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Hi All,

Feeling pretty chuffed as our 28 year old vintage Talbot Motorhome has just passed her MOT with flying colours (we only bought her last October, so were not sure how she would fare !).  We had planned a leisurely tour around Holland and Northern Germany for our summer hols, but thanks to the dismal summer we have had so far, we are craving some sunshine and considering going further - possibly the South of France.  We drove to Northern Spain last year - albeit in a car with a tent.  The drive would have been fine, if we could have broken it up a bit more (we did it in 2 days !), which we can obviously do much more easily in "Daisy".  My question is, will she make it ?  She plods along nicely on the flat, but isn't that keen on anything too steep.  Having never driven this route before, just not sure if the one we are thinking of Dunkirk-Riems-Dijon-Lyon-Avignon is suitable for such an old girl !  If anyone who has driven this way before has any tips, would be most grateful.  We are VERY keen to completely avoid Paris, having suffered a 3 hour traffic jam on the ring road last year !

Many thanks.

Aligreen

The route south via Lyon is not to bad as far as hills are concerned although there are one or two steeper climbs but its a much easier route than going via the Millau Viaduct which climbs to 1100 metres in places. If you take the A25/A26 south of Dunkerque you won't go anywhere near Paris. For some unexplained reason all route planners want you to visit Paris en route!

David

Go down via Abbeville, Rouen, Evreux, Dreux, Chartres, Orleans, Vierzon, then either toll free via Bourges, Nevers, Gannat, or toll via Montlucon, then Clermont Ferrand, and come off at junction 44a just before Millau, and head to Aguessac.  You avoid the Millau Viaduct this way, because even if you choose to go further south you just drive through Millau and up the old road, back on to the A75 at La Cavalerie.

See the viaduct from underneath, though - it's an amazing piece of engineering!

There are loads of stopovers - Pont de L'Arche at Rouen, Chartres, Orleans, Noaun Les Fuzeliers, Salbris, Vierzon, Nevers, St Pourcain, Chatel de Neuvre, Issoire, and others - near enough your route for overnight stops.

Thanks David - just looked at the Milau Viaduct - looks amazing, but happy to avoid it.  Excuse my ignorance, but as I look at the map, taking the main road route through those towns I mentioned would steer us clear of it wouldn't it ?

Thanks so much for your help - we have been camping in this country for many years, but only just getting to grips with motorhoming - especially abroad !

Alison

Alison

You would be well clear of Millau using  the central  route through France.

David