going out on a Thursday coming back on the Monday.
My question is this where to go ? Down the coast into France round and back up or a scoot around the Black Forest ? Having done neither was looking for info/advice from anyone here who has.

Thanks Dario.

 

[bhud]

Dario,
Have a look at Newcastle they do a 5 day return package. Head to the Black Forest.

bhud

 

[Blackal]

Hull - Zebrugge, or Newcastle - Ijmuiden.............

And head for the Mosel Valley. Get a cheap hotel and tour around there.

Great roads and scenery - a good taster of t'continent

Don't forget holiday travel insurance (Post Office or M&S are good value, and cover motorcycle use)

Al

 

[Jazbee]

Just turned fifty ( in tosser years young ? ). Now planning a trip to Europe on bike. Due to work can only go for about 5 days. There will be 3 of us. Going down to Hull and across to Zeebrugge. As i said going out on a Thursday coming back on the Monday.
My question is this where to go ? Down the coast into France round and back up or a scoot around the Black Forest ? Having done neither was looking for info/advice from anyone here who has.

Thanks Dario.

Off the ferry and head to Bayeux in Normandy, 6 or 7 hours ride. Use as a base to tour the Normandy coast & landing beaches etc....loads to do and see Bayeaux itself is a great base, good food and pubs ...sorted

 

[Dario]

Thanks for the ideas. Normandy sounds good

 

[Micky]

Hull - Zebrugge ......

And head for the Mosel Valley. Get a cheap hotel and tour around there.

Great roads and scenery - a good taster of t'continent


Al

I'd go with Blackal on this

Black Forest, or further afield you'll be doing lots of miles in the few days that you have.

Head for the Eifel's, a bikers Nirvana

 

[gerarddwatts]

Luxembourg, Vosges , Route des Cretes, easy and stunning without monster miles.

 

[verona]

Nurburgring

Loads a nice roads round there and you get to ride the ring .

 

[Coolcarbon]

Another vote for the Mosel/Eifel area...

Whilst there, it would be rude not to do a lap of 'the ring'....

 

[Pablo1]

5 DAYS -2 ON BOAT ???

stay in scotland matey, check weather and only book at last minute, if you have garmin an mapsource, i'll send you routes for 5 WHOLE DAYS ON THE BIKE.

Ive been all over Europe but I go for 10 days at a time, I promise you its unlikely youve done all the roads in scotland and you wont find much better in Germany or even the alps.

Hell I might even come with you , Im only 53 you know.

 

[Dario]

5 DAYS -2 ON BOAT ???

stay in scotland matey, check weather and only book at last minute, if you have garmin an mapsource, i'll send you routes for 5 WHOLE DAYS ON THE BIKE.

Ive been all over Europe but I go for 10 days at a time, I promise you its unlikely youve done all the roads in scotland and you wont find much better in Germany or even the alps.

Hell I might even come with you , Im only 53 you know.

Agree with alot you say. Small/good problem. This trip was given to me and being paid for by my 3 brothers as a birthday present. So not really in a position to change much without offending them. Your still welcome to come along though.
Dario

 

[IJGser]

I'd go with Blackal on this

Black Forest, or further afield you'll be doing lots of miles in the few days that you have.

Head for the Eifel's, a bikers Nirvana

Yes went there in feb nice roads and only a easy days ride.

 

[jonnyingram]

Stay in Scotland, head west and north.
If you must go to Europe go from North Shields, thats what we do every year.
We are going to Scotland in May and Germany in September.

 

[topperchallenge]

I'm in Dumfries and did a 5-day'er last July; worst bit is getting down and back from South Coast. I'd personally recommend a LONG first day from Glasgow, get tunnel across and stop within a hour of Calais. Eat and sleep well next couple of days you can check-out loads of WWI/WWII stuff from the Somme down to Omaha beach (loads of advice on those in these forums)and get ferry back to UK (plenty of options). Prepare yourself for an even LONGER road home, cos you've got nothing to look forward to.... I was surprised at how much I managed to see, do & ride in this short space of time last year, so don't be put off.

 

[Rasher]

I promise you its unlikely youve done all the roads in scotland and you wont find much better in Germany or even the alps.

Dunno about much better, but unbelievably better IMO, I don't think Scotland has anything anywhere near close to the Bonnette, lIseran, Furka, Fluella, Izoard, Albula, Splugen, San Carlo, Grimsel, St Bernards, Julier, Albula, Majola and probably another 200 passes I can't think of right now.

However you ain't got time to get anywhere near the Alps, but maybe could get to the Black Forest, where the aforementioned statement is probably not so far off, however I am sure you have ridden around Scotland a bit, and can do so on other occasions.

You could reach the Black Forest / Vosges in a day once of the ferry, however if your 5 days is exclusive of a day to get to and from the ferry you would only have one day in the region, not worth spending two days on the motorways for one day in the Black Forest. Maybe consider staying closer to Northern France / Germany- possibly the Ardennes Forest (Never been so you will need someone elses input)

If you have five days in Europe that is different and I would suggest a trip to the Black Forest.

It is not a huge place (a fair bit smaller than Wales) so 3 days riding around is enough to cover some of the better known roads and explore a few back lanes at random.

You won't be blown away by the roads and scenery, it is not mountainous like the Alps but more hilly, sort of like Wales on Steroids, the peaks are higher than Scotland, but it is nothing like the Alps (the highest road is still about 50% higher than any in Scotland)

http://www.black-forest-travel.com/high-road/

Otherwise known as the B500 the High Road is a "must ride" road, the best bit is the first 30 or so miles south of Baden Baden, but on a GS the lesser side rotues are often as good if not better

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwarzwaldhochstraße

I would recommend Pension Williams as a great value and welcoming place to stay, going back for the 4th year running in a couple of weeks

http://pension-williams.com/

A few more pictures and other info here:

http://pension-williams.com/

I love riding in Europe, it offers a different culture and change from the familiar home scenery, France is for the most part deserted and most of the Black Forest roads are pretty light of traffic by UK standards (certainly compared to what us southerners have to put up with)

Whatever you do, and wherever you go you should be a great time

 

[Blackal]

As Rasher says - Continental Europe has some cracking roads, which pale Scottish roads.

A plus, is the weather

It's a big world out there - you owe it to yourself to see more of it, than just Scotland

Al

 

[Pablo1]

As Rasher says - Continental Europe has some cracking roads, which pale Scottish roads.

A plus, is the weather

It's a big world out there - you owe it to yourself to see more of it, than just Scotland

Al

It can piss with rain over there too

 

[Pablo1]

Dunno about much better, but unbelievably better IMO, I don't think Scotland has anything anywhere near close to the Bonnette, lIseran, Furka, Fluella, Izoard, Albula, Splugen, San Carlo, Grimsel, St Bernards, Julier, Albula, Majola and probably another 200 passes I can't think of right now.

well ive done a few of these and clearly we all like different things from top roads, I remember doing the splugen pass coming back from como to austria, 28degrees at the bottom, feckin snowing at the top.
my main concern and you covered it off is that 5 days including ferry is not long enough to get to the best areas, including the black forrest, which imho b500 included we have as good if not better roads at home.