Where to stop in France

[NorthernBoy]

I'm off on another (hopefully epic) trip around some mountains next week. I did the best part of 4,000 miles around the alps in the summer, and am off to the other end of France this time, to the Pyrenees.

Anyway, I am looking for some thoughts on where to stop for the first night. I'm heading from Caen down to Bordeaux (where I pick up Mrs NB), but want to break it up with an overnight stay somewhere nice. La Rochelle looks to be a pretty decent choice, but by that point, I'll be getting pretty close to the destination, and will have put in a pretty long day (leaving home in Canary Wharf at 04:30 for an 07:00 fast ferry from Portsmouth, which gets me in to Caen at 11:45, after which La Rochelle is another four hours down the road), so does anyone have any recommendations for where would make a good stop before then?

I normally just grab an Ibis somewhere, but would like this time t at least be stepping out of it into somewhere where I can have a fine wine on a terace overlooking a good view, and I know little about the west coast.

Any suggestions gladly taken, thanks.

 

[Mark8303]

Try this

We stopped at Maison Laudaire with Nigel & his lovely lady in May, it was great ! Very rural french but with english touches.
From Caen I reckon it would be about 2/3 hours ride depending on whether you took the scenic route (wworth it)so might be a bit early? Anyway it's highly recommended and it's here: 48°38'0.60"N 0°27'0.00"W http://www.maisonlaudiere.com/

 

[Gonzo]

Looking at the most direct route, La Rochelle seems to be the most logical coastal choice. The Vendee (very nice) is a bit off your beaten track to the north.

Now, if you had time to make up for a little detour the following day, going almost due south from Poitiers to Brive La Gaillarde is what I'd love to do - Brive itself is rather nice having stayed there.

On top of that, the drive west from Brive to Bordeaux with places like Sarlat, Perigeux and Bergerac is most agreeable. It was on this road that I "discovered" St Emilion back in 1991 and ended up staying for 4 days as a guest of a winemaker's offspring. Should be nice out of tourist season too.

Depends on how far off the beaten track you want to go.

Cognac is nearer to any likely direct route and is a nice place too.

Lovely part of the world.

 

[Mark8303]

P.S.

Sorry, it's a bit less travel time, about 11/2 hours or so. I forgot we went via Honfleur for breakfast on our way down from Le Havre. Oh and he does discount for tossers if you let him know where you found him.

 

[NorthernBoy]

Thanks to both of you, I'll check these out.

Bordeaux is just the hopping off point for a few weeks of exploring, during which I will most definitely be going well off the beaten track. Well, less of the beaten track than on my last trip, as I've gone completely road-oriented with my tyres this time, so when the going gets positively agricultural, I'll be crying off. Last time I was happy to go sailing through the "You really don't want to do this" signs and up onto the massif of Mont Blanc.

Hopefully I'll be seeing a bit less snow this time, though...

 

[Devon]

I have always found Logis de france a good bet for accommodation. Much better than Ibis, Formula 1 etc.

http://www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/recherch/index-ca.htm

 

[richie]

I could give a pointer but don't have a 1200.....

Have fun

 

[NorthernBoy]

I could give a pointer but don't have a 1200.....

Have fun

Yeah, not the right place to post, I know, but I do seem to get more replies in here than elsewhere.

Anyway, hopefully there'll be some good pictures and stories to follow. It's also the first time I've taken anyone else on one of my extended unscripted trips, and the first time Mrs NB will have lived for so long on the back of a bike.

I hope that she enjoys it.

 

[richie]

My recommendation would be, choose a region where you would like to stop on your way down, then Google, Chambres de hote avec tables de hote....

Bed and Breakfast with evening meal. Great value for money and generally wine is included, but the site will tell you that, you're on holiday and Mrs is going too, so why stay in IBIS or Formule 1....

Bon voyage.... et a bientot....

 

[Kiwi66]

+1

+1 for Maison Laudaire

 

[Dahoum]

Yeah, not the right place to post, I know, but I do seem to get more replies in here than elsewhere.

.

Now you've got a few - I've moved it to the France section to see if any more turn up

 

[NorthernBoy]

Now you've got a few - I've moved it to the France section to see if any more turn up

Cheers.

This trip is possibly my last big one for a long time (I will likely be back working son, so three-week jaunts will become but a memory), so I'm hoping to make it a good one.

 

[NeilF]

fast ferry from Portsmouth, which gets me in to Caen at 11:45.

Hi

Can you post us a link for this Ferry company - I haven't been able to find a "fast ferry".

Cheers,

Neil.

 

[NorthernBoy]

Brittany Ferries, from Portsmouth;

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/routes/portsmouth-caen

They have a few slow crossings a day, and then one fast one a few days a week, leaving at the godawful time of 07:00.

Slow one is six hours, fast one about three and a half.

 

[NeilF]

Perfick!

Many thanks.

Neil.

 

[piebaps]

+1 for Maison Laudiere. Also try http://www.la-janais.com/ which is a bit further south. I stayed at both recently and can recommend them.